Q&A Home > M > Monasticism/Monastic Life

• I am 19 years old and I have a desire for monasticism. It is to the point that I bought a kolonsowa [cowl] and galabia [monastic black robe] from Egypt and I wear them in my room when I pray, and even when I sleep. Doing this reminds and helps me keep my chastity and to always be thinking about being a monk. I love to listen to tasbeha and to sermons by bishops or monks from the monastery I would want to join. My question is, how do I know that this desire is genuine? Also, is it wrong for me to be wearing the monastic garb in my room?
• I am considering monasticism. I have noticed that when I stay in a monastery or during a retreat I am able to subdue my passions through prayer and fasting. When I am back in the world, I find myself unable to pray nor fast and preoccupied with work and activities. The old man becomes strong, the flesh, the ego, and all my desires become hard to subdue. I am torn between two viewpoints:
  • That anyone considering monasticism should prepare himself before coming to monastery by living a monastic life in the world.
  
  
  
  • For some people, passions are overcome only within a monastic community.
• I am seventeen years old, I sometimes feel as if I am called to become a nun, because I believe monastic life might be an answer to living a life fully dedicated to God. I am confused between that thought and a desire for a life in the world.
• I have been contemplating monastic life. My mother is totally against it arguing that I could serve God more and better in the world bringing the lost sheep back to our Lord Jesus Christ. I am praying about it. Could Your Grace please advise me?
• I have been thinking about monasticism for a while. I am 30 years old and currently working on completing my bachelor degree. I am also thinking to continue for a master’s degree in the same field or if I find something in Christian studies. Sometimes I think that it is better to focus on my spiritual life and become a monk after my studies than to continue for a master degree. I talked about it to my priest and he told me that many consider that option and after change the idea. I went with a friend for 2-3 days to a Catholic monastery to see how it feels and I found it really peaceful. I am a little bit of shy person and maybe this can cause a problem to live in a community of monks. Should I take some steps further, like taking a retreat for couple of days in a Coptic monastery or talk about it to another priest?
• What is monastic life like? Who qualifies for it? What does it take to make a good monk? At the moment I am divided between marriage life and monastic life. Could you please advise me?
• When I was a young man I was in a relationship and fell to the lusts of the flesh. This relationship ended and I turned back to the Lord Christ. I have repented and confessed these sins before my father of confession. I recently went on a retreat to a Coptic Monastery and found myself longing for a monastic life. I spoke to my father of confession about it and he says it may be a good path for me, but for now we are praying and asking for God to reveal His will. Part of me feels that the sins from my past relationship disqualify me from the great blessing of the monastic life and my sin is at all times before me. Is it possible to still pursue a monastic life having fallen to the lust of the flesh previously?
• Why does a monk seclude his life from the world when he can use the love and passion he has for God to preach to others?