Suitable habits for Benedictine monks and nuns
A business suit consists of several items of clothing.
In the religious orders, our uniform or suit is called a “habit”.
The Order of St. Benedict (who died in A.D. 547) is the oldest religious order in the Church. From before A.D. 840 until shortly after A.D. 1200, there was no other religious life in the Church except the monks and nuns who lived by the regulations of St. Benedict.
The Benedictine habit is the forerunner of the habits of most religious orders that have come into being.
For the most part, the traditional Benedictine habit is simpler and has fewer elements than the habits of most other religious orders, especially those of women.
Here are the parts of the Benedictine habit. (You can click on the pictures to see larger versions.)
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TUNIC
The tunic is black, loose and long, covering the wrists, ankles and the base of the neck. On top of the tunic, at the waist, goes the cincture (belt)— made of black leather or black cloth. (Benedictines do not use cinctures made of rope or cord like the Franciscans.)
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SCAPULAR
Over the tunic and the cincture goes the scapular. It was originally an apron for work, but over time it began to be seen as a symbol of the work of the Cross, and was made increasingly longer and worn all the time, not just for work. The scapular is a long panel of cloth with a hole in the middle for the head. It is shoulder-wide, straight-sided, ankle-length and square-cornered. The scapular hangs nearly to the ankles both in front of the body and behind. [The small devotional scapular that many Catholics wear is a symbolic miniature of the full-size scapular that monks and nuns have as part of the habit. The miniature devotional scapular has a front panel and a back panel like the full-sized habit scapular.]
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WIMPLE
Benedictine nuns wear a white, cloth wimple— a covering that drapes around the throat, chin, cheeks and head. An extra band of cloth covers the forehead.
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VEIL
A “novice” is a new Benedictine-in-training who has not yet made vows. Over the wimple, a novice-nun wears a white veil. A nun receives a black veil when she makes vows.
A Benedictine monk has a black hood, instead of a wimple and veil.
The modern Benedictine monk’s hood is streamlined, but in past centuries it was much larger.
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CUCULLA
At Mass and at Community Prayer, Benedictines add a formal, black gown, the cuculla over the habit. It has wide, deep, long sleeves, and also usually has broad vertical pleats or folds that hang the full length from the shoulders to the ankles. The cuculla is the ancestor of academic gowns, judicial chamber robes and choir robes.
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Benedictines do not attach or wear a rosary as part of their habit. They also do not normally wear any visible medal, pin, emblem or crucifix. However the superior of a Benedictine monastery (an abbot for monks, an abbess for nuns) wears a pectoral cross on a chain like a bishop.
The abbot, Blessed Columba Marmion;
and St. Scholastica, the twin sister of St. Benedict.
In the religious orders, our uniform or suit is called a “habit”.
The Order of St. Benedict (who died in A.D. 547) is the oldest religious order in the Church. From before A.D. 840 until shortly after A.D. 1200, there was no other religious life in the Church except the monks and nuns who lived by the regulations of St. Benedict.The Benedictine habit is the forerunner of the habits of most religious orders that have come into being.
For the most part, the traditional Benedictine habit is simpler and has fewer elements than the habits of most other religious orders, especially those of women.
Here are the parts of the Benedictine habit. (You can click on the pictures to see larger versions.)
+
TUNIC
The tunic is black, loose and long, covering the wrists, ankles and the base of the neck. On top of the tunic, at the waist, goes the cincture (belt)— made of black leather or black cloth. (Benedictines do not use cinctures made of rope or cord like the Franciscans.)+
SCAPULAR
Over the tunic and the cincture goes the scapular. It was originally an apron for work, but over time it began to be seen as a symbol of the work of the Cross, and was made increasingly longer and worn all the time, not just for work. The scapular is a long panel of cloth with a hole in the middle for the head. It is shoulder-wide, straight-sided, ankle-length and square-cornered. The scapular hangs nearly to the ankles both in front of the body and behind. [The small devotional scapular that many Catholics wear is a symbolic miniature of the full-size scapular that monks and nuns have as part of the habit. The miniature devotional scapular has a front panel and a back panel like the full-sized habit scapular.]+
WIMPLE
Benedictine nuns wear a white, cloth wimple— a covering that drapes around the throat, chin, cheeks and head. An extra band of cloth covers the forehead.+
VEIL
A “novice” is a new Benedictine-in-training who has not yet made vows. Over the wimple, a novice-nun wears a white veil. A nun receives a black veil when she makes vows.
