What is the Difference?
In general, there are three states of life for members of the Catholic Church: clergy,
religious, and laity.
The clergy are men who have been ordained. They have received the sacrament of Holy
Orders. They are deacons, priests and bishops.
Religious are men and women who have professed vows. Men religious are called monks
or friars depending upon their religious order. Benedictines are monks. Franciscans,
Dominicans, Carm-elites and Augustinians are friars. There are many others who are
not monks or friars, such as Jesuits.
Monks and friars may also be ordained. They may be deacons, priests or bishops. These
men are both clerical and religious. An ordained priest who is not a religious is
a diocesan priest. An ordained priest who is a monk or a friar is a religious priest.
So are the others, like the Jesuits.
The Benedictine monk-priest is dif-ferent from a diocesan priest in that he has taken
monastic vows. Because of these vows he belongs to a community of monks and lives
like they do. He is celibate. He does not own anything, and his superior is the abbot.
When a monk-priest and a diocesan priest do parish work, they may look alike because
they do similar work. But their way of life is different. The following explain the
differences further: belonging, com-munity, property and celibacy.
Belonging: A monk-priest is a mem-ber of his monastery, which is usually called an
abbey. His superior is the abbot. In consultation with the monk and the needs of
the abbey, the monk receives his assignment from the abbot. It may be administrative
work at the abbey. It could be mechanical or maintenance work. It could be helping
form new members, being vocation director, or doing farm work. On the other hand,
the monk may seek further education. If he is qualified, he may be involved in education.
Depending on the needs of the church, the monk-priest may do pastoral work. When
a monk-priest does pastoral work, he is appointed to that position by the bishop,
with the approval of the abbot. If a monk is working outside the monastery, the abbot
can always call him back to the monastery, taking into consideration the time needed
to replace him.
A diocesan priest belongs to a diocese. His superior is the bishop. He will normally
work in a parish, or in a diocesan institution, such as a catholic school. If he
wishes, he may be assigned to other areas of work, such as a military chaplain, teacher,
or administrative work.
Community: A monk-priest belongs to an abbey. Such a community consists of priests
and brothers. But all are monks and all live the same monastic manner of life. The
Liturgy of the Hours are prayed together. Meals are in common. They may work together.
The financial ups and downs of the monastery are shared by all the monks.
A diocesan priest does not belong to a religious community. He considers the parish
as part of his community. In addition, his friends, especially priest friends, and
the priests gathered in community around the bishop are his community. The diocesan
priest desires to pray the Liturgy of the Hours with others, such as parishioners
or other priests, but normally he prays it alone. His finances are under his own
control.
Property: A monk-priest owns nothing. He does not have property in his name. The
car he drives belongs to the abbey. The monk-priest’s salary check is made out to
the abbey. It is used to educate younger monks, maintain the abbey buildings, care
for the elderly monks, etc. He receives from the abbey what money he needs, keeping
with monastic simplicity.
A diocesan priest personally owns what he has. The car he drives is his. His salary
check is made out in his name. He is called to live a simple life. He pays taxes.
Celibacy: Celibacy is an integral part of a monk-priest’s vocation. It cannot be
changed. It is part of his fundamental consecration to God. His celibacy is not tied
to a church precept, but to the very nature of his vocation.
Celibacy is also basic to a diocesan priest. But that is due to church precept. If
priests would ever be allowed to get married, it would only apply to diocesan priests.
It would not apply to monks or to other religious priests.
Assumption Abbey
PO Box A
Richardton, ND 58652-0901
701-974-3315
www.assumptionabbey.com
visitors@assumptionabbey.com
