Two Junior Monks to make Solemn Profession

Fr. Nickolas Becker, OSB and Br. Dan Morgan, OSB will make Solemn Profession on the upcoming Feast of Saint Benedict, July 11.  After one year of Novitiate, and three years of Juniorate the two monks will become full members of the Saint John's Abbey Monastic community. 

Solemn Profession is the conclusion of many years of monastic discernment.  In order to reach this level of achievement, every monk must begin discernment outside of the Saint John’s monastic community, usually for about one to two years.  These years are spent in prayer and conversation with both the Saint John’s community, including visits and spiritual direction, as well as in private at home, in the parish and with local spiritual directors, family and friends. 

After discerning a call to further explore monastic life, an application for Candidacy is submitted, and upon acceptance, the new Candidate lives in the monastery for three months of discernment.  This time provides an opportunity to better understand the call to monastic life, to discern a feeling of place and purpose in the community, and ultimately provide an opportunity for the monastic community and the new candidate to begin to relate and get to know each other.  Discernment of monastic life is not one-sided, just as the candidate must discern if he is called to this vocation, so the monastic community must discern his call as well.

A successful Candidacy leads to the Novitiate, a one year discernment process where the monk is prepared and education on the monastic life at Saint John’s Abbey.  Having received the monastic habit, the Novice now lives under the Rule of Saint Benedict with the attentive guidance of the Novice Master.  Restricted to the grounds of Saint John’s for the duration of the year, practicing lectio divina daily, meeting five days a week to study the history, traditions, demands and rewards of monastic life, the Novitiate helps to clarify and test the Novice’s discernment towards the monastic life.

If all goes well in the Novitiate the next step is Simple or First Profession, where the monk makes the Benedictine vows of stability, obedience, and conversion to the monastic way of life for one to three years with the option of adding additional years for further discernment.  Discernment continues in the daily life of a monk, working and praying as a member of the community, receiving an honest, full and transparent experience of monasticism in all its daily challenges and rewards.

After Solemn Profession on July 11th Fr. Nickolas OSB will be employed as an instructor of Theology and staff member of Campus Ministry of Saint John’s University. He will also serve as a Faculty Resident. Br. Dan Morgan OSB will be employed as Aquatics and Climbing Wall director, Strengths Finder Coach and Faculty Resident for Saint John’s University.