Editing Monk (section)

====Catholicism====
[[File:Sodoma - Life of St Benedict, Scene 4 - The Monk Romanus Dresses Benedict (detail) - WGA21567.jpg|thumb|Investiture of Saint Benedict, scene from the fresco cycle on the life of St. Benedict in Monte Oliveto Maggiore]]

Within [[Catholicism]], a monk is a member of a [[Religious order (Catholic)|religious order]] who lives a communal life in a [[monastery]] under a monastic rule of life. [[Benedict of Nursia]], (480-543 or 547 AD) is considered to be the originator of western monasticism. Benedict's [[Rule of Saint Benedict|rule]],<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10487b.htm Thurston, Herbert. "Monk." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 12 March 2023 {{PD-notice}}</ref> is the foundation for the [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictines]] and all of its reform groups such as the [[Cistercians]] and the [[Trappists]]. Benedict founded the great [[Monte Cassino]] in 529.

[[File:Cloisters of Moissac Abbey.jpg|thumb|left|The [[cloister]]s of [[Moissac Abbey]] in France]]
Benedict pointed out in his rule stability, conversion of life and obedience as promises.<ref>''Concerning the disciple of those to be received as brethren'' in ''The Rule of Saint Benedict'', LVIII</ref> Obedience calls for the monk to obey Christ, as represented by the superior person of the monastery, which is an [[abbot]] or a [[Prior (ecclesiastical)|prior]]. Conversion of life means, generally, that the monk converts himself to the way of a monk, which is death to self and to the world and life to God and to his work. A monk is to be an instrument of God's work. Stability entails that the monk commit himself to the monastery for the remainder of his life, and so, upon death, will be buried at its cemetery. The vow of stability ''(stabilitas loci)'' is unique to Benedictines.

[[File:Jan Petr Molitor - Cistercian monks, murals Cistercian Abbey Osek.jpg|thumb|Fresco of Cistercian monks at the murals the murals of the Chapter house of Osek abbey in [[Bohemia]]]]
The [[solemn vows]] in other religious orders were eventually established as vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Poverty requires that they renounce any ownership of property or assets, except for items that were allowed to them by their superior (such as a [[religious habit|habit]], books etc.), and to live meekly, sharing whatever they might have with the poor. Chastity requires that since they were willing to dedicate their lives to God, they sacrificed the love between men and women and stay either virginal or chaste.

To become a monk, one first must be accepted by a community as a [[postulant]]. During the time of postulancy the man lives at the monastery to test his vocation, to get to know the community and the community to get to know him. If the postulant and the community agree that the postulant should become a [[novice]], he is received as such. At this time he is usually given the habit and a [[religious name]]. Both the community and the novice evaluate further whether the man is called to become a monk and he begins to participate more fully in the life of the community. As a postulant and [[novitiate|novice]], the man is free to leave the community at any time or the institute can dismiss him.<ref>CIC can. 653 §1</ref> Following the novitiate, which must last at least one canonical year (but not longer than two years) in the community of the novitiate<ref>CIC can. 648, §2,3</ref> the novice may profess first vows, if he is accepted to do so. After a few years (usually three) the monk makes [[solemn vow]]s, which are binding for life.
[[File:Chartreuse-de-la-Verne-Unterkunft.JPG|thumb|left|Monastic cell in the La Verne Charterhouse, now resettled by the [[Monastic Family of Bethlehem, of the Assumption of the Virgin and of Saint Bruno]]]]
The monastic life generally consists of prayer in the form of the [[Liturgy of the Hours]], also known as the Divine Office, reading of the divine scriptures (''[[lectio divina]]'') and labor. Among most religious orders, monks live in simple, austere rooms called [[monastic cell|cells]] and come together daily to celebrate and to recite the Liturgy of the Hours and the [[Conventual Mass|Mass]]. Usually, the monks take their meals together in the [[refectory]]. Many communities have a period of silence lasting from evening until the next morning and some others restrict talking to only when it is necessary for the monks to perform their work and during weekly recreation.

Monks who have been or will be [[Ordination#Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican churches|ordained]] into [[Holy Orders]] as [[Priesthood in the Catholic Church|priests]] or [[deacons]] were traditionally referred to as "choir monks". Those monks who are not ordained into Holy Orders are referred to as [[lay brothers]]. In most monastic communities today, little distinction exists between the lay brothers and the choir monks, as they all have the obligation to celebrate the entire Divine Office daily in [[Choir (architecture)|choir]]. However, historically, the roles of the two groups of monks within the monastery differed. The work of the choir monks was considered to be prayer, chanting the hours of the Divine Office, whereas the lay brothers provided for the material needs of the community by growing food, preparing meals, maintaining the monastery and the grounds. This distinction arose historically because generally those monks who could read [[Latin]] typically became choir monks, while those monks who were illiterate or could not read Latin became lay brothers. The lay brothers would instead recite at least some of the liturgical hours prayers such as the [[Lord's Prayer]] or the [[Hail Mary]]. Since the [[Second Vatican Council]], the distinction between choir monks and lay brothers has been deemphasized, as the council allowed the Liturgy of the Hours to be celebrated in the vernacular language, effectively opening participation to all of the monks.

Within western monasticism, it is important to differentiate between monks and [[friars]]. Monks generally live a contemplative life of prayer confined within a monastery while friars usually engage in an active ministry of service to the outside community. The monastic orders include all [[Benedictines]] (the [[Order of Saint Benedict]] and its later reforms including the [[Cistercians]] and the [[Trappists]]) and the [[Carthusian]]s, who live according to their own statutes. Orders of friars include the [[mendicant orders]] (primarily [[Order of Friars Minor]], [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchins]], [[Order of Preachers|Dominicans]], [[Carmelites]], and [[Augustinians]]). Although the [[canons regular]] (such as the [[Norbertines]]) and the [[clerics regular]] (such as the [[Jesuits]]) live in community, they are neither monks nor friars as they are characterized by their [[cleric|clerical state]] and not by any monastic vows.