A Benedictine monk has a black hood, instead of a wimple and veil.
The modern Benedictine monk’s hood is streamlined, but in past centuries it was much larger.+
CUCULLA
At Mass and at Community Prayer, Benedictines add a formal, black gown, the cuculla over the habit. It has wide, deep, long sleeves, and also usually has broad vertical pleats or folds that hang the full length from the shoulders to the ankles. The cuculla is the ancestor of academic gowns, judicial chamber robes and choir robes.+
Benedictines do not attach or wear a rosary as part of their habit. They also do not normally wear any visible medal, pin, emblem or crucifix. However the superior of a Benedictine monastery (an abbot for monks, an abbess for nuns) wears a pectoral cross on a chain like a bishop.
The abbot, Blessed Columba Marmion;and St. Scholastica, the twin sister of St. Benedict.
posted by Father Stephanos, O.S.B. at 9:12 AM
63 Comments:
jan and lucy here
we are doing a school project and we were wondering if you could answer the following questions.
why do benendictine monks wear what they do?..why is the significance behind the dress and why was it instigated?.
thankyou for your time
Dear Jan and Lucy,
I'm glad to hear about your school project, and I hope it turns out well.
St. Benedict speaks of the special set of clothes (the habit) that monks wear as: "the clothing of the monastery." So, first of all, the habit, the clothing of monks and nuns, means that they belong to the monastery. Belonging to the monastery means we leave behind the fashions and ways of "normal" society by making special vows to God to live the way that monks and nuns live. The habit, then, is also a sign that we have made special vows that put us into a new relationship with the other monks in the monastery and with God.
The habit is like a married person's wedding ring. The wedding ring, says something about my relationship to other persons and to God; it is a sign about the public promises I have made.
love the pictures..
hi i am interested to know if there has been any political issues that have sourounded the benedictine monks clothing? and how the dress has changed or adapted over time and why?
thank you very much
Anonymous visitor asks:
"if there has been any political issues that have sourounded the benedictine monks clothing? and how the dress has changed or adapted over time and why?"
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As for political issues ... communist governments have sometimes forbidden the wearing of the habit.
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Changes or adaptations over time.
Originally, St. Benedict (who died in A.D. 547) did not specify any single color for the clothing of monks.
In the early 800's, imperial and Church decrees specified black as the standard color.
The scapular for St. Benedict was originally only a work apron. By the 800's it had taken the ritual form my article describes.
The hood was originally much bigger. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was made smaller and streamlined.
How does a novice's habit differ from a full monk's?
The cuculla is only for monks in perpetual vows. So monks in temporary vows do not have it (and neither, of course, do novices).
Each monastery decides how a novice's habit is to differ from the habit of monks in vows (whether temporary vows or perpetual vows).
Some monasteries give a novice a knee-length scapular, as opposed to the full (ankle-length) one.
Some monasteries, like mine, give a novice a full scapular, but no hood. In my opinion, this is the better way, since the hood is one of the ancient signs of a monk, whereas the scapular was originally a work apron worn by everyone while at work.
I'm not sure your comment about "From before A.D. 840 until shortly after A.D. 1200, there was no other religious life in the Church except the monks and nuns who lived by the regulations of St. Benedict" is quite correct. There have, since long before St. Benedict, been eremites, as well as those living under the rule of Basil (ca. 360).
