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I love to write letters, and unfortunately, I have no pen pals. I decided it would be nice to try to find a monk who would be willing to correspond with me, ask questions about monasticism, the faith, ask for prayers, things like that. How would I go about doing this? Can I just write to a monastery, asking if there is a monk who could be blessed to correspond with me?

Lover of Orthodoxy - Go for it! I have found that visiting and meeting monks first before corresponding better as I am more informed as to whom I am communicating with, but don't let that stop you!
Subdeacon Randolph, a sinner

Слава Іисусу Христу! Glory to Jesus Christ!

Today I received the vocational packet from Holy Resurrection Monastery. The more I read it, the more I feel that if God wills it, that is where I want to be. Of course correspondence and numerous visits lay ahead in the future before any type of commitment would be made...which means it will be a number of years...but all in God's time I guess .

In Christ,

+Тимофей, рабъ Божій

Tim:

I felt the same way after I received their vocations packet.

I think the Society of Saint John Canius is strict, but compared to HRM, SSJC is Muppet Babies! You definitely want to visit them first before maiing such a commitment. God speed!

Hello,

Timothy Herman, I live about 45 minutes away from that monastery (HRM) and I am planning to make many visits and the annual Mother Of God, Searcher for the Lost pilgrimage coming this October. I will be entering our seminary here in the diocese of San Bernardino and I will be inviting all our seminarians, parishoners, and so forth. The monastery is trying to raise money to build more monastic cells, which hopefully I can help by asking a lot of our somewhat wealthy parishoners to help pitch in
. Let me know whenever you come to visit so I can be there to meet you and wish you luck in your vocation.

In Christ,

-Joe

http://www.hrmonline.org/index.html...951925&A=21&B=Building%20Project

I read an article somewhere, can't find it now by a very high ranking Austrailian official, who called for Christ to be put back in Christmas and their land.

He made the statement that it was through the faith of the founding fathers of that land that it was formed. And immigrants who chose not to believe can only be encouraged by the love of those who do believe.

So for those who do not agree, it seemed he basically said they should leave. Also, it said that he was not a "practicing Christian" so to speak, but believed very much in the necessity of faith in Christ for the well being of their country.

It was interesting.
Rose

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Timothy,

My name is Arturo, and I will be entering Holy Resurrection Monastery some time next year as a postulant. (Probably sometime after Pascha.) I have known the monks for almost a year, and the abbot is my spiritual father. (He might be reading this now, so I have to be very careful about what I write!!!!) All I can say is that HRM is a wonderful monastery, though you might be suprised by the life there. I don't want to say anything about this, it is better if you experience it for yourself. Liturgically, they are impeccable, and in terms of following tradition, there is not a speck of Latinization in the monastery. The monks are very down to earth. There is no "sad-face = holiness" mentality, nor an urge to revive the monasteries of 4th century Egypt. (If you want that, you can go to the Coptic monastery down the road in Yermo.)
The monks are well aware of who they are, (members of the decadent 21st century American society ) and what they are doing (working out their salvation in fear and trembling, but with a smile on their face). They are also aware that they are not Mount Athos, there is only so much they can do, and there is still much to be done. If one wants to join this monastery, one must have a pioneer spirit, one must have a will to build the monastery. It is still very new and very small. One cannot go in with one's head full of romanticist tales about the monasteries of old, but must confront the reality of what is before us. The most important monastic virtue is discernment.
Glory to God that you are considering being a monk! It is certainly a great blessing, wherever it leads you. May God bless you on your journey towards Him. We are all on the road, and some of us are farther along, but none of us are any closer.

Arturo

Dear Arturo and others,
I have pm'd your brother in Christ Timothy telling him that people are writing to him on the forum about monasteries ... maybe he hasn't 'been' to this site in a while, as he hasn't posted in quite some time!
Hopefully, he'll read what you have written!
Glad to hear of your inspiration....
Sincerely,
Communion of Saints

Dear Friends,

I wear a scapular. Does that count for anything in monastic terms?

Alex

Arturo, thank you for sharing the wonderful news that you will enter HRM this spring.

I'm also in the Van Nuys Eparchy and I will keep you in my prayers and please pray for me, too.

May Our Lord continue to guide you every step of the way.