New Monasticism

'...the restoration of the church will surely come only from a new type of monasticism which has nothing in common with the old but a complete lack of compromise in a life lived in accordance with the Sermon on the Mount in the discipleship of Christ.  I think it is time to gather people together to do this...' 

  -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

In the corridor of the Carmelite cloister a postulant stood before the imposing, black, crucifix that took up an entire wall's space. What was unique about this crucifix was that it was empty. The body of the sacred Christ did not hang from it. The Mother had explained to the postulant that the cross was empty because it was for you, the postulant, and you, the nun, to be symbolically crucified upon it and given to Christ.

How poignant! It is quite fair to compare discipleship with monasticism, both in similarity and difference.