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I learned about monks during my time at Saint John’s University, a college near St. Cloud run by a Benedictine monastery.

Being a monk is fascinating. They live a communal life, a true socialist society that actually works. One popular monk, Brother Willie, spent his evenings as the night watchman, with a toy “Sheriff” badge hanging off his overalls, checking doors and keeping an eye on things. Father Jerome was the abbott then, overseeing the university, prep school, liturgical press business, and the monastery. Although in our society each of those monks would be at opposite ends o...