Protestant Monasticism

[willguy]

Okay, this isn't really a debate, but I figured this is the folder where its most likely to get responses from Catholics and non-Catholics, and who knows, it may turn into a debate.

Couple questions:

1. Why aren't there any Protestant monastic communities? Anyone have any ideas on this?

2. For our non-Catholic brethren, what is your opinion of monasticism?

[cmotherofpirl]

THere are Anglican Benedictines.

Edited January 27, 2004 by cmotherofpirl

[M.SIGGA]

and Lutherans and Methodists and Episcopalians and now born-again Prots too.

http://prayerfoundation.org/brief_history_...monasticism.htm

[willguy]

Ok, so let me rephrase this question:

Why is monasticism so rare in Protestantism, with maybe a dozen protestant monastic organizations among all of the world while there are more than that many Catholic convents/abbeys/monasteries in my state (Missouri REPRESENT!)?

[M.SIGGA]

The only reason it's springing back up is that folks are realizing they got rid of a good thing when trying to rid themselves of everything Catholic and traditional, considering it was believed to be an institution of the antiChrist. Outside of Anglicanism, Protestant monasticism is very different from traditional monasticism.

There were some abuses at a few abbeys during feudalism, but Europe owes it's conversion from paganism to Christian monasteries and the monks preserved the Scriptures throughout the dark ages. Monasteries also housed great libraries and were great centers of culture and learning.

[Aloysius]

yeah,,, aren't monastaries very biblical as the first Christian communities basically worked like that.. everyone gave all their wealth to the community and they lived together in peace and Christian brotherhood... ?

:cool:

[Laudate_Dominum]

yeah,,, aren't monastaries very biblical as the first Christian communities basically worked like that.. everyone gave all their wealth to the community and they lived together in peace and Christian brotherhood... ?

Yes, the founders of organized monasticism in the West (primarily St. Benedict of Nursia) had this precise ideal in mind. You would live in a community, distanced from the distractions of the world in order to be devoted to prayer and living the ideal of a Christian community. Similar the ideal of the mendicant orders (like the Franciscans & Dominicans) was to have something of the ideal Christian community like the strict monastics but with an apostolic dimension, hence iterant preaching, etc. If you read the various rules for religious life (Benedictine, Augustinian, Franciscan, etc.) they are all rooted in the Scriptures and filled with Scripture quotes. It's funny but when St. Francis came up with his rule he was in a Church and flipped open to a random page and verse of the Gospel three times and those three verses that he read became the basis of his rule.

If I remember correctly they were:

"If you would be perfect, go, sell all the you have and give to the poor...then come follow me."

"Take nothing for your journey...etc."

Bah! I can't remember the third one.

While strict monastics are seperated from the world they are connected through the apostolate of prayer, and often provide a place for people to come for retreats and stuff and they enrich the life of the Church in these ways (the Benedictine rule has much to say about hospitality toward guests), whereas the mendicant orders, for example the Franciscans, are more directly connected with the world through a ministry of preaching and/or service. St. Bonaventure compares the ideal of the Franciscan life to Jacobs's ladder, he says Francis was like an angel, ascending and descending this ladder. His hours of prayer and contemplation bore fruit which he brought to the world, and then he would return to his prayer and contemplation with intercessions for that world. And I believe that Bonaventure (and Francis!) would say that the Franciscan should be primarily a contemplative (many Franciscans would challenge me on this but I believe I'm correct).

[Bruce S]

Why is monasticism so rare in Protestantism, with maybe a dozen protestant monastic organizations among all of the world while there are more than that many Catholic convents/abbeys/monasteries in my state (Missouri REPRESENT!)?

Good question. Funny that you should bring it up.

I was honestly pondering that very same question myself the other day.

[Laudate_Dominum]

Maybe you're being called to found a monastery Bruce. ;)

[Bruce S]

:lol:

Well, no sex...got THAT already, shaved head....hair going so have THAT, up early...do THAT too, chanting....I talk to myself all the time....

Hey, I'm THERE ALREADY!!

[Laudate_Dominum]

:lol:

[God Conquers]

I think one main reason is that, other than living in "christian community" monastic orders are considered responsible for our salvation by offering prayers for us. I think issues regarding the Mass, and intertcession arise with respect to protestants having traditional monastic communities.

[Bruce S]

I think one main reason is that, other than living in "christian community" monastic orders are considered responsible for our salvation by offering prayers for us.

I heard this same heresy last night on EWTN.

Anyone want to ask WHY this line of thought is so dangerous?

[Aloysius]

i'll nip this in the bud.. that doesn't mean because the ppl in the monasteries pray we are all allowed in heaven,

it's because they're always prayin for us that we would remain strong in our faith and that all our works would be fruitful. and praying for others IS Biblical, so there :P

[God Conquers]

Thanks for the back-up Al. It's not through their works that we are allowed into heaven, but for their constant supplications that God pour His graces down on us, so that we may remain faithful and strong.

It's as if you had 1000's of friends all praying for ya. The Holy Spirit will respond to our prayers to be with others if it is His will. So it is with monastic communities.