I’ve recently decided that I don’t need to live like a monk.
That’s not my vocation. I’ve tried in to various ways. I went to Opus Dei monthly Recollections for about a decade from about 2004 to 2013. There I learned about having a plan of life. I tried very hard to build up to what an Opus Dei member does but I could not do it.
We had four kids during that time, and I was trying to start a law practice.
Then I did Exodus 90 multiple times with guys online and from my church community and I could never complete everything for 90 days. Not even close.
Recently I tried the Monk app. It has some great stuff but I don’t have the time and freedom to pray alone multiple times per day and watch all the videos and do all the stuff they teach.
Before Christmas, I took a break from Thursday through Monday the first week of Advent to spend 5 days with Benedictine Monks at Ascension Abbey in Richardton ND.
While I was there, they let me keep their schedule for everything but work. I didn’t have to wash the dishes or shovel snow because I was a guest and benefactor.
But they did let me sit in choir with them and pray the hours. It was a beautiful experience. Living with the monks, I found it very easy and enjoyable to do this. Then it hit me, this doesn’t work at home for me because, I’m not a monk! This is not my vocation. It’s a lovely vocation. I really enjoyed the men I spent time praying with. Had I been Catholic before I got married, I might have explored this vocation more, but it’s not my vocation. It’s perfectly fine if I just go to Mass on Sundays and holy days and pray when I can. Realistically, when I’m praying daily it probably needs to be with my wife or family. Otherwise it’s taking my attention from them.
I have learned from all those experiences. I will continue doing an annual retreat and making time to have a holy hour at least once a month and praying a daily rosary with my wife. And that’s enough. That fits my vocation. I learned from Opus Dei that if I do my work well, with intention and love it can also be prayer.
Being present and really listening to my work colleagues and my children is a way for me to practice the Presence Of God. I don’t have to spend 15-30 min 5 or 7 times a day doing religious things.
In a monastery, it’s the most natural thing in the world. In my family life and law practice, it is not. I learned a lot from it all, but for now, I’m done with monk life.
Oh I love how you came to this place in your faith journey. I wish you well in your journey which will be ever evolving (wife, children, law practice…this is your primary vocation right now). God bless you on your journey.
I’ve recently decided that I don’t need to live like a monk.
That’s not my vocation. I’ve tried in to various ways. I went to Opus Dei monthly Recollections for about a decade from about 2004 to 2013. There I learned about having a plan of life. I tried very hard to build up to what an Opus Dei member does but I could not do it.
We had four kids during that time, and I was trying to start a law practice.
Then I did Exodus 90 multiple times with guys online and from my church community and I could never complete everything for 90 days. Not even close.
Recently I tried the Monk app. It has some great stuff but I don’t have the time and freedom to pray alone multiple times per day and watch all the videos and do all the stuff they teach.
Before Christmas, I took a break from Thursday through Monday the first week of Advent to spend 5 days with Benedictine Monks at Ascension Abbey in Richardton ND.
While I was there, they let me keep their schedule for everything but work. I didn’t have to wash the dishes or shovel snow because I was a guest and benefactor.
But they did let me sit in choir with them and pray the hours. It was a beautiful experience. Living with the monks, I found it very easy and enjoyable to do this. Then it hit me, this doesn’t work at home for me because, I’m not a monk! This is not my vocation. It’s a lovely vocation. I really enjoyed the men I spent time praying with. Had I been Catholic before I got married, I might have explored this vocation more, but it’s not my vocation. It’s perfectly fine if I just go to Mass on Sundays and holy days and pray when I can. Realistically, when I’m praying daily it probably needs to be with my wife or family. Otherwise it’s taking my attention from them.
I have learned from all those experiences. I will continue doing an annual retreat and making time to have a holy hour at least once a month and praying a daily rosary with my wife. And that’s enough. That fits my vocation. I learned from Opus Dei that if I do my work well, with intention and love it can also be prayer.
Being present and really listening to my work colleagues and my children is a way for me to practice the Presence Of God. I don’t have to spend 15-30 min 5 or 7 times a day doing religious things.
In a monastery, it’s the most natural thing in the world. In my family life and law practice, it is not. I learned a lot from it all, but for now, I’m done with monk life.
Oh I love how you came to this place in your faith journey. I wish you well in your journey which will be ever evolving (wife, children, law practice…this is your primary vocation right now). God bless you on your journey.