“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19). These words of Jesus Christ call men and women to leave behind the distractions of the world and follow Him in a life of total dedication and radical love. In the Catholic Church, monastic life stands as a radiant witness to this call, a path of prayer, sacrifice, and service that has shaped the spiritual landscape of Christianity for centuries. From the layperson affiliated with a monastery to the abbot governing a community, the ranks and roles within monasticism form a sacred hierarchy ordered toward holiness. But what are these specific ranks, and what do they signify?
The Roots of Monasticism
Monasticism traces its origins to the deserts of Egypt in the 3rd century, where St. Anthony the Great (251–356) fled the world to seek God in solitude. Known as the “Father of Monks,” his radical pursuit of holiness inspired countless others to follow in his footsteps. Soon after, St. Pachomius established cenobitic communities, where monks lived and prayed together under a shared rule, laying the foundation for communal monastic life. In the West, St. Benedict of Nursia (480–547) crafted his Rule, a masterpiece of balance between prayer (ora) and work (labora), which became the cornerstone of Western monasticism. Over the centuries, orders such as the Benedictines, Cistercians, and Carthusians developed distinct ranks and roles, each reflecting their unique charism yet united in their pursuit of God. Women, too, embraced this call, with figures like St. Scholastica, the sister of St. Benedict, founding communities of nuns dedicated to a life of prayer and service.
Oblate
The journey into monastic life often begins not within the cloister but alongside it, with the oblate. Oblates are laypeople—or sometimes secular clergy—who affiliate themselves spiritually with a monastery without taking formal monastic vows. Inspired by the community’s way of life, they commit to living the spirit of the Rule (often St. Benedict’s) in their daily lives. This includes praying the Psalms, practicing charity, and seeking God amid the demands of the secular world. Oblates might attend retreats or liturgies at the monastery, offering their prayers and works in union with the monks. This vocation, open to both men and women, reflects the universal call to holiness (Lumen Gentium, 39) and extends the monastery’s mission beyond its walls, bringing the light of Christ into the everyday lives of the faithful.
Candidate/Postulant
The first formal step toward monastic life is that of the candidate or postulant—a person who feels a call and seeks admission into a monastery. This period precedes the novitiate and varies in length, often lasting several months. Under the guidance of a vocation director or superior, the postulant lives within the community, testing his desire and aptitude for the life ahead. He learns basic prayers, observes the daily rhythm of the monastery, and discerns with the community whether God is truly calling him. As St. Benedict advises, “Let easy admission not be given to one who newly comes to the religious life” (Rule, Ch. 58), ensuring this step is taken with seriousness and grace. It is a time of both excitement and challenge, as the postulant begins to shed the trappings of the world and embrace the simplicity of monastic life.
Novice
Once accepted, the postulant becomes a novice, entering a formal period of training—typically one to two years—before taking vows. Guided by a novice master, he studies the Rule, participates in the Liturgy of the Hours, and learns the practical and spiritual demands of monastic life. Clothed in a simple habit, distinct from the full monastic garb, the novice is a pilgrim on trial, discerning whether this is his true vocation. At the end of the novitiate, if he and the community agree, he professes temporary vows, advancing deeper into the consecrated life. This stage is marked by intense spiritual growth, as the novice learns to surrender his will to God and embrace the rhythms of prayer, work, and community.
Lay Brother
Within the community, the lay brother (or conversus) plays a vital role. Historically distinct from choir monks, lay brothers focus on manual labor—tending gardens, working farms, cooking in kitchens, or caring for the infirm. Their work sustains the monastery materially, freeing others for liturgical duties, and embodies the dignity of labor as a path to holiness. While this distinction has softened in modern times, with all monks sharing in both prayer and work, the lay brother’s legacy reminds us that every task, offered to God, is a form of worship. As St. Benedict writes, “When they live by the labor of their hands, as our fathers and the apostles did, then they are truly monks” (Rule, Ch. 48).
Choir Monk
In contrast, the choir monk dedicates himself primarily to the liturgical life. These monks, often ordained or preparing for ordination as deacons or priests, chant the Divine Office—seven times a day—and celebrate or assist at Mass. Their voices lift the Psalms to God, fulfilling St. Benedict’s call to “let nothing be preferred to the Work of God” (Rule, Ch. 43). Choir monks may also study Scripture or theology, enriching the community’s spiritual life. Together with lay brothers, they form a harmonious whole, each serving according to his gifts. The choir monk’s life is one of profound beauty, as he becomes a living instrument of prayer, interceding for the world before the throne of God.
Monk
At the heart of monasticism is the monk—a man who, through solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, embraces religious asceticism. Whether a lay brother or choir monk, he lives detached from the world, seeking union with God through prayer, silence, and sacrifice. The term “monk” (from the Greek monos, meaning “alone”) reflects his interior solitude with God, even in community. The female equivalent, the nun, follows a parallel path in convents, living out the same evangelical counsels with feminine genius. The monk’s life is a radical witness to the Gospel, a reminder that true freedom is found in surrendering all to Christ.
Hierodeacon and Hieromonk
Among monks, some are called to Holy Orders. A hierodeacon is a monk ordained as a deacon, assisting at the liturgy and serving the community’s sacramental needs. A hieromonk is a monk ordained as a priest, able to celebrate Mass and administer the sacraments. These titles, more common in Eastern Christianity, also appear in Western monasteries with Eastern influences. Their ordination elevates their service, not their status, for as Christ taught, “The greatest among you must be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). These monks embody the humility of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.
Sub-Prior
In larger monasteries, the sub-prior holds the third rank, assisting the prior and abbot in governance. He may oversee specific duties—such as discipline or maintenance—and steps in when the prior is absent. The female equivalent, subprioress, serves similarly in convents. This role ensures the smooth operation of the community, reflecting the Church’s love for order as a reflection of divine harmony. The sub-prior’s work is often unseen but essential, as he helps maintain the spiritual and temporal balance of the monastery.
Prior
The prior is a monastic superior, often second to the abbot in an abbey or the head of a smaller house called a priory. His title, from the Latin praepositus (“one placed before”), signifies his leadership in enforcing the Rule and guiding the monks’ daily life. In some orders, like the Carthusians, the prior is the chief authority. The female prioress governs convents in a similar capacity, a shepherdess to her flock. The prior’s role is one of both authority and humility, as he seeks to lead by example, embodying the virtues of the Rule.
Abbot
At the summit stands the abbot, the head of an abbey or monastery, elected by his community to represent Christ among them. As St. Benedict writes, “The abbot must know that he takes upon himself the care of souls” (Rule, Ch. 2). He bears a crosier or ring as signs of his pastoral authority, overseeing both spiritual and temporal affairs. The female abbess leads nuns with equal dignity. An abbot’s role is one of service, not domination, guiding his monks toward heaven. His leadership is marked by wisdom, compassion, and a deep love for his community.
Hegumen and Archimandrite
In Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions, a hegumen (or igumen) heads a monastery or group of monasteries within a territory, a term derived from the Greek for “leader.” An archimandrite, a higher rank, supervises multiple abbots or governs a major monastery, appointed by a bishop. While less common in Western Catholicism, these titles highlight the universality of monastic governance across the Church. They remind us that monasticism, though diverse in expression, is united in its mission to seek God above all else.