the stages of formation

The discernment process begins with the initial contact between the applicant and the Vocation Director. This is normally done by email and/or phone conversations.

If these develop positively they will be followed by a personal visit of the applicant to the monastery, to live with those in formation and follow the monastic shcedule for 1-2 weeks. During his visit he will meet with the Vocation Director. Together they will try to discern whether or not God seems to be calling the candidate to monastic life at Genesee.

If the discernment is positive the candidate will also meet with the Abbot and Novice Director for verification and approval. The Abbot, Vocation Director and Junior Director comprise the Admissions Board. When everyone concerned is in agreement the candidate will be considered for a 30 day observership in the community. Or, if the candidate is not quite ready for the observership, an interim stay as a vocation guest may be a consideration.

Before entering the observership the candidate will fill out and send a detailed questionnaire and write a short autobiography, sign a statement of truth and freedom and provide two letters of reference. When these are all in order he will be invited to live in the novitiate as an observer, following the novitiate daily schedule. The observership is the candidate’s introduction to monastic living and his first stage of formation. It is also a time for further discerning and testing whether or not God is calling him to monastic life at Genesee. 

Before final approval for postulancy the candidate will assemble the documents required by the Church and Community. He will also take psychological, medical and dental exams. After all the results are in he will be informed whether or not his application is approved. If it is approved he will settle all his affairs before entering the community as a postulant.

Normally the postulancy lasts for one year. It is a time for adjustment to monastic life, continuing formation and further discernment and testing one’s call with emphasis on preparing oneself for entering the novitiate. At the end of the postulancy, if everything is in order, the candidate will present a petition to the Abbot for admission into the novitiate. The abbot will then discuss his application with the Abbot’s Council. If everything is in order the candidate will receive the monastic habit of a Cistercian novice and become a member of the Community.

Though discernment continues during the novitiate the emphasis is more focused on preparation and training for taking monastic vows. It lasts for a period of two years but, for good reason, can be extended by up to six months.

Monks transferring from another house of the Order who are not in solemn vows will spend a year of probation in the novitiate and three years in the juniorate. A religious transferring from another Order will spend two years probation in the novitiate beginning with the arrival of his transitus and three years in the juniorate.

During this time the candidate is under the direction of the Abbot and the Novice Master and is free to leave of his own accord or he can be dismissed if that is indicated.

When his novitiate is complete, and the Abbot with his Council and the vote of the Conventual Chapter approves, the candidate may take first vows and enter upon the juniorate program of monastic formation.

Upon making his first vows the candidate will leave the novitiate and take up the life of the junior professed. The juniorate is three years with annual renewal of vows. When there are adequate reasons it can be extended by up to six years more.

During this time the candidate lives the monastic life of a professed member of the community steeping himself further in monastic tradition and spirituality and preparing for final profession. He will be under the direction of the Abbot and Junior Director.

The genuine call to take up one’s cross each day according to the evangelical councils and in monastic stability and conversion of life comes only from God. It may surprise some to learn that although the practice of poverty and chastity are essential to monastic life they are not explicitly mentioned in the monastic formula for profession of vows. Since the time of St. Benedict the words stability, conversion of life, and obedience have been adopted as very apt terms to designate the responsibilities assumed by the monk on the day of his profession. In monastic circles the vows of poverty and chastity are contained within that of conversion of life. The traditional formula of monastic profession, used during the last eight centuries is as follows:

I, Brother (N), promise my stability, my conversion of life and my obedience until death in accordance with the Rule of St. Benedict, Abbot. I do this before God and all his saints, in this monastery of (N), of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, constructed in honor of the Blessed and ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and in the presence of Dom (N), abbot of this monastery.

The primary responsibility of the newly professed monk is to love with all his heart. The vows presuppose this love and express it outwardly by incorporating him into a state of life which has no other reason for existence than the love of Christ and all that implies. The monk is a lover, not only inwardly and spiritually, but also outwardly. The newly professed brother will choose a mentor from among the seniors of the community for a two year period. His mentor will accompany and guide him as he adjusts to his new status.