“A man offers his humanity to Christ, so that Christ may use him as an instrument of salvation, making him as it were into another Christ. Unless we grasp the mystery of this ‘exchange,’ we will not understand how it can be that a young man, hearing the words ‘Follow me!,’ can give up everything for Christ, in the certainty that if he follows this path he will find complete fulfillment.”
-Pope John Paul II
Letter From Abbot Gregory Polan:
Greetings of peace from Conception Abbey.
By opening this letter you are likely exploring an important question. How can living and working in a monastic community help fulfill my desire to serve God?
The monks of Conception Abbey are Roman Catholic men who follow the Rule of St. Benedict. Written in the sixth century, the Rule outlines the order of the community’s daily life and spiritual values, and calls the monks to a simple life of prayer and work.
The Abbey monks perform their tasks for the greater honor and glory of God. Six times each day, the monks gather as a community to praise God in the Liturgy of the Hours (Vigils, Lauds, Daytime Prayer, Vespers, Compline) and the Mass. (Monastic Prayer Schedule) Our beautiful House of Prayer, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, is the heart of the Conception Abbey campus.
If you are considering a monastic vocation, I recommend several steps. First, and most important, pray. Ask God what His will is for you. Place all of your anxiety and questions in His loving hands.
Second, talk to your pastor, or a priest or monk you know. You will find that they have traveled a road similar to yours.
If you have more specific questions about life at Conception Abbey, I invite you to contact Father Benedict Neenan, our vocation director. His phone number and e-mail address are listed below. Throughout the year, our community hosts several “Monastic Experiences,” opportunities to live, pray and work with the monks. And in the spring and fall our seminary college hosts “Encounter With God’s Call,” which provides participants a taste of both seminary and monastic life.
Congratulations, God is working in your life, and the journey ahead of you is an exciting one. Be assured that each day the monks of Conception Abbey pray for you and others contemplating religious life.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rt. Rev. Gregory J. Polan
Abbot
For more information about monastic life contact:
Fr. Benedict Neenan, OSB
Vocation Director
Conception Abbey
PO Box 501
37174 State Highway VV
Conception, MO 64433-0501 Phone: 660-944-2857
Fax: 660-944-2800
E-mail:
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