How do postulants differ from novices and how is that reflected in their habits?
Eremites (hermits) were not, strictly speaking, a religious order. It is true, they were around before, during and long after St. Benedict.
Besides the Rule of St. Basil, the Rule of St. Augustine also predates St. Benedict.
Nonetheless, at least in the Latin Church, the Rule of St. Benedict, by imperial decree, was the only Rule in force from A.D. 840.
I do not know the history of the use of the Rule of St. Basil in the Eastern Church. I know only that it is used in the Eastern Churches today.
Postulants are the newest arrivals-- with the period of "postulancy" preceeding their becoming novices (the period of the "novitiate").
Canon Law does not mention postulants. However, Canon Law does mention novices, the novitiate being a state governed by canon law.
The difference of habit between postulant and novice is decided by the individual monastery.
In monasteries of nuns, postulants generally wear some modest form of prescribed dress, but not the monastic habit. When the postulant is ready to begin the novitiate, she receives the habit, but without the cuculla. Also, her veil as a novice is white, not black.
(On eremites) Thanks for the clarification.
I have been a Benedictine Oblate for almost ten years. I know that as such I can be buried in monastic robes, which is fine, I guess, but for the last year or so I have been wishing - while at retreat and also during Adoration - that I had a sort of hooded garment I could wear to keep my head covered and my peripheral vision checked - less distraction. Right now I wear a hoodie when I go to adoration, but it's a sweatshirt and very warm. I think what I want or need is something like a scapular with a hood attached - something I'd just slip over my clothes. Have you ever heard of anything like that?
Dear Anonymous Oblate O.S.B.,
If you are a female, then a veil of some sort would be appropriate for the liturgy and adoration.
If you are a male, be aware that your head is to be left uncovered inside church, before the Blessed Sacrament at adoration, etc.
At my monastery, we have a work habit that is a pullover shirt with a hood.
I realize that this is an old post, but it popped up while I was doing research on the web. I'm researching medieval convents for a professor and I am currently looking into nuns' habits. Your blog is very informative, more so than the one book I was able to find that even addressed clothing. However, I can't really turn in a blog as a research source and I still have more questions about habits, and daily practices. I was wondering if you knew of any sources that might point me in the right direction as I'm muddling through the past, such as historical websites or anything really. The information in libraries is so scattered and full of holes on this general topic. I realize this is probably more than a little random to you and I appreciate you taking the time to even read this.
~Jayme
Try sifting through
osb.org
and then the book,
"THE HABIT" by Elizabeth Kuhns
I found this page because I am doing research into monastic habits. I've created a cartoon character who happens to be a monk, and I'm trying to be as accurate as possible. I am looking for an order, probably medieval, where the monks wore scapulars, capuces, and some sort of fitted hat. For the hat, i have an image of something that looks like a cross between a skullcap and a wimple. The image in my head is probably stereotypically monastic/medieval. Do you know the history of other orders' habits?
Most of the older orders after the Order of Saint Benedict based their habits on elements of the Benedictine habit.
Dear Fr,
Can lay people e.g Oblates/Tertiaries wear the habit of the Order to which they belong? I know St. Catherine of Siena wore a dominican habit as a tertiary.
Thanks,
Jarel L.C.S.B
Some sort of permission from the local superior would probably be needed. Women such as St. Catherine usually have made a private vow of virginity. Nonetheless it has been traditional for lay tertiaries to have permission to be buried in the habit of the religious order to which they are affiliated.
BTW, Fr. Stephanos, I've always thought your "work habit" was very practical looking. "Moving with the times" but still keeping with tradition!
Karen
I am in desperate need of a new Habit, one that is washable and light enough to wear in the Humid South in Central Georgia.I am a Hermit, which means I pray for my Bishop and his intentions. If anyone knows of someone who makes habits, please let me know.My e-mail is "brvincent@catholic.org". Thanks and God Bless !
