Guitarhero
New Member
I've been thinking about my viable options in life. One is marriage but another is permanent singlehood. The third I can come up with that has crossed my mind for many years, off and on, is entering a monastic order (there are definitely protestant ones ) for contemplative prayer for a time or perhaps the rest of my life. There have been monks in the family before - after widowhood etc. I don't have to get married but feel I want to now but even that is waning a bit. There are more options.
How many of you or your friends have ever contemplated entering monastic life where much of your day is spent in prayer and silence? It's not for the weak, I can tell you. It's not for frustrated people trying to escape the problems of life but it's for those emotionally healthy people who are sincerely desiring to devote all day to prayer. I realize there are other things they do but prayer is the focus, with few external distractions. Who has ever considered it? Any pros/cons for choosing life in a religious order? Or perhaps your home church has a variation of it but their basic role is devotional prayer as a calling in addition to their family responsibilites?
How many of you or your friends have ever contemplated entering monastic life where much of your day is spent in prayer and silence? It's not for the weak, I can tell you. It's not for frustrated people trying to escape the problems of life but it's for those emotionally healthy people who are sincerely desiring to devote all day to prayer. I realize there are other things they do but prayer is the focus, with few external distractions. Who has ever considered it? Any pros/cons for choosing life in a religious order? Or perhaps your home church has a variation of it but their basic role is devotional prayer as a calling in addition to their family responsibilites?