Community
Community
By Fr Michael Casey
The monastery is a small local expression of the early church described in the Acts of the Apostles: its special character was to be of one heart and one mind, having all things in common, giving to all as each had need, serving one another joyfully and taking care of those who had less. Because of its size and organisation the monastery is able to provide monks with the space they need for the contemplative life by sharing the tasks of daily living among many.
Living among those who have the same spiritual ideals is a constant source of stimulus. The example of those who have followed this path through many decades and become holy is an encouragement to persevere when life becomes difficult, as it does sometimes for everyone. Many ancient monastic writers were fond of the text from the book of Proverbs: “Woe to the one who is alone, for when he falls he has no one to help him up”.
The early Cistercians viewed the monastery as a “school of love” in which those who enter learn to renounce selfishness and progressively to live their lives and to make choices in the context of others. The monastery is a communion of brothers, living under the guidance of the Gospel and following the Rule of Saint Benedict.
This love is shown in many different ways, through attentive listening to one another, through faithful participation in the common exercises, through mutual care and concern, respect, encouragement and support, through mutual service, through sharing common tasks, through work done for the sake of the community. There are also many lighter moments in a monk’s life when he can relax with his brothers and enjoy their companionship.
The community is self-governing under the local abbot, whom it elects. Important decisions are taken by the formal vote of the conventual chapter. Other matters are discussed in community meetings and dialogues.
Because of the vow of stability, monks can ordinarily expect to spend the whole of their lives with a single group of people, although the group may change with new arrivals on the one hand and departures and deaths on the other. This long-term relationship places special demands on individuals, but it also offers unique benefits – after ten or twenty years we are well-known to all, our limitations as well as our assets, so that there is no need for false facades. The acceptance and warmth we receive is given in the full knowledge of all aspects of our personality; we are loved for what we are.