Since you're in Georgia, try contacting the Trappist monastery in Conyers.
Dear Father, I came across your wonderful page while doing a google search. My question is that I have been watching a Catholic television station today where nuns were praying and I noticed on their hands that some had wedding rings on the left hand and others on the right and one had a wedding ring on one hand and a different kind of ring on the other. I would be most grateful if you can tell me about this. Thank you, God bless and stay safe.
Montbretia
I know that in some religious orders the nuns wear wedding rings as signs of being "Brides of Christ."
I don't know if their customs dictate which hand the wedding ring goes on.
I'm wondering if the one who had a ring on each hand might have been an abbess. If she were an abbess, perhaps one ring was her wedding band and the other ring was her abbatial ring. An abbatial is analagous to the ring of a bishop, inasmuch as an abbot or abbess is the head of a "local church," a monastery.
Dear Father,
I am currently working on a film, set in a monastery, and curiosity has gotten the best of me. Where do you get your habits? Is there a huge stash available to you? Do you buy them somewhere specific?
All of this information is incredibly helpful!~
Thank you,
Lauren
One of our own monks sews the habits for us.
Can you tell me where to get the material for sewing benedictine habits.
Thanks
Liz O
Any good black woven fabric will do for making the habit. However, black wool would be the most traditional.
where to get a pattern for the benedictine habit?
thanks
Liz O
Because the religious habit is sacred, monasteries would be reluctant to give out the pattern to someone who is not making the habit for the monks or nuns themselves.
I have several questions. I am a medieval reenactor. My persona is that of a 12th century Benedictine Monk.
One of the pictures shows the scapula being worn over the belt instead of under it. Is this traditional practice.
How was a monk who lived outside of a monastary referred to.
Was the wearing of prayer beads (Around a belt) allowed within the middle ages within the Benedictine order Your post says that they did not wear any type of cross.
What types of shoes were allowed. The rule of St. Benedict is not very clear (From my understanding) on the subject.
The Benedictine habit was standardized-- by authority of the Holy Roman emperor and a council of bishops and abbots in the 800's -- almost two centuries after St. Benedict (who died A.D. 547). One of those standardizations was the decree of black as the color for the habit. (St. Benedict himself did not specify a color.)
The Benedictine scapular is worn hanging outside the belt. (Trappists and Camaldolese wear the belt over the scapular.)
The only kind of Benedictine monk who would be living outside a monastery would be one who had permission from his abbot to live as a hermit.
Wearing the rosary ("prayer beads") has never been a part of the Benedictine habit.
Only an abbot wears a cross-- on a chain around his neck.
St. Benedict prescribes shoes and sandals. The sandals would have been summer wear. Shoes would have been the cheaper sort of the serving class, and in black.
The medieval hood was more voluminous than the modern one.
The depiction of the Benedictine habit in the "Brother Cadfael" films is an acceptable representation for Medieval, 12th century Benedictines.
I am in the process of being received into the Catholic Church (I have already been baptized) and I will be going off to graduate school in the fall. I am hoping to be able to wear a habit or other religious vestments full time but I wouldn't want to wear anything that I'm not entitled to wear. Do you have any suggestions? I hope that wearing a habit will be a constant reminder to me of my new Catholic faith, and an opportunity to evalgelize to all the college students who ask me what I'm wearing.
I am glad you recognize that the religious habit is for those entitled to wear it. It would be misleading to wear it if one were not a member of a religious order.
Nonetheless, there are some principles that might be helpful for those laymen wanting to regularly dress in a manner that reflects their religious values.
First of all, what to wear to Mass? It would be most fitting for a man to wear a modest suit-- coat and times.
Outside of Mass, I've seen a few men who always wear a tie, even if with only a sweater or casual jacket, or even a tie with a long sleeved shirt and no coat or jacket.
