Are you Catholics?
Yes, we are a community of baptized, practicing Catholics. We
normally worship each Sunday at St. Patrick's Church in Waelder. On special occasions, visiting priests will celebrate Mass here in our Oratory. Although we are a "lay," that is, non-clerical (and non-canonical community), we enjoy the friendship of our archbishop and of numerous priests and religious in our diocese. We neither claim nor seek "official" status, but are content to seek God as lay men and women. This puts a special imperative on us to support ourselves by the labor of our own hands and ingenuity. We support ourselves today primarily through wedding and portrait
photography. We also operate a small herd of purebred beef
cattle, selling a small amount of purebred seed stock. Self support
for monks is an ideal very much encouraged by St. Benedict, and
we believe in it very strongly. Monks should make their own living,
if at all possible, and not rely on the Christian community at
large to support their leisure for prayer, especially since we do
not "serve at the altar" as official clergy. That is why we
expend the kind of energy we do towards making our own living. First, by "working with our hands at what is good"..."so that we might have something to share with him who suffers need." (Eph4:28) When we are able to do this, we also free our
Christian brethren from the need to support us. Secondly, we do good for the Church by being a sound, healthy cell in the Body of Christ, "for when one member glories, all the rest glory
with it." (1Cor12:26) Third, there is the ministry of hospitality, a traditional monastic work. We are dedicated to sharing the word of God with "in season and out." Whether here at home or in the classroom or public forum, we thank God for every opportunity to "preach the gospel at no man's cost." (1Cor9:18) Further, there is that "ministry of chance" exercised by the Good Samaritan, whereby we strive
to aid and abet the children of God we see wounded and languishing by the wayside. Individually we seek to serve the Christian community with "the gifts that have been given to us." Last but not least --
together with all Christians -- we exercise a ministry of prayer for the entire world. Our way of life is simple, both inside and out, but no one who has ever tried it would call it "easy." It requires total renunciation of self, not only in the beginning, but day in and day out. The task of seeking God never ends. Once in awhile, it's a mountain-top experience; more often though, it partakes of calvary. Sometimes, it requires all our strength. Those are the moments when pressures and conflicts build that can only be solved by clinging in faith to what looks like certain death and destruction of self. When we persevere through these times, however, it is usually not long before we are able to say again, "His yoke is sweet and his burden is light." How do you pray?
We strive to "Pray always," as Jesus said, by constantly turning our hearts and minds to God
throughout the day. However, Mondays through Fridays, we gather as a community in our Oratory for a period of Scripture reading and meditation, followed by sharing and prayer. As noted above, we usually celebrate Sunday and Holy Day liturgies with our parish community of St. Patrick Church
in Waelder, Texas. At our noon meal on Sundays, community members rotate leading the prayer before our noon meal. We also "Pray always" by striving to make every work and waking moment an act of worship, "that in all things God may be glorified." Yes, we are open to similar-minded individuals willing to "give
themselves away." Interested persons, male or female, should be
practicing Catholics, (and have been so for at least one year),
and should be between the ages of 21 and 45. "Let not an easy
entrance be provided those that knock on the monastery door,"
Benedict advises. But, "Test the spirits to see if they be of
God." Further, the Rule giver writes: "Let the newcomer be told
all the hard and rugged ways that one must enter in order to come
to God." St. Benedict lists the chief and indispensable requirement: "That
they TRULY SEEK GOD." His criteria for this is to determine if
the candidate is "zealous for humiliations... for obedience...
and the work of God." By 'the work of God,' Benedict means
prayer... constant contact with God. After initial "get-acquainted" correspondence, we first recommend a serious and careful reading of our book, Your Friendly Neighborhood Monks*. If interest in "selling
all and following the Lamb whithersoever he goes" persists , the next step is to arrange for a visit to the Farm. At this time, we attempt to mutually discern the will of the Lord. Depending on the outcome of this visit, the applicant may be directed to spend further time with us or to withdraw for futher prayer and discernment. When the time is ripe, the candidate will be invited to enter the novitiate, a trial period of one to three years of preparation for taking lifetime vows as a permanent member of this community. St. Paul tells us plainly that, "Each one has a gift from God, one in this way, another in that." (1Cor12) Only a very few are going to find themselves suited for the particular brand of intense, personal discipleship
we pursue here. Some other few, however, may be able to profit from an ongoing relationship with our
community, while living at home, in their own environment and under their own circumstances. Such as these may want to consider joining us as an Associate. It is for those who want to walk with us, but for one reason or another, cannot commit themselves to the nature and totality of our dedication. Married or single Christians of every shade and stripe may find a way to walk with us that suits them perfectly. With each one seeking such a relationship, we work it out individually. The first step is this pursuit is simply to become our friend. From there, we trust the Spirit to lead us onward -- together -- to our supernal vocation in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
* The SBF Story Address inquiries to St. Benedict's Farm, P O Box 366, Waelder, TX 78959, or E-mail us at: themonks@gvec.net
How do you support yourselves?
What good to you do for the Church?
Is your way of life particularly hard?
What specifically are you looking for in an applicant?
What procedures are there for actual entry into the community?
"Are all apostles?...Do all speak with tongues?"
What is your Associates Program?
Our history and witness, Your Friendly Neighborhood Monks, is temporarily out of print. This account of our first 25 years will be reissued with the publication of its sequel, Small Barn, Crude Manger. We hope to have both ready for our 50th anniversary, January 10, 2006.