How did one become a monk or priest in the early medieval era?

Presumably you find a monastery or church that's taking people.

Although priesthood is actually a career that requires an education.

Monasteries were more like nursing homes or group homes.

>>1857315
Yes, that is what I was wondering about. It's not like there was a large body of educated men in the newly-founded kingdoms of the early medieval period. And it is incredibly hard to teach someone to read and write after a certain age (writing in particular, and transcribing books makes that necessary). Did they take in orphans and educate them?

> At the age of seven, Bede was sent to the monastery of Monkwearmouth by his family to be educated by Benedict Biscop and later by Ceolfrith.[17] Bede does not say whether it was already intended at that point that he would be a monk.[18] It was fairly common in Ireland at this time for young boys, particularly those of noble birth, to be fostered out; the practice was also likely to have been common among the Germanic peoples in England.

Parents would 'donate' their children to the monasteries - it gives the child a good education and alleviates the family of a mouth to feed.

>>1857334
>Did they take in orphans and educate them?
>so much boipucci
Is it just me or there something really suspect about the whole monastery system?

>>1857340
Thanks, that helped.