Discernment Visits

Do not grant newcomers to the monastic life an easy entry, but, as the Apostle says, Test the spirits to see if they are from God (1 John 4:1). Therefore, if someone comes and keeps knocking at the door, and if at the end of four or five days he has shown himself patient in bearing his harsh treatment and difficulty of entry, and has persisted in his request, then he should be allowed to enter and stay in the guest quarters for a few days.

-St. Benedict, Rule for Monasteries 58:1-4

Being a monk in real life is not as easy as it looks in movies, on YouTube, on Instagram, or TikTok. This is why Saint Benedict said to not give a newcomer an easy entry. Is God calling you to consider embracing the monastic life; or, is he perhaps simply calling you to simply visit for some peace and time of reflection/retreat in a monastic setting? There is a MAJOR difference between the two. One is a curiosity and another is a calling. 

CURIOSITY: For most men leading busy lives, God is simply calling you to take some time away and a monastery visit for a retreat might be the answer. There are many who are curious about monastic life, either stemming from media portrayals, word of mouth, or a chance discovery while exploring the history of/ministries within the Roman Catholic Church. Sharing in St. Benedict’s admonition to “welcome all as Christ” (RB 53:1), Subiaco is pleased you have found us and invites you to come to visit our monastery and the natural beauty which surrounds it to discover the riches of monastic life. Over our 140+ years of presence in the Arkansas River Valley, we have welcomed guests from around the world, many of whom were among the curious. That curiosity does not necessarily mean you have radical call to the monastic life. You can always arrange a short, private retreat on your own at our Coury House Retreat Center.  Click HERE for reservations.

CALLING: However, if you are getting a sense that you might actual be called to our monastic and contemplative way of life, then this involves a different path. We would ask you to reread the pages on discernment, our daily life, the basic requirements to become a monk, and the frequently asked questions.  Next, if you have been sitting with this call in prayer and something keeps calling you to explore deeper, then it is time to reach out to your Pastor or Spiritual Director. Either of them will be able to help you through the process of discernment that is necessary.  If they feel that you might, indeed, have a call to the contemplative or monastic life, then reach out to our vocation team and begin the conversation. 

STEP ONE:  Submit your information on the vocations contact form in this section to introduce yourself and express your interest in a visit. Someone will take some time to speak with you to ensure the visit would be appropriate for you and our community. That initial "Come and See" visit would be for one of our monthly discernment visits. During that short time and at no cost to you, you would pray and work with the monks to get a little taste of our monastic way of life. A sample of the schedule is provided below to let you know what is involved.

STEP TWO: If the initial visit was positive, then the vocation team would help you arrange a second visit for a longer "Come and Live" observership immersion in the monastery. You would join us for the full life of prayer, work, meals, and recreation with the monks. You will have ample time to reflect on and discern God’s path for you. The vocation team, along with the entire community, is on hand during your stay to visit with you and help you in your discernment. The initial discernment weekend is brief for your convenience and is designed to give you an introduction to monastic life and our life here at Subiaco. During this second "Come and Live" immersion which can be one to three weeks in length, the Abbot will meet with you informally to discuss your vocation and discernment in much greater detail. 

STEP THREE: If you are still undecided, then we might consider a third visit for an extended period of time. A decision about whether to join our formation process would then need to be made by you and by us. Three visits are the maximum for vocation discernment in our monastery. 

Upcoming Monthly First Visit Discernment Weekend Dates

January 3-4, 2026
February 7-8, 2026
March 7-8, 2026
April 4-5, 2026
May 2-3, 2026
June 27-28, 2026
July 11-12, 2026
August 1-2, 2026
September 5-6, 2026
October 3-4, 2026
November 14-15, 2026
December 5-6, 2026