Does anyone know the technical difference between a monastery and a convent? Before I really started looking, I used to think monks went to monasteries, and nuns to convents. But I am entering a Discalced Carmelite monastery in twelve days, so that can't be the difference. Then I heard from a friend that the difference was a monastery for the monastic lifestyle, and a convent for contemplative...well, then what is the difference between contemplative and monastic life?

Any insight on either of these subjects (convents v. monasteries or monastic v. contemplative life) would be greatly appreciated!

I am praying for you all!

Yours in Christ,
Courtney

Well....for me its simply Monasteries to Cloistered/Contemplative, Convents to active. :shrug:

actually, priests and monks can live in convents too. Convent doesn't always mean "house of women religious"

Monasteries are usually houses of monks and nuns. Convents are usually houses of communites that are more fraternal in character. A Conventus is a place of gathering together. So, friars have convents in Europe. Here Franciscans have friaries and Dominicans have priories...the men that is. The nuns have monasteries. I think that convents have a more "itinerant" character to them.

very true....conventus is at the root of our Francsican movement since the the time after francis....it was the friars of the community who now are called the conventual franciscans

That's funny how your friend, while he was correct in stating that monasteries are the houses of those living a monastic lifestyle (monks & nuns - French: moniales / Italian: monache) - which makes senses, as they begin with the same prefix, meaning something like solitary I believe in Latin - would then say convents are the houses of CONtemplative communities. (on a side note, I make many similar mistakes )

But yeah, everyone here wrote basically what I've always understand as the difference. And I think generally speaking you can say, convent in the US usually refers to an active community of religious sisters, while monastery is for those living a monastic life, male or female religious.

Yeah, but you never know, an active community may just have "monastery" in their name, goes to show never to never judge by titles.