4. Novitiate

The novitiate is the first phase of monastic life. It is a year-long probationary period of discernment and formation before making simple profession (temporary vows). Upon leaving postulancy, you will stand before the community, confessing your desire to become a monk of Saint John's Abbey. You are then clothed with the monastic habit (black robes comprising of a cassock, scapular, and hood.) As a novice, you will live the life of a monk: pray and work with the community while studying the monastic life with the abbot, monk teachers, and the formation director. The novitiate is a period of strict discipline, prayer, discernment, and formation. Your daily work as a novice will explore the monastic vocation, teach humility and obedience, and expose you to the wide variety of apostolates of Saint John's Abbey. As with postulancy, you may leave or be asked to leave at any time, should it be discerned that you do not have a call to the monastic life at Saint John's Abbey.