Monastic asceticism

The word "ascetic" comes from the ancient Greek term askēsis (practice, training or exercise). Originally the term ascetic is associated with any form of disciplined practice, such as a renunciation of worldly pursuits to achieve higher intellectual and spiritual goals.

Asceticism within monastic tradition includes spiritual disciplines practiced to work out the monk’s salvation and expresses his repentance for sin, with the ultimate aim of purifying his heart and mind.

Initially, emphasis on monastic asceticism may seem to be only about sexual renunciation. However, sexual abstinence is merely one aspect of ascetic renunciation because monks have huge concerns which they need to address on the following: self-denial and getting rid of pride and vainglory, attaining humility and compassion, continuous discernment for total renewal of self toward holiness, exhibiting patience, going away from being judgmental, increased prayerlife, achieving hospitality, extending compassion and almsgiving. Likewise, gluttony represents a more primordial problem than sex, and as such the reduced intake of food or fasting is very much a part of asceticism.

Since I am studying at the seminary now, certain ascetic practices which I used to do when I was inside the confines of my monastery in New Mexico would not apply to my condition anymore.

For obvious reasons that are beneficial to my studies though contradictory to my usual monastic contemplative way of life inside the cloister, I had to give up on some of them for really important reasons which should benefit my seminary life.

One ascetic practice that I gave up in order to give way to an important immersion of my monastic life to life in the seminary is:

• Inside the monastery (my own monastery in New Mexico) regular shaving of hair on my head and growing of my beard and moustache is part of my monastic routine. Now, I could not achive such as seminary policies for grooming made me grow hair on my head and made me shave my facial hairs.

Some ascetic practices which I could still keep despite a little difficulty and discomfort in executing them. (I am just very careful not to violate any customary of the house of St. Meinrad community which are sometimes contradictory to my own community’s customary. )
• Abstinence from food. (At least, I am able to skip one meal a day, either breakfast or lunch after our mid-day prayer, whichever is applicable on a particular day except during Mid-term and Final exams ).
• Abstinence from engaging on too much conversation. I am expected (as well as other visiting monks from other communities who live with the monks of St Meinrad ArchAbbey) to attend to the daily evening recreation of monks at St. Meinrad, but I try to just listen from their talks and less engage myself in an actual talk.