A Day in the Monastery
"Ora et labora." These two Latin words -- prayer and work -- have become an unofficial motto of monks following the Rule of St. Benedict, who lived from about 480 to 547 in central Italy.
The monks of Christ in the Desert, near Abiquiu, N.M., in the USA, are part of the 1,500-year tradition of Benedictine monasticism, which today has monasteries on every inhabited continent of the world.
The monastic day revolves around communal and solitary prayer, meant to touch all the monks' other activities as well, finding its source and apex in the full round of liturgical prayer, especially in the daily Eucharist.
Beginning in the early morning, well before sunrise, the monk's day of prayer begins, when all of nature is silent and the monk is free to meet the living God.
"It is high time for us to arise from sleep. (Rom 13:11) Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven that every day calls out this charge: `If you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts.' " (Psalm 94:8, Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue.)
Each day in the monastery the wake-up bell sounds at 3:40 a.m., announcing the presence of the Lord, who knocks at the door. The monk is supposed "to be ready" and "to arise without delay when the signal is given" (RB22), hastening to arrive at the "Work of God," another name for the choral offices chanted throughout the day together in the church.
The monks of Christ in the Desert, near Abiquiu, N.M., in the USA, are part of the 1,500-year tradition of Benedictine monasticism, which today has monasteries on every inhabited continent of the world.
The monastic day revolves around communal and solitary prayer, meant to touch all the monks' other activities as well, finding its source and apex in the full round of liturgical prayer, especially in the daily Eucharist.
Beginning in the early morning, well before sunrise, the monk's day of prayer begins, when all of nature is silent and the monk is free to meet the living God.
"It is high time for us to arise from sleep. (Rom 13:11) Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven that every day calls out this charge: `If you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts.' " (Psalm 94:8, Rule of Saint Benedict, Prologue.)
Each day in the monastery the wake-up bell sounds at 3:40 a.m., announcing the presence of the Lord, who knocks at the door. The monk is supposed "to be ready" and "to arise without delay when the signal is given" (RB22), hastening to arrive at the "Work of God," another name for the choral offices chanted throughout the day together in the church.
Vigils
The first gathering, Vigils at 4:00 a.m., begins with the verse from Psalm 50, "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise." Lasting about an hour, Vigils consists of 12 psalms, a long Scripture lesson and a reading from the Church Fathers. On Sundays, the order is extended and lasts about an hour and a half.
After Vigils the monk may remain in church or return to the cell for a time of solitary prayer or sacred reading in the presence of God, the angels and saints. Breakfast may also be taken at this time, or later in the morning, after Mass.
Whenever he prays, the entire Church is invisibly present to the monk, who prolongs his choral prayer in solitary prayer.
St. Jerome puts it thus: "Do you pray? You speak to the Beloved. Do you read? He speaks to you."
After Vigils the monk may remain in church or return to the cell for a time of solitary prayer or sacred reading in the presence of God, the angels and saints. Breakfast may also be taken at this time, or later in the morning, after Mass.
Whenever he prays, the entire Church is invisibly present to the monk, who prolongs his choral prayer in solitary prayer.
St. Jerome puts it thus: "Do you pray? You speak to the Beloved. Do you read? He speaks to you."
Lauds
At 5:45 a.m., the community gathers again in church for the chanting of Lauds, the prayer of the Church as light returns to earth, recounting the eternal light bestowed on the world by the Risen Christ. This Office lasts about half an hour and is followed by the "Conventual Mass" (Eucharist), the heart of the monk's day, when he receives the "Bread of Heaven," Holy Communion -- nourishment for the day ahead, and really for all eternity.
After Mass, about an hour is allotted for breakfast, personal time, further reading or relaxation.
At 7:50 a.m., the brothers meet in the Chapter room for announcements and to firm up the daily work assignments, which may include cooking, laundry, correspondence with guests, gardening, computer work, maintenance, cleaning the guesthouse, porter, bookkeeping, bee keeping and crafts. Each day except Sunday, from 8:05 until 8:40 a.m., novices and postulants (the newest brothers not yet in vows) attend classes in Scripture, the Rule of St. Benedict, monastic history, chant and the vows, while the professed monks pursue a private course of study and reading or may begin to work.
Terce, one of the three "little hours" (called so because they are shorter in duration than the other offices) is chanted in choir at 8:45, then all take up their daily work assignments until about 12:40 p.m. Even in his work the monk strives to maintain an atmosphere of prayerful service in the presence of God. "The Brothers should have specified periods for manual labor as well asfor prayerful reading ... when they live by the labor of their hands ... then they are really monks," (RB 48).
After Mass, about an hour is allotted for breakfast, personal time, further reading or relaxation.
At 7:50 a.m., the brothers meet in the Chapter room for announcements and to firm up the daily work assignments, which may include cooking, laundry, correspondence with guests, gardening, computer work, maintenance, cleaning the guesthouse, porter, bookkeeping, bee keeping and crafts. Each day except Sunday, from 8:05 until 8:40 a.m., novices and postulants (the newest brothers not yet in vows) attend classes in Scripture, the Rule of St. Benedict, monastic history, chant and the vows, while the professed monks pursue a private course of study and reading or may begin to work.
