Vocations Flourish at Conception Abbey

As our world becomes more secular and materialistic, many people have stopped regularly attending church and are falling away from faith in God. Though this reality is disheartening, there is a counter-movement of many young people seeking to live out the fullness of their Catholic faith more intentionally, I see the transformation happening on college campuses and throughout the country. The teaching and truths of the Catholic faith and the beauty of the tradition are drawing young people into a closer relationship with Christ. Why has Conception Abbey seen an increase in interest in monastic life and of men entering the monastery? The quickest and easiest response would be this: the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. While the Holy Spirit is certainly active in opening a person’s heart to follow Christ, there are also three important factors that make Conception Abbey an attractive community for men to consider.

 

The Benedictine Spirituality

Many people in our culture live in chaos and instability. Even if their lives appear to be going relatively smoothly on the outside, there is usually a lack of interior stability in the form of anxiety, restlessness, and discontentment, especially when one’s life is not oriented toward God. The Benedictine life provides the much-desired stability. Conception Abbey offers a beautiful rural location to live out and pursue God. We are removed from the noises and distractions of city life and the beauty of the location contributes to finding interior peace with God. Some Benedictine monasteries, because of their proximity to the city, do not share the benefit of being united with nature.

The structure and consistency of the monks’ daily schedule keep us rooted in the Church’s ancient practices of the Divine Office and lectio divina. Though we monks are involved in various ministries and monastery operations, the importance of the daily life of prayer and two periods each day for lectio divina is not compromised. Our culture struggles to find this proper balance of life, but the Benedictine spirituality proposes unity between prayer and work (ora et labora). Conception Abbey’s emphasis on prayer is attractive to young men who desire to grow in holiness and it conveys the monastic community’s conviction that “if the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor” (Psalm 127:1).

One author said that our culture today is “amusing itself to death.” Too much noise, distractions, and excess entertainment is neither fulfilling nor good for the human person. The discipline of silence at Conception Abbey—silence in the monastery and at meals—is a welcomed reprieve from the commotion of the world and an invitation for deeper reflection. Silence fosters daily connection with our spiritual roots and recognition that God’s mysterious and hidden grace is always at work, even though we do not always perceive it.

 

The Community

Conception Abbey enjoys a vibrant and growing community. Our monks range from their early 20s to their late 90s, and there is a richness in the diversity of ages and experience, but the common element is that each monk witnesses faith in Christ and the desire to commit one’s life to God. We have a healthy community—a mix of personalities, where not all are close friends with one another (though many friendships do exist), but more importantly, we all are striving to “show the pure love of brothers” (Rule of St. Benedict 72:8). While a young man may feel attracted to the Benedictine way of life, he has to join a specific community, and each community will inevitably be a different mix of brothers. The monks of Conception Abbey are known for their gracious hospitality, beautiful liturgies, cultivation of leadership throughout the decades, and contributions to the greater Church—especially through the formation of diocesan seminarians and the new translation of the Abbey Psalms and Canticles.

Young men not only discern their call to our community, but, as a community, we also discern the candidates who seek entrance. We are looking for men who desire prayer, beautiful liturgy, strong community life, an appreciation for the Psalms and Sacred Scriptures, silence, and simplicity of life. We seek men with integrity, intelligence, and initiative. At Conception Abbey, newcomers will find the opportunity to grow in holiness through prayer, and their growth will also occur in their service to the Church through our various apostolates. New members will find many fulfilling works to be involved in that God can use to draw out and use their gifts and talents.

 

The Mission

Every community should be able to answer clearly these three questions: Who are we? What do we do? And, where are we going? Ultimately, our goal is to get to heaven, but the Holy Spirit has guided our community on earth to participate in and continue the work of Jesus Christ. Conception Abbey has a clear sense of purpose and direction, which has been further clarified and defined as we listen attentively to the Holy Spirit and move further into the twenty-first century. One hundred and fifty years ago, part of the early monastery’s mission was to serve the German and Irish immigrants in northwest Missouri. The monks have continued in pastoral ministry, but since our founding have been asked to provide seminary education and formation for men preparing for the diocesan priesthood, welcome guests and lead retreatants to Christ, and operate The Printery House (now Altar + Home). These apostolates have seen renewal and revitalization in recent years and have become a source of growth, further ministry, and hope for the future.

Our monastery’s direction and leadership have led us to explore new possibilities and ensure our contributions for the sanctification of the Church and the world. Conception Abbey has remained true to living faithfully the Rule of St. Benedict. Faithfulness to the Work of God in the midst of the passing fads and trends of the world, has further revealed the truth that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). We do not always have to be successful, we just have to remain faithful to the mission and to God’s grace. Though “the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few,” the Lord of the Harvest is still inviting men to discern their vocation among us (Matthew 9:37). The growth is exciting, humbling, and something for which our community gives thanks to Almighty God.

— Fr. Paul Sheller, OSB, Vocation Director