The ministries of monastics

[Randy Fermo]

What ministry can Monk get involve? beside prayer ?


I am discernning to be a monk and at the same time minister
to the inner city low income and homeless community.

Would that be a problem?

[Irene]

Hi Randy,

Last Sunday was "the Sunday of the Last Judgement" and the Bible reading was very clear ( Mathew 25:31-46 - link (http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=mathew%2025:31-46;&version=9;%20)). (See also this article on the last judgement (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/death/lastjudge_comm.aspx)) Each of us as Christians is called upon to feed the poor, care for the sick, the elderly, orphans, homeless. You can live very piously as a lay person in the world with the guidance of your Spiritual Father and do all the good and kind acts that your heart yearns to.

As a monk you must do what your Spiritual Father/the Abbot tells you. He may have you scrubbing floor and cleaning toilets for the next ten years and you must do it even if you think you should be out helping the poor. You must do it because it is a lesson in humility being taught to you for your salvation.

As a lay person you can attach yourself to a monastery, get spiritual guidance, learn from the monks and get an idea if it is for you in the long run. A lot of people I know try to make regular trips to our monasteries to refresh, spiritually. Those who can't make it there because of worldy burdens long to return. I love, love, love staying at monasteries and am lucky enough to have a Church that is part of a monastery and my Priest a Hieromonk, so I get a little reminder every week of my monastery stays of the past.

When you say discerning to be a monk do you mean interested in becoming a monk or already working towards it? Our Priest in his Sunday Sermon mentioned something about how heavy the burdens are on Priests/Bishops and Monks because they will be judged more harshly than a lay person. So be careful and be sure that you are strong enough in faith to endure the Monastic Cross.

Have you visited the Orthodoxinfo.com site? Here you can read articles on living as an ascetic in the world. (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/podvig.aspx)

In Christ
irene

[Herman Blaydoe]

The Orthodox Monastery "Our Lady of Mercy" in downtown New York City ministers to the poor and homeless. The monastery has facilities to provide a bed, clothes, and meals, in a substance abuse-free environment, for up to 10 men who are in alcohol/drug abuse recovery or just in need of a temporary living situation until they "get on their feet". Mercy House also provides food and clothes distribution.

More information is available here:
Mercy House Monastery (http://omna.malf.net/mercy.htm)

New Skete Monastery raises guide dogs for the Blind. Other monasteries offer counseling services or do community service. Of course ALL monasteries offer the most powerful ministries of prayer, regardless.

[Randy Fermo]

Thanks...

I have a monastic vocation, but I created my own ministry for the inner city and global villages ministry. I felt our Lord have given me a gift to live as monk in the inner city as well. I have not contacted the Mercy HOuse but I really want to visit them sometimes soon.

I created a message board so that people have an understanding with my journey to the inner city.. and as monk ... I need prayer and guidance ...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/innercitymonk/

[Alex Haig]

From which Abbot do you receive obedience from? He will be able to guide you.

With love in Christ

Alex

[Randy Fermo]

Aloha,

Yes... thanks ... I am in contact with him.

[Fr.Columban Scull, OSB]

As a monk, my primary "ministry" is prayer. That in no way precludes other activites, but that it orders them.

[Randy Fermo]

Yes ,,, father.... Ora et Labora... is also the rule of my life and my monastic vocation beside the example of Charles de Foucauld. They both the insperation of my religious vocation.

[nurse-aid]

Ok Ok...nail might be inspiration from hammer to have a desire to break that wall...becuase nail know how powerful and strong hummer is...so he got inspire by this and set to the hammer: LET'S break this wall together...OK? INSPARATION also exist in this wayhttp://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/proud.gif

[nurse-aid]

i think i though like that before...that my vocation is separetes...like a careere which someone wants to make...but this is diferent story...becuase spirutual or monastic vocation is the life itself...or life itself for those who choose it IS the vocation itself...so eveything and everyone then become part of it...all tools in HIS hands...in contrary to careere...So the insparation then IS inside that vocation...not from outside...because what i do for HIS name is moves me toward the goal...and maybe some movement to it is the biggest JOY and achivement itself...NOT me who put goal forvard...and try to reach it...this is career, not vocation then...wow to much for myself...my head is weak...beter stop nowhttp://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/crazy.gif

[nurse-aid]

in this situation...someone already planned the whole movie...so it is already known what and when end will be...so it is diferent a little...

[anthony grimley]

I am apart of a small lay monastic community in england and we are constantly faced with the tension of work and prayer. I have a family so between my wife and i we have to provide money for food and bills but this has to be regulated within our monastic day of prayer, work, study, fasting and family life. The question that comes from this tension is daily faced. How then shall we live? and i feel is at the heart of the monastic way. regarding work, as someone has already said, i feel that the work for the monastic evolves from ones prayer life and that the vocation may be to the monastic life but at some point it has to find an outward expression in whatever God leads us to.