The point would be to uphold a good standard of culture. Remember, Christ has brought his divine dignity to/into our humanity. Christians ought and need to embrace this uplifting of human dignity, and reflect it in the cultural forms and standards in everyday life.
Dignified, modest, dressing.
A visible crucifix pinned on or worn on a chain. Here are some of the best made traditional ones I have found anywhere.
http://www.sistersofcarmel.com/wood-inlaid-crucifixes.php
Just a few starter ideas.
Dear Father,
I know the tunic would have been of black wool, but what would have been the original or traditional material(s) of the scapular? Were leather (common for smiths & other workers) or linen ever used here?
Graham
From the time of our founder, St. Benedict of Nursia (who died in A.D. 547), until after A.D. 800, the habit could have been made out of any material that was inexpensive, and no single color was mandated. During this period, the scapular was still a real apron, and it would have been made out of inexpensive material, even used clothing. Ordinarily it would not have been made out of leather, which is much more expensive than inexpensive fabric. The exception would be an apron for the more heavy work such as metalsmithing, etc.
Under Emperor Louis the Pious and St. Benedict of Aniane in the 800's, the habit was standardized throughout the empire: black wool for the tunic and hood; the long scapular front and back also in black wool, worn no longer as a work apron, but as a formal part of the everyday habit.
Dear Father,
Thank you for a prompt and thorough answer.
Graham
excellent i see THE Fr. Cassian Folsom in one of your photos!
wonderful
I was a student at the international Benedictine university in Rome when Fr. Cassian was completing his doctorate there.
Fr. OSB,
I was just wondering, why do monasteries of nuns have grilles that separate the nuns from the people, whether it is in their public chapel/monastery chapel or in the parlor?
How come monasteries of monks do not have grilles in their parlor?
Those who are "cloistered nuns" live in the category of "Papal Enclosure"-- meaning that on authority of the Pope no one may be inside the enclosure except the nuns themselves and those persons whom Church law permits to enter the cloister for specific occasions.
Such nuns have grilles or bars that generally block public access to the areas used by the nuns, even inside their churches and chapels.
Historically, part of the reason for the grilles in monasteries of nuns was to protect the nuns.
Monks are not known for generally having such grilles, but they do exist in some monasteries of men, especially in Europe.
For readers of this blog who have not been blessed to meet Fr. S., he looks great in his habit, and certainly not a relic of the Middle Ages or earlier.
It is sad that so many orders hav "kicked the habit" "in the Spirit of Vatican 2."
To the person considering how to dress following Holy Baptism, you are so right to want to avoid appearing a religious if you are not. You might stand out in a crowd if you were to regularly wear an Alb, the long, simpñe plain white garment that, technically, is the dress for all baptized.
Fr. OSB,
Thank you for answering the question father. I recently found out that there is one monastery here in the Philippines, locally founded monastic congrgation for male where one can see the grilles in their chapel that separtaes them from the congregation. Well I do not know the name of the congrgation and I haven't been there.
Is the papal enclosure applies only to monasteries for women?
Can any religious congregation have cloister area, even though it does not have papal enclosure?
Moreover, why do nuns refer to as the "bride of Christ" not "wife"?
Is everyday a wedding day for them?
-robert
Fr. OSB,
Just continuation to the questions I asked. I have ask one Benedictine monk on the purpose of their monastic hood attach to their scapular, not cowl or shoulder cape. He said that hood is use to keep the head warm or during prayer to shut out distractions. If a monk is praying in the monastery chapel and does not want to be distracted, could he put on his hood? Aren't women only allowed to wear head covering in their head in the chapel?
Robert, I know that papal enclosure has been a term used by cloistered nuns, but I don't know for sure if the term is used or not by male religious.
While use of grilles or bars has always been traditional for cloistered nuns, there is nothing in Church law that forbids monasteries of men to use them also.
Any religious congregation may have an area of their house or property that is cloistered and for their private use only.
