Monastic Life
The encounter with Jesus, welcoming in him the living Word of the Father, is at the heart of a nun’s vocation. He is the source from which life springs, the center that coordinates its primary aspects and unifies it in view of its objectives.
Becoming a Camaldolese Nun means first and foremost walking a path of seeking the Lord and conversion (conversio morum) that leads to inner harmony in following and imitating Jesus. It means living a personal relationship with the Father in union with Jesus and entering into the dynamic flow of charity that enriches fraternity with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The classic motto of the Benedictine tradition, “Ora et labora” (prayer and work), guides the days of the Camaldolese nuns, establishes the schedules, and determines the spaces of the community:
In the Benedictine tradition, permanence in the monastery (stabilitas – stability) is a general rule based on monastic profession. The monastic vow of “stability” is intended to encourage and express the nun’s persevering commitment to complete dedication to God.
The choice of celibacy for the Kingdom of God, lived in communion with the sisters, is the most significant symbol of the radical orientation of one’s entire existence toward the Lord.
