That Very First Christian Community
The Monastic Community While every Christian is called to practice
these "basics," common ownership quickly proved impractical
on a large scale. Such heroic renunciation is easier to handle
in small, specially designed communities. Giving up everything
you own, including the say over your own life is an out-of-the-ordinary
Christian calling, to say the least, requiring
extraordinary grace! Likewise, such dedication seems easier to attain
in celibate, rather than married communities. Thus does this
first Acts community prove an excellent model for the monastic
life. A second New Testament model for our lifestyle is John the
Baptist. In addition to his singular devotion to the word of
God, the prophet was celibate, and lived a most simple lifestyle,
as we read: "John was clothed in camel's hair, and wore a leather
belt around his waist. His food was grasshoppers and wild honey." (Mk1:6)
St. Benedict's Farm
Founded in 1956, St. Benedict's Farm is a
lay Catholic Christian community in the tradition of St. Benedict.
To explore this TREE, go to one of four areas:
Questions & Answers,
Called by God,
Our History, and
Spirituality.
From the time of Jesus,
Christians have joined themselves together in small, dedicated
communities. See what happened right after that first stirring
Pentecost sermon preached by Peter (Acts2:2):
"Cut to the quick,"
the hearers ask, 'What shall we do?' Peter replies, 'Repent and
be baptized.'"
And a little further:
"Those who believed shared
all things in common; they would sell their property and goods,
dividing everything on the basis of each one's need."
(v44-45)
These pioneer Christians
"devoted themselves to the apostles'
instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of the bread
and the prayers."
(v42)