Harry's gang: Monks offer some inspiration

I learned about monks during my time at Saint John’s University, a college near St. Cloud run by a Benedictine monastery.

Being a monk is fascinating. They live a communal life, a true socialist society that actually works. One popular monk, Brother Willie, spent his evenings as the night watchman, with a toy “Sheriff” badge hanging off his overalls, checking doors and keeping an eye on things. Father Jerome was the abbott then, overseeing the university, prep school, liturgical press business, and the monastery. Although in our society each of those monks would be at opposite ends of the socioeconomic system, at the monastery, they were equal. It was quite an experience.

Saint John’s is about to elect a new abbot, and Fr. Geoffrey Fecht, director of development at the abbey, sent out some information on the process. As someone who tries to incorporate the Rule of Benedict in my everyday life, I asked him if I could share his words, and he agreed.

“You might imagine that a monastic community goes about preparing for an election in the same way we prepare for next year’s congressional and presidential elections. Will there be debates? Do monks campaign for the position of abbot? The answer is a simple no,” Fr. Geoffrey said. “Rather, in the months leading up to the election, the monastic community spends time contemplating the community’s future and the expected challenges that lie ahead for us and for a new abbot who will be expected to usher us into that future.”

In other words, it’s not about power, but service. The monks consider which one of them will do the best job leading the group, and then ask that person to serve.

The Rule of Benedict, a set of rules St. Benedict composed on how to run a monastery, cover topics ranging from what to do with monks who are good with a hammer (“If there are craftsmen in the monastery, let them practice their crafts with all humility”) to how to pray (“Our prayer, therefore, ought to be short and pure …”) and much more. The Rule gives extra weight to determining the qualities of the abbot. “As in all communities, there is wisdom to be shared when all the members, from the youngest to the oldest, participate in community discussions. By election day, we will have discussed our needs; our strengths and challenges, and our hopes for the future. Most importantly, we decide what qualities are necessary for an abbot who can lead us forward,” Fr. Geoffrey said.

That’s quite a contrast from the way we elect our leaders nowadays. We no longer select our politicians based on qualifications or skill. We don’t elect the best and brightest. No, we elect people the same way we decide what laundry soap to use: how well is the person marketed to the voters? The one with the best ads, slogans, and haircut is the one we elect. Pollsters measure likability and try to convince voters to like a candidate. “Seems like the kind of person I’d like to have a beer with — I’ll vote for them.” That’s a common attitude in today’s politics.

We’ve divided ourselves into two political parties, each doing their best to convince themselves that the other party is bad for us. That’s not how the monks do it, though, because they are all in it together. There have been only 10 abbots at Saint John’s since 1866, none indicted or impeached in all that time. They do have their skirmishes and disagreements, like any community does. But the overarching theme is that the monks follow the rules, working together as a community, with an emphasis on what’s best for the entire community, not just a few members. Nearly every decision is made to ensure the long-term viability of the monastery.

Pete Radosevich is the publisher of the Pine Knot News and an attorney in Esko. His opinions are his own. He is willing to speak at your meeting or event; contact him at [email protected].