Novice
A woman expresses her desire to continue her initial monastic formation journey into the novitiate by asking “that I may continue to seek God through sharing the monastic life with this Benedictine Community.”

The novitiate is an intense year of prayer and study at the monastery. Its primary purpose is to see if the novice “seeks truly God and is eager for the work of God.” (Rule of Benedict, Chapter 58) With time devoted to study, personal reflection, private and communal prayer, and work within the internal ministries of the community, the novice comes to know herself and the community more fully.

Studies during the novice year include an in-depth study of the Rule of Benedict, the Psalms and wisdom literature. As she studies monastic liturgy, she begins taking a turn as community prayer leader. The novice assists sisters who work in internal ministries, including liturgy office, hospitality ministry, groundskeeping, infirmary, housekeeping. The novice meets weekly with her mentor. At the conclusion of the novitiate, a woman may request to make first monastic profession and enter the scholasticate.


A typical day in the life of a novice at Mount St. Benedict Monastery:
6:00
 a.m. Rise.
6:30
 a.m. Morning praise with the community.
7:00
 a.m. Breakfast.
8:35
 a.m. Manual labor in the monastery varies by day. Help clean guest rooms, prepare worship aids for liturgy, take an elderly sister for a ride, weed in the garden, or help prepare lunch.
11:45
 a.m. Mid-day praise with the community.
1:00
 p.m. Personal lectio and study time.
3:30
 p.m. Meet with mentor.
4:30
 p.m. Personal reflection or study time.
5:00
 p.m. Community lectio.
5:30
 p.m. Evening praise with the community.
6:00
 p.m. Evening meal with the community.
7:00
 p.m. Class on understanding scripture, or go for a walk, or help set up for a special event.