Terce, one of the three "little hours" (called so because they are shorter in duration than the other offices) is chanted in choir at 8:45, then all take up their daily work assignments until about 12:40 p.m. Even in his work the monk strives to maintain an atmosphere of prayerful service in the presence of God. "The Brothers should have specified periods for manual labor as well asfor prayerful reading ... when they live by the labor of their hands ... then they are really monks," (RB 48).
Sext
After the second "little hour," Sext, at 1 p.m., the monks take their main meal in silence in the monastic refectory, listening to reading from the Bible and from a book or article chosen for the purpose of "feeding the mind" while the body is being fed. These books and articles are usually on a monastic, historical or spiritual topic. Guests making private retreats join the monks for this midday meal. After washing dishes, the brothers can rest or read until the office of None, the third "little hour," chanted together in church at 3:30 p.m. This office ends with the ancient Latin chant "Sub tuum," sung to Our Lady for help in the material needs of the monastery.
After None, coffee or tea can be taken in silence in the refectory, then an hour is devoted to "lectio divina," that is, sacred reading and reflecting on Scripture texts. The postulants and novices meet together for this, while the professed monks may pursue Lectio Divina in the cell or elsewhere.
After lectio there are some 20 minutes of free time followed by a common period of silent prayer for all in the church from 5:20 until 5:50 p.m., when Vespers is chanted. Vespers includes a half hour of praying, psalms, a hymn, the Magnificat, and a prolonged prayer of intercession for the needs and intentions of the enire Church.
After Vespers there is time for supper and then at 7:10 a nightly "chapter meeting" when the monks gather to listen to a chapter or part of a chapter from the Rule of St. Benedict and a commentary by the abbot, as well as to prayer intentions sent to the monks.
Then all proceed to church for the final office of the day, Compline, at 7:30 consisting of a penitential rite, three psalms, a hymn and an antiphon sung to Our Lady, which varies according to the liturgical season.
The day officially ends at about 7:50 p.m. when the monks are free to retire for the night, perhaps to do some more reading, or study -- but keeping in mind that the bell will ring to begin the day again at 3:40 a.m.!
From after Compline until after Mass the following day, the monks observe "the Great Silence," when all unnecessary conversation ceases and the hours of dark turn his thoughts to resting in God.
"I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4, Office of Compline)
To God is entrusted all the concerns and efforts of the day just passed. God's angels are invited at Compline to "dwell in this house and keep it in peace," and monks pray that God's blessing be with them always.
The Sunday schedule is similar, though there is no work period that day, except for the cooks (cooking rotates among the monks) and the guestmaster, who may need to tend to the guests who are making private retreats. On Sundays there is time for recreation and hiking, or resting, as one chooses.
In the choir, at work, with the brethren or in solitude, the monk is supposed to be attentive to others, going with them to God. In a community setting, the command of Christ is carried out:"Love one another as I have loved you."(John 13:34).
All are to have concern for the common good and the spiritual progress of the monastery. "No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else." (RB72). The abbot, as spiritual father, gathers regularly with the brothers for the decision-making in helping shape the community in the likeness of Christ, the One Lord, in whose image all are created.
After None, coffee or tea can be taken in silence in the refectory, then an hour is devoted to "lectio divina," that is, sacred reading and reflecting on Scripture texts. The postulants and novices meet together for this, while the professed monks may pursue Lectio Divina in the cell or elsewhere.
After lectio there are some 20 minutes of free time followed by a common period of silent prayer for all in the church from 5:20 until 5:50 p.m., when Vespers is chanted. Vespers includes a half hour of praying, psalms, a hymn, the Magnificat, and a prolonged prayer of intercession for the needs and intentions of the enire Church.
After Vespers there is time for supper and then at 7:10 a nightly "chapter meeting" when the monks gather to listen to a chapter or part of a chapter from the Rule of St. Benedict and a commentary by the abbot, as well as to prayer intentions sent to the monks.
Then all proceed to church for the final office of the day, Compline, at 7:30 consisting of a penitential rite, three psalms, a hymn and an antiphon sung to Our Lady, which varies according to the liturgical season.
The day officially ends at about 7:50 p.m. when the monks are free to retire for the night, perhaps to do some more reading, or study -- but keeping in mind that the bell will ring to begin the day again at 3:40 a.m.!
From after Compline until after Mass the following day, the monks observe "the Great Silence," when all unnecessary conversation ceases and the hours of dark turn his thoughts to resting in God.
"I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4, Office of Compline)
To God is entrusted all the concerns and efforts of the day just passed. God's angels are invited at Compline to "dwell in this house and keep it in peace," and monks pray that God's blessing be with them always.
The Sunday schedule is similar, though there is no work period that day, except for the cooks (cooking rotates among the monks) and the guestmaster, who may need to tend to the guests who are making private retreats. On Sundays there is time for recreation and hiking, or resting, as one chooses.
In the choir, at work, with the brethren or in solitude, the monk is supposed to be attentive to others, going with them to God. In a community setting, the command of Christ is carried out:"Love one another as I have loved you."(John 13:34).
All are to have concern for the common good and the spiritual progress of the monastery. "No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else." (RB72). The abbot, as spiritual father, gathers regularly with the brothers for the decision-making in helping shape the community in the likeness of Christ, the One Lord, in whose image all are created.