The hood is not worn covering the head inside the church. Outdoors I put my hood up when it is cold.
The only time we use our hoods to cover our heads during a liturgy or ceremony is when we are walking from our church to our cemetery in procession while carrying the body of a deceased monk for burial. As soon as we leave the church door we put our hoods up, and as soon as we arrive at the cemetery gate we take our hoods down
What is the difference between the Abbot, Cellarer, Prior and Porter?
The abbot is the superior of the monastery.
The prior is the assistant of the abbot.
The cellarer is the business manager of the monastery.
The porter is on duty at the gate or front desk or lobby of the monastery.
Hello Fr Stephanos,
I found your page whilst researching nun's attire for a play I am costuming. I am especially interested in authenticity. I would like to know how the "extra band of cloth" which you mention going aroung the forehead is attached. Is the veil itself secured to this band? If not, how is the veil secured, please? I have never seen one blow off in the wind, so I know it is fixed on somehow! :)
Thank you for your very interesting and detailed presentation of all these specialized and fascinating facts which are not easy to find elsewhere.
Anne
The band that goes around the forehead might be kept in place in several ways. It might have cords at the back that are simply tied together. It might be sewn in such a way that it is part of the wimple already.
The veil itself is usually pinned to the top of the wimple.
You may find it useful to inquire from monasteries of Benedictine nuns, such as St. Walburga Abbey in Colorado or Regina Laudis Abbey in Connecticut.
Dear Fr. Stephanos,
I apologise if this is a very late post to an old topic, however I have a question for you.
I have been contemplating living the life of a monastic for over 2 years now, but have constantly been brushing it off. Recently I spoke about this to my contact brother in Taize(I'm not certain if you have ever heard of the ecumenical community that resides in that village in France), and he suggested I spend the summer at a monastery to discern the calling.
The problem is, as far as I know. There seems to be no monasteries for the Benedictine or Trappist orders of which I feel most called towards in Singapore, where I live. The closest monasteries geographically speaking are in Australia and Indonesia.
How would I go about with what I presume is a calling then? Would it be alright to contact the orders in a foreign land? Assuming of course that if I intended to stay for an extended period of time and if they allowed it, certain immigration laws might come into play.
Dear Bryan,
Do you know of the Benedictine abbey in Manila? There are several monasteries in the Philippines.
Most monasteries will accept a "long-term" guest, especially one discerning a monastic vocation. You would simply need to write to explain your interest.
Dear Fr. Stephanos,
Thank you very much for your reply, to be honest I hardly expected one so fast.
Another thing I forgot to enquire about and I hope this isn't bothersome for you.
Am I required to have certain documents related to my educational qualifications? As I understand it, gone are the days of the medieval saints who could just show up at the door and be accepted. And I have heard that most monks will be taught theology. I have enquired before at the major seminary here and they did mention that I would need college education to become a priest.
The problem I face, is that I do not possess college education.
If my calling is true and this is indeed my life's vocation, I would naturally wish also to study for and be ordained a priest.
Dear Bryan,
Monasteries are quite flexible regarding educational backgrounds.
Are you specifically interested in entering the monastery of Taize in France, or in any monastery?
If your interest in Trappist, Cistercian, or Benedictine monasteries is simply for the purpose of having time to consider your vocation to Taize, then there ought to be much more flexibility for you as a "long-term" retreatant.
If, however, you are thinking of entering any of those monasteries, then you would need to know their particular preferences for qualifications.
Dear Fr. Stephanos,
No, my interest in the Trappist, or Benedictine monasteries lies with eventually being able to join them. The community/monastery in Taize is actually for my discernment into one of those monasteries mentioned above.
I guess I will only know more after contacting the relevant authorities on the matter.
But for your monastery for example which I assume is Benedictine. Were or are there any such educational requirements?
Thank you very much for your time, it is appreciated.
