Stone & Incense Search
Start hereCurious, or no faithEvangelical, Pentecostal or ProtestantFrom another faithSomeone I love is CatholicBecoming CatholicI was Catholic once Today in the ChurchLibraryHard questionsVoices of the revivalTake the next stepAboutSources & methodSupport the site

Questions / Living the faith

What do nuns and monks do?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Ascension Presents

Video: The Sisters of Life Answer the Internet's Top Questions About Nuns, Ascension Presents, published Jan 18, 2024. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: They give their whole life to God through poverty, chastity and obedience. Prayer is the main job. CCC 914 CCC 944

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Consecrated life is marked by the public profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience, in a stable way of life recognized by the Church. CCC 944

This state of life belongs undeniably to the Church’s life and holiness. CCC 914

Our words

Some teach, some nurse, some run soup kitchens, some never leave the cloister. All of them pray, and they pray for you.

Next step: Meet the saints

Honestly? The best answers come from people, not websites. Take the next step: find a parish near you

Related questions

Can Catholics get divorced? Ascension Presents · 3 minCan Catholics marry non-Catholics? Ascension Presents · 11 minCan Catholics eat meat on Friday? Catholic Answers · 2 minDo people who die by suicide go to hell? Catholic Answers · 5 min

Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs
  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 914, 944 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.