Seek God, Seek His Wisdom

Afriend of mine who visited Conception once remarked at the end of his visit: “The giant windmills are a symbol. The monks are running around doing many things, but they go in circles.”

A first-time visitor might be forgiven for concluding that the monastic life is circular. Perhaps the phrase Ora et Labora, “prayer and work” best sums it up. But it would be misleading to conclude that a monk’s vow of stability is merely the ability to commit to the cycle of monastic life. It would be better to say that the beginning of stability is to bind oneself to the cycle of monastic life. The end of stability is to discern variety within the routine—a variety that a new visitor cannot be expected to spot.

The first few years of monastic life are a time to see if an aspirant can discern the variety within monastic life. Can he perceive differences in the liturgy that come with different liturgical seasons? Can he distinguish between the type of reading done to accomplish a certain task and the type of reading done with lectio divina? Stability, the habit of paying attention to the activity at hand because one is committed to the task at hand, makes it possible to spot these differences.

In the first four years of monastic life, Br. Mark’s commitment to the monastic routine has borne fruit in a varied life. He has contributed to the beauty of the liturgy as a member of the schola and has benefited from our musical tradition. He has helped others to understand Scripture and the monastic tradition by leading retreats in the Abbey Guest Center. And his eye for detail proved a valuable asset when it came to planning the many events during the 150th anniversary. The promotion and experience of beauty, the intellectual tradition of Christianity, and the practical demands of service. All of these have their place in the monastic life, and Br. Mark has begun to exhibit the ability to pursue Christ in all of these activities.

— Br. Anselm Broom, OSB

Director of Monastic Formation

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