A MONK'S DAY
| 4:00 am 5:15 - 7:00 am 7:00 am 8:15 - 9:15 am 9:20 am 9:30 am - 12:00 pm 12:15 - 12:30 pm 12:30 - 1:00 pm 1:00 - 2:15 pm 2:20 pm 2:30 - 4:30 pm 4:30 - 5:20 pm 5:20 - 5:50 pm 5:50 - 6:10 pm 6:30 - 8:15 pm 7:30 - 7:50 pm |
Vigils (Watching in the night.) Lectio Divina/Contemplative Prayer(Breakfast) Lauds (Morning Prayer)/Conventual Mass Interval for Reading/Prayer Tierce (Mid-morning Prayer) Manual Labor Sext (Mid-day Prayer) Mid-day Meal Optional Siesta None (Mid-afternoon Prayer) Manual Labor Interval Vespers (Evening Prayer) Community Meditation Supper, Interval for community gatherings Compline, Retire |
A Day in the Life of Monk
Because we are not yet ready for solitude and because if one of us falls he will have others to lift him up and thus, brother aiding brother, [the community] will be built up on high like a strong, fortified city. -- Isaac of Stella, Cistercian abbot (12th century).
We live a monastic way of life within a community wholly orientated to a contemplative life of prayer in solitude and silence, and joyful penitence. Typically, a monk's day is divided up into regular and formal times for prayer, reading and work. This regular rhythm is part of what sustains him and coaches him in the gospel's wisdom.
We rise at 3:45 in the morning, gather in the church at 4 AM for Vigils where we have a hymn, three psalms, a scripture reading, followed by one half hour of silent prayer meditation, followed by more psalms, and readings. The monk is engaged in Lectio Divina at this juncture. We gather again in church at 7 AM for Morning Prayer followed by the concelebrated mass. Our morning work period is from 9:00 AM until noon. Midday prayers at 12:15 PM, followed by the main meal of the day at 12:30. This frugal meal usually consists of a soup, two vegetables, a salad, and a dessert. We have reading at the mid-day meal, and eat our evening meal in silence.
In the afternoon we gather at 2:20 for None (Mid-afternoon Prayer) after which we resume our work schedule from 2:30 to 4:30 PM, and then time for study or prayer. Evening prayer (vespers), is at 5:20 PM, with supper at 6:00 PM. Community lectures or meetings may be held from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.
Our Benedictine motto is ora et labora. Pray and work. In a monastery there is never a lack of work, but things seem to go better if prayer comes first. Like everyone else, we have our daily chores. Not only is there work but also time for contemplative leisure. A brother may choose to visit the hermitages on our property where a monk may spend some time communing with God in nature. Built into the daily schedule is ample time for spiritual reading, study, and mediation which is the fuel of the contemplative life.