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Comments
I THINK YOU CAN START IN ANY AGE BECAUSE WHEN JESUS STARTED HE WAS NOT IN SPACIFIC AGE??????
I don't think u can start monaticism in any age if that's what u meant...I think u have to be mentally and spirtually mature in order to even think of monasticism, Jesus is God...which is different than any of us...ya we should follow Christ in what He did...but even jesus didn't start preaching and walk among the crowds until 33 or 31 (i am not really sure how long He began preaching and serving before the crucifixtion)...tht's despite the time He spent at the altar teaching when He was 12 and St. Mary and St. Joesph were looking for him. I mean ya...u could have been thinking about monasticism for a long time...but maybe u are gonna change ur mind later...that's why u have to be mentally and spirtualy mature to began anything that is going to affect u and change u for the rest of ur life..
God Bless,
Marianne
1) Not everyone who thinks they can be a monk can be one, many people are dismissed from the monastery for several reasons. You need something to fall back on.
2) I believe you are supposed to make some sort of sacrifice between you and God, i.e. you give up a good life, you should be working at the time of desire to leave. I know a friend who has thought about being a monk, but he won’t even consider it yet because he doesn't have much to give up, he wants to buy many expensive things, then comes the real test of whether or not to leave the world. Anyone can say I want to be monk if they don't have much but, if you have a good life and still leave then you’ve passed one of many tests.
A degree is just the beginning of a good life, it is the starting point of a good job and a good income, that’s why you have to be at least at the beginning of starting a good life to enter the monastery.
3) A college education can help a monk in everday life. I recently visted St. Antony's Monastery and they were building gazebos, there was a priest who was directing the building of all the gazebos, and saying were everything is put and telling the carpenters how to build it. His engineering education helps him accomplish certain things. Another priest is into agriculture so he has plants and gardens and an entire irrigation system set up.
Besides that if God blesses a monk with honor of serving as a Bishop he definitely needs a college degree. Most Bishops have like 5 degrees, I know of one Bishop who is going for his like 3rd Masters degree currently and already has a PhD or something like that.
There are a couple more which I can’t remember right now.
But about age, someone mentioned age doesn't matter, your right! But lets get serious, can you compare yourself to some of these saints who became monks at such a young age? It all depends on the person. but remember that were all human, and that everyday we think of something new, Don’t people change careers and majors. Aspirations change as a person matures, thats why on the other hand age does matter, i think the appropriate age is in your late twenties thats when some should be working or close to it and should be on the verge of a good life thats when you sit down and asses yourself and look at what you should do.
BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER, TO ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO.
IF SOME OF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, I HOPE AS MUCH AS YOU THINK ABOUT IT YOU PRAY ABOUT IT.
-mina
btw, if you think about being a monk/nun try and practise it at home dont just say, oh when i grow up like fasting and matanias (worshiping), praying from the agpya {yes cos u'll hv to pray the 7 prayers at the monastery!!!} (omg :o)
and God protect us all from the devil and his evil.
pray4me
GBU