The only educational requirement my monastery has for those applying to enter is a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Just a word about Benedictine monasticism being the oldest form of religious life in the Church... Of course, this is not quite accurate, since St. Benedict himself refers to the writings and works of other monastic authors who predate him, and we know that Benedict himself was formed as a monk by his elder, Romanus.
It is true to say that hermits were not a religious order, as such, but neither was the great mass of monks following St. Benedict's Rule thought of as "The Benedictine Order" until much later in the history of religious life. Rather, monastic life was thought of as monastic life; Benedict's Rule was one form (the most common, after a certain point) of providing for it.
It is also true that early Monastic life in the West, as still in the East, could often be house- or elder/abbot-specific. I.e., wise old monastics would form a community and that community would be governed by the personal guidance of that man as the Spirit deemed best for each community, with the Tradition of the Church always being the "Polestar," so to speak, in discerning God's will for each monastic community. Leaders of this tradition were men like St. Columbanus of Luxueil, St. Colmikille of Iona, Ss. Romanus and Lupicinus of the Iura, St. Sabbas of Palestine - even St. Augustine and his monastic community - and many, many others.
St. Benedict specifically states that his rule is intended as a "beginner's" monastic rule, as one that provides a stable set of monastic principles. There seems reason to believe that spiritual life had taken a low ebb in Italy in St. Benedict's day (and the stated purpose of Pope St. Gregory the Great's "Dialogues" was partly to demonstrate that sanctity still thrived, here and there); Benedict's rule seems to have been intended as a guide to the foundation of monastic life at a time when this may have been difficult to obtain. For those who succeeded, St. Benedict mentions the value of further study of the writings of St. John Cassian, St. Basil, etc.
There is something to be said for Benedict's wisdom in providing monastic principles for an age that was in need of a good foundation. I am an Orthdox monk, but after two monasteries have collapsed under the weight of poor management, I am glad to have received permission to join a community using a Rule as a guide (St. Benedict's, at that!), with the wisdom to understand that charismatic, abbot-particular governance of a monastery may not be the best model for our spiritually lax age!
Sorry for the length of the reply, but it seemed profitable to be a bit more precise about the earliest types of religious life in the Church. This is our shared tradition, after all.
Dicoque omnibus, secundum morem solitum monachorum et occidentalium et orientalium: "benedicite!"
I have it on good authority that simply professed Camaldolese wear the scapular loose, with the belt tied only over the tunic. Solemnly professed wear it as you describe (i.e., belt over tunic and scapular).
Dear Orthodox Confrere,
Thank you for visiting the blog.
I cannot speak for any of the Orthodox Churches.
I did not say that Benedictine monasticism is the oldest form or religious life in the Church, since I am fully aware of the traditions that preceded it.
In the Latin Catholic Church, the Order of St. Benedict is the oldest religious order as we use the term "religious order."
Although the Rule of St. Augustine is older than the Rule of St. Benedict, no Order of St. Augustine existed until centuries after St. Benedict.
I sympathize with the experience of a monastery collapsing from poor management.
St. Benedict has a wonderful trinitarian structure for the monastery. Please see "How a Benedictine monastery can lead a man to God" on the following page.
http://monks.blogspot.com/
Boniface, OSB
Up here in North Dakota, back in the 1950s, there was an "Anti-garb" law passed. During World War II, some sisters, including Benedictines, had been hired by public schools around the state, especially in mostly Catholic areas, to help make up for the teachers that had gone off to fight. That was OK, but after the war, some were disturbed that the sisters continued to teach while wearing their habits, and got the law passed by referendum. As a result, since then religious could teach in public schools, but not wearing religious garb.
Do brothers get the title of O.S.B. or is that reserved for priests only?
All who make vows in the monastery make use of "O.S.B." ("Order of Saint Benedict") after their names, whether or not they are priests.
I am Fr. Stephanos, O.S.B. The monk whose room is next to mine is Bro. Emmanuel, O.S.B.
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