In one of His talks to His followers Christ said: "Everyone who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting" (Matt. 19/29). Trying to live in the spirit of these words many Catholics give themselves completely to God by turning aside from the lawful pleasures of material possessions, independence and home and family, and live a common life in some monastery or convent. They devote all their time there to prayer and works of charity in the service of mankind. No one is obliged to live such a life, but those who choose it do so because they are sincerely striving to be united as closely as possible with God.

Men who dedicate themselves to such a life are called brothers or monks; women who dedicate themselves to such a life are called sisters or nuns. The house where brothers live is called a Monastery; the house where nuns live is called a Convent.

There are hundreds of monasteries and convents in the world. In Australia there are more than 50 different communities of brothers and nuns. They all dedicate their lives to God by vows of complete chastity, poverty and obedience. They devote some hours of every day to prayer.

The works of Christian charity to which they devote the rest of their day vary from one community to another. Many of them make the Christian education of children their chief work of charity, others care for the sick, for orphans, for the old, for the poor and so on. Some go out as missionaries to other countries.

Catholics who wish to become members of a community of brothers or nuns must have a genuine desire to serve God and their fellow men in that particular life. They do not join in order to escape from the troubles of the world or to enjoy selfish leisure, but rather to live and work untiringly for God and for others.

It is necessary that they should be capable of doing the particular work of the community they join, e.g. teaching, nursing, caring for orphans or such like. People must be at least 18 years old before they are accepted on probation. They spend the first two or three or even more years studying and trying to understand the life and work of the community they join before they are accepted as full members.

This gives them ample opportunity to consider whether they are really suited for such a dedicated life or not. They are free to leave if they wish.

Each community of brothers or nuns will supply to prospective members on request, a detailed account of the work of the community and the qualifications that are required before a person joins them. It would not be possible to give a list here of all the monasteries and convents, even in Australia, but any priest will be able to give a prospective candidate the contact details of the brother or nun in charge of any particular group of brothers or nuns.

If there is a monastery or convent in your own city or town you will be welcome to visit it anytime and talk to the members about their life and work.