Karel Hanslík

Karel Hanslík comes from northern Moravia, from Ostrava. He grew up in an environment where faith was not ostentatious, but quiet, steadfast, and ever-present. He served as an altar boy from childhood, enjoyed talking with the sexton, and it was perhaps then that the question of his spiritual path first kindled in his heart.

He trained as a locksmith, graduated from high school, and, like most young men, began his military service in 1992. He served in Omice near Brno, and it was then that he began meeting with young people at Petrov in Brno. And so, a sense gradually took root within him that life could lead down paths other than just the track of a career. Upon returning to civilian life, he faced the harsh reality: he lost his job. Although he quickly found another position, his inner restlessness persisted. And it was calling him elsewhere. To silence. To God.

He spent three weeks at the monastery in Vranov near Brno. And he found more than just peace—he found his path. He returned to Vranov repeatedly, almost every weekend. From Ostrava to Vranov u Brna, from northern Moravia to the south—not for tourism, but for the monastery’s silence and contemplation. And also for the man who became his spiritual guide—Father Pavel Klimovič. And it didn’t take long for him to make a life-changing decision.

In 1993–94, he spent his first year at the monastery—the prenovitiate. He learned to live according to the rhythm of the order, absorbed the experience of community, and found his way to himself and to God. Then, with the monastery’s superior, Father Morosini, he traveled to Italy—first to Rome and then to Massa Lubrense. There, on September 8, 1995, he took his first (temporary) vows. This was followed by five years of study in Rome. He studied theology and philosophy, broadening his perspective not only outward but also inward. And he made a definitive decision: I will become a religious brother. So, in 2000, he took his perpetual (lifelong) religious vows. And a year later, on August 25, 2001, he was also ordained a priest.

He spent a total of ten spiritually enriching years in Italy. But Vranov u Brna called him back once again (as it had so many times before). After returning to the Pauline Order in 2004, he has served in Vranov as a priest, prior of the monastery, and spiritual administrator of the local parish. But his days begin just like those of the other brothers, at 5 a.m.—with personal and communal prayer—and then continue with work, of which he has perhaps a little more as superior. He is dedicated to managing the monastery and running the Spiritual Center; in addition, as a priest, he is also committed to pastoral ministry. Yet he finds time for simple human connection by accompanying those who come to the monastery’s Spiritual Center simply to find peace and seek their path.

Since childhood, Brother Karel has enjoyed chess, photography, and nature. And it is precisely in the area around Vranov u Brna that he has found much inspiration, especially for walks and photography in nature. And what, in his own words, does life in the order give him? Stillness, space for reflection, and a deep awareness that nothing happens by chance. His life mottos are: “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16)
and also: “Love and let yourself be loved.”

He considers the greatest gift of his ministry to be those moments when, through conversation or the sacraments, he can help others experience God’s closeness—when people leave with a smile and peace in their hearts.
And what message would he share with those who only glimpse spiritual life from afar?
“Life in the monastery is beautiful. But it’s also demanding. If you feel God’s call, come. For a weekend, or just for a little while. To experience silence. To experience a shared rhythm. To experience more.” According to him, the Vranov u Brna Spiritual Center is precisely an invitation to all who are seeking not only a place, but above all themselves, peace, and God.

Brother Karel’s life is not about grand gestures, but about perseverance, peace, and service. It’s about the daily “yes” he says in the silence of the monastery corridors, in the church, in conversations with pilgrims, and in the moments when he remains alone before the Lord. His journey was not a straight path, but one that led deep within—through searching, loss, and rediscovery. And that is precisely why today he can be a guide to those who are just beginning to ask where they’ve come from and where to go.

Stop by. Come visit. And let the silence speak. In Vranov u Brna, there is both space and time for that.
And perhaps Brother Karel will show you that the greatest strength lies in your loving heart.
Perhaps something is quietly calling you, too.