Click the links below to jump to a specific question you may have, or scroll to read the entire page.
- "What's the difference between an abbey and a monastery?"
- "Why would anyone choose monastic life anyway?"
- "How does a man decide if monastic life is right for him?"
- "Is the Rule of St. Benedict a strict law that monks follow?"
- "Do I need to become a priest in order to be a monk?"
- "If I were to choose monastic life, what would I actually do every day?"
- "What vows do the monks at Mount Michael profess?"
- "Can I come and see what it would be like at Mount Michael...just to 'test the waters' of monastic life?"
"I understand that Mount Michael is an abbey. What's the difference between an abbey and a monastery?"
Mount Michael is an abbey, but is also talked about as being a monastery because these terms are often used interchangeably. Technically, a monastery is any place where a group of men or women have come together to live a monastic style of life. The definition of a Benedictine abbey for men is a monastery which is not dependent on a larger abbey. An abbey must be self-supporting, must have at least 12 monks who have professed solemn vows, and have an abbot as their religious superior. Mount Michael meets all these criteria.
"Why would anyone choose monastic life anyway?"
Men and women choose monastic vocations for a wide variety of reasons, many of which are deeply personal and individual. Some men called to live as monks at Mount Michael describe their monastic vocations in these ways:
"I do like the common prayer in the monastery, because I believe in prayer. I see prayer as my principal work in the monastery and this is what keeps me at Mount Michael." Br. Mel Tichota
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"At Mount Michael, I discovered community life and had my first opportunity to live that life style. In my community life and in my scholastic life I find something new and captivating every day. It is my hope that in some small measure that I can be a channel to others of God's abundant gifts, of which I have been an unworthy but grateful recipient." Fr. Michael Liebl |
"After working many years in Omaha, I decided that I could be much more effective in and for the world, if I entered Mount Michael Abbey and centered my life on prayer with the grace of God. I have never changed my mind." Br. Andrew Sorenson
"What attracted me to Mount Michael was the giving spirit and prayerful spirit of the Benedictine community." Fr. Daniel Lenz
"I came to Mount Michael Abbey because I liked the work that the monks do. I think prayer is the most important part of our lives." Br. Joseph Dugick
| "I remain a Benedictine monk today at Mount Michael because I am convinced that St. Benedict's Rule balances my life through prayer and work and that makes me a fulfilled person." Abbot Theodore Wolff |  |
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"How does a man decide if monastic life is right for him?"
Considering a vocation isn't an overnight process, or one to be taken lightly. While each man will experience the process differently, almost all find that, over time, they gain clarity through prayer, study, and spiritual direction from someone more experienced than themselves. Perhaps most importantly, they take opportunities to experience the life of a particular community, and with God's help, they discern the appropriateness of that way of life and community for their individual temperament, abilities, and spiritual development. Commitment to life as a monk is a decision made by degrees, with plenty of opportunities to grow in certainty and to become clear in God's will.
"Is the Rule of St. Benedict a strict law that monks follow?"
St. Benedict wrote his Rule as a guide for the men of his monastic community at Monte Cassino. Strikingly practical in its tone, the Rule provides a compassionate and enduring approach to living according to the spirit and teachings of Christ. While its original application continues in monasteries to this day, the Rule's gentle wisdom provides insight and down-to-earth spiritual guidance in faithful Christian living for people of all walks of life.
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"Do I need to become a priest in order to be a monk?"
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No. Men who commit themselves to monastic life may find the priesthood to be an additional step they'd like to take in fulfilling their vocation and their role in the life of the community. However, it's just one option for lifelong service. St. Benedict is clear in his Rule that all kinds of honest work are to be equally respected, valued and shared in the monastic family. As in all families, the men at Mount Michael have different abilities and contributions that they make for the good of all and to the glory of God. |
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"If I were to choose monastic life, what would I actually do every day?"
| Each man's work contribution is determined based on his abilities and the needs and mission of the community. At Mount Michael, all work is valued. Everyone takes his turn at certain routine tasks that support community life, as outlined in St. Benedict's Rule. Some tasks, however, are unique to each man; some are teachers at the high school, while others devote themselves to care of the campus, land, gardens and livestock. Some have a primary role in welcoming guests, seekers and worshippers to the abbey, while others help manage the business site of the abbey and its apostolates. Ordained Priests at Mount Michael also often perform official duties in parishes in the Archdiocese of Omaha, as they are needed and assigned |  |
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Whatever the tasks, daily work at Mount Michael is permeated with worship and prayer. Five times a day, including once for Eucharist, the community gathers to pray, praise God and read the Holy Scriptures. This structure and discipline leads the monks to greater awareness of God's immediacy and their utter dependence on His grace in every moment. As stated in the Mount Michael Mission Statement, monastic life is made dynamic by both "dedicated prayer and work," and in this way, "Time and space are made holy, 'That in all things, God may be glorified.'" |
"What vows do the monks at Mount Michael profess?"
In the Rule, Saint Benedict states that the novice monk who wishes to profess vows should "In the oratory, in the presence of all...promise stability, conversion of his life and obedience..." (Chapter 58) With the refinement of Canon Law, however, the monastic today professes five vows: poverty, celibacy, obedience, conversion of life and stability. The latter of the two are characteristically "Benedictine" vows.
One of the best ways to understand what monasticism is all about is to visit a monastery and take part in its daily life. It's important to remember, too, that just like a family, each monastic community has its own unique character and traditions. Mount Michael welcomes visitors, receiving them as Christ, and will gladly help interested men to explore the meaning and possibilities of a monastic vocation at Mount Michael. To arrange a first hand taste of Mount Michael by visiting our abbey, or for more information about vocations and spiritual opportunities, visit the Come and See page.