Monk or priest -- what's the difference?

What is the difference between a monk, a priest, a brother, and a father?

This is a sincere, frequently asked question reflecting a common misunderstanding of the monastic and priestly vocations, which are inherently two different things. The confusion is quite understandable.

Simply put, all of us living in the monastery at Saint Meinrad are monks. We all “look the same” in our identical black habits for a reason. There are no distinctions between us. Beyond the monastery’s leaders (Abbot, Prior, and Subprior), there is no hierarchy except date of profession – and even that provides little, if any “privilege.” It is more of an organizational tool. Benedictine monks are people who have discerned the divine call to seek God in community while living according to the Rule of St. Benedict and under the authority of an Abbot. They take vows of obedience, stability and conversion of life. Their lives are governed by a daily rhythm of public prayer (the Divine Office), personal prayer (lectio divina), work, and all that the common life entails. This is true for all of us.

Priests are people who have discerned the divine call to holy orders. This vocation principally involves (but is not limited to) celebrating the Eucharist and administering the sacraments. There are two types of priests – those belonging to a diocese under the authority of a bishop, and those belonging to a religious order under the authority of a religious superior. Benedictine monks who are also priests fall under the second category.

The only difference between an ordained monk (called a “father”) and a non-ordained monk (called a “brother”) is that the priest can administer the sacraments. That’s it. But we are all monks. Beyond the sacramental, the work of monks is varied and based solely on ability, interest, and need—not whether one is ordained. For example, some ordained monks are skilled laborers (such as carpenters), and some non-ordained monks are teachers and counselors.

Much of the confusion stems from the fact that many Catholics are typically only familiar with diocesan priests who serve in parishes – not those belonging to religious orders. Also, some ordained monks are assigned (temporarily or long-term) to parishes or schools as pastors or teachers. In addition, the primary work of many Benedictine monasteries (including Saint Meinrad Archabbey) is operating seminaries to educate and form young men for diocesan priesthood.

No wonder there is so much confusion! And some of this is our fault. Through much of the Church’s history, unfortunately, monasteries have emphasized the clerical state at the expense of the monastic vocation. Despite the explanation above, there have been distinctions between ordained and non-ordained monks in the past. There was a time when the two groups were kept separate in monasteries, and the non-ordained “brothers” were in many ways treated as inferior. Much of that was rectified in the years after the Second Vatican Council. But many of the misunderstandings persist.

Echoing what was stated above, perhaps the simplest way to address this question is as follows: Monks are people who seek God, praying and working together while living in community according to Benedict’s Rule and under the authority of an Abbot. All of us at Saint Meinrad are monks. Beyond that, some of us are ordained as priests to engage in the Church’s sacramental and pastoral ministry. So, all are monks, but some are “fathers” (ordained), and some are “brothers” (non-ordained).