Monastic profession in a time of violence, division and fear

Openness to change is a cornerstone of Benedictine life, reflected in the vow of conversatio morum, traditionally understood as “conversion to the monastic way.” Conversatio points Benedictines to an openness of the heart, a commitment to conversion—a deep-seated orientation toward the Spirit’s call. At its best, Benedictine life is a fluid and flexible form, inspired by a 1500-year history and the examples of those who have gone before.

John Klassen, OSB (left) and Michaela Hedican, OSB, presenters at the 2016 Monastic Institute.

Last week over 100 monks, sisters, nuns, oblates and students of theology attended the 2016 Monastic Institute hosted by Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, MN. Reflecting on the theme of Benedictine monastic profession in our time, Abbot John Klassen of Saint John’s Abbey and Prioress Michaela Hedican of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, offered rich wisdom and scholarship on the three central promises of Benedictine life: stability, obedience and conversatio morum.

Attendees gathered for presentations and conversations

As our conversations deepened, I slowly came to know the people and stories in the room.  Among those gathered were monks and oblates, Roman Catholics, Lutherans and Episcopalians, missionary and contemplative Benedictines, cloistered and active, habited and not-habited, old and young, Vietnamese, Filipino, Hispanic. As a newcomer myself, it was deeply encouraging to see and hear the ways that Benedictine life provided for and even encouraged differences.

Empty meeting room behind baptismal font setting

As the Institute drew to a close, the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile in Minneapolis dominated the news. The cry for justice, for the violence and bloodshed to cease and for every person—no matter their color—to feel safe and respected in this country, rang out from protestors and permeated our prayers. The wound of racism is not just a matter for the world; it is a matter for the monastery and for every praying community. We are not immune; we too need healing.

As a woman of color, an Indian-American raised by immigrant parents, and a newly professed sister, the events of these recent days begs a question: What does my monastic profession call me to in this time, in this place?  I wish I had an easy answer.

What I have come to see is:

• My promise of stability binds me to relationships in a country convulsed by pain, divided by the sin of racism.
• My promise of obedience calls me to listen unwaveringly, to respond to violence with my own cry for healing and help.
• My promise of conversatio morum invites me to change, openness, faith—even in the face of systemic racism.

This is not easy. But I find hope in the ways my own ecumenical Benedictine community has responded to diversity. By welcoming the Spirit in one another, we commit ourselves to finding ways to grow daily into a diverse human family. It is often painful personal work, but it is what I believe my monastic profession demands of me today, in this time and in this place.

(photos  from Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary)

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Read other blog posts from Sister Rosy in her series, Letters home.