Two novices join Benedictine community at Saint Meinrad

August 06, 2012

In a brief ceremony at the monastery entrance, Matthew Sprauer and Bradley Jensen were clothed in the Benedictine habit at Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN, on August 5. The two novices now begin a year of monastic formation, including study of the Rule of St. Benedict and monastic history. 

Novice Matthew, 28, is from Piqua, OH. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Centerville, OH, and attended Piqua High School.

He is a 2006 graduate of Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He has more than five years of experience in software development for the defense industry.

Novice Bradley, 29, is a native of Iowa City, IA, where he was a member of St. Mary’s Parish and attended Regina Catholic Education Center.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Iowa and a master’s in accounting science from Northern Illinois University. He passed the Certified Public Accountant exam and worked in corporate finance before coming to Saint Meinrad.

As novices, they will take a year off from formal studies and trades. The novitiate is a time of prayer and learning intended to help a novice discern his vocation as a monk.

At the end of this year, a novice may be permitted to profess temporary vows of obedience, fidelity to the monastic way of life and stability in the community of Saint Meinrad.