What are the vows that Benedictine monks take?
Benedictines take vows of obedience, stability, and fidelity to the monastic way of life. By obedience, a monk vows to follow the call of the community, particularly through the abbot, to serve the common good of the monastery. Obedience is a way of conforming oneself to Christ through concrete service to the community and to the Church. By stability, a monk binds himself to a specific monastery. It is often said that Benedictines do not have a generic vocation to be a monk, but a vocation to be a monk of a specific monastery. Each monastery has its own history and character, which shapes those who come to join. The vow of fidelity to the monastic way of life is a promise to become more and more a monk. This does not happen in a moment or even in several years, but it is a project for a lifetime. Part of becoming a monk means giving up the right to own property. As monks, we hold everything in common. So if you need something, you ask the superior for it. If you have something you don’
