Join the Community

How do I join the community?
I am Jerrianne Bland, the monastery’s membership coordinator. I want to introduce you to the community, Benedictine Women of Madison. I will tell you what it takes to become a member and tell you about the life you would lead. Together, we can determine whether you might find it helpful to visit our monastery so you can learn more about membership in our community.

Our community is unique! We invite women of any Christian faith community to explore life with us. Should you become a member, you do not give up your denomination. One of our values is to honor and share each woman’s beliefs and practices within our daily rhythm of prayer and worship.

Let’s talk about a few of the requirements. . . Are you a single Christian woman? Are you a woman who desires to deepen your spiritual life? Would you like to live with other women who are faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you open to learning? To loving and serving others? Are you willing to join a community that shares a common vision, common values and a common way of life?

Sound okay so far? Then read on. If not, then perhaps God is calling you to another path.

The Rule of Benedict
Like other Benedictine communities we follow The Rule of Benedict. This guide for living in community was written between 530 and 560 A.D. by Benedict of Nursia, an Italian monk and founder of Benedictine monasticism. Although written over 1,500 years ago, the Rule offers contemporary Christian women a way of living the Gospel. Through its focus on prayer, community, hospitality and balance, the Rule suggests ways to find holiness in our daily lives.

Today, each Benedictine community lives the values of the Rule in ways that adapt to their setting and to the gifts of each member. Benedictine Women of Madison emphasize three values from the Rule in a vision of weaving prayer, hospitality and care of the earth into a shared way of life.

“That they truly seek God” is the only requirement for monastic life Benedict mentions in the Rule, however, newcomers are not to be granted an easy entrance. (RB58) Benedict asks for maturity of character and emotional stability of those who wish to enter into community.

Community living
What are some of the essential qualities necessary for living with Benedictine Women of Madison? Are you a woman of prayer? Our daily life is centered around prayer. We gather together for Liturgy of the Hours and centering prayer several times each day.

Are you a social person? Hospitality. . . welcoming every guest to our monastery as if she/he were Christ is an important mission of our community. (RB 53) We live together 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So, intolerance or dislike of other people could be a significant detriment to community life. We are companions. We become friends. We are sisters who share sorrows, joys and deep faith in Jesus Christ. We take time to listen and communicate with each other.

Our lives are simple. We hold all goods in common while having what we need. Addictions of any kind do not fit monastic living. In order to serve and love God, one another and all people who come our way, celibacy is part of our life. We require women seeking entrance into Benedictine Women of Madison to have lived a celibate life long enough to know it is right for them. Divorced and widowed women are welcome to seek membership; however, discernment may take longer. It takes time for all women to get acquainted with our community. Visits, conversation with members, prayer and retreats are important aspects of your discernment time.

Still sound okay? Keep reading if you’d like me to tell you what will happen after you’ve completed some discernment time before coming to the monastery.

Formation
You continue the process of determining your call to Benedictine life by beginning a six to twelve- month period of candidacy. Candidates live in community with the sisters. This time of living in the monastery is an adjustment to the dynamics of community life. You follow the schedule of community prayer, work, meals and recreation. You devote time daily to lectio divina (holy reading), Centering Prayer, and attend classes to learn the fundamental principles of Benedictine life. You may lead community prayer. You meet regularly with a mentor for guidance and together reflect on your daily experience. If your theology needs updating, you may take courses in Christian formation.

When you complete the candidacy program, you leave the monastery for several weeks to reflect and pray about your time here and consider application to the next stage of formation

Let’s say you’ve decided to continue your spiritual journey with Benedictine Women of Madison and the community, in turn, has agreed. You return to the monastery and begin the two-year novitiate period.

Your primary focus as a novice is to deepen your discernment of the call to community through the experience of daily life. To live together in community and to live open to grace is the life-long seeking of God that the Rule calls the novice to daily. This way of life is intended for ordinary Christians with a deep desire for God. This desire finds meaning and expression primarily in the community context.

As a novice, you contribute to the life and work of the community: leading prayer, sharing your faith, serving guests in the dining room, working in the library or archives, and helping serve a meal to homeless people. Because our community places emphasis on care of the earth, outside physical work such as gardening, tree pruning, etc., may be something you would like to do.

Your primary work as a novice is to study the Rule of Benedict, Scripture, including the Psalms, liturgy, dialogue of the Christian churches and building and fostering an environment of Christian unity. Through a rhythm of daily work, prayer and leisure, you learn to integrate activities and bring them into the single focus of seeking God.

Time to evaluate again. Has the novitiate period been a satisfactory experience? Do you have a strong desire to make a commitment to Benedictine Women of Madison? Are you comfortable, happy and compatible with community members? Are you eager to contribute to the work of the monastery? Do you share the community’s vision and hope to see it fulfilled? If you have answered yes to these questions, it’s time to make the promise of First Profession.

I’ve told you about the first few years. Now it’s up to you. I would like to get to know you and help you decide about visiting us. You can contact me to ask questions at 608-836-1631 ext. 158 or send an email message to jbland@benedictinewomen.org. Either way, I’ll snail mail you more information about Benedictine Women of Madison.

We offer retreats for women interested in learning more about our life… Invitation to Community: Exploring Benedictine Life is offered two times each year, or you may schedule A Week at the Monastery any time that suits your schedule and ours. We offer spirituality retreats too, if you’d like to come and check things out for yourself.

Hope to hear from you soon!