A Typical Day in the Life of a Monk
One of the first questions we are always asked is, "What do you do all day?" The idea that monks might actually be quite busy is difficult for some to grasp! Here is what a typical day looks like at Saint Joseph's.
Our Father Benedict instructs in the Rule that the Opus Dei (Work of God- daily Liturgical Prayer in common) is to take absolute priority in the life of the monks. Thus, our day is organized around the Celebration of the Mass and the Hours of the Divine Office.
The day here begins at about 5:15 a.m. when most brothers wake up. We begin our day with the pre-dawn Office of Vigils which begins with the first words spoken by the monks in the day- Lord, open our lips, and our mouths shall proclaim your praise- sung three times. The office continues with Psalms and Readings from the Old Testament and the early Church. A half-hour for Lectio Divina follows. The monks gather in the Chapel again at 7:00 a.m. for the Office of Lauds. This office is one of praise and includes a hymn, psalms, canticles, Gospel Reading, and lasts about thirty minutes- much of the office is sung using modern chant tones. After Lauds we have free time for breakfast in silence and personal time. On Thursdays Mass follows Lauds and then we gather in the refectory for a big breakfast and table fellowship.
At
9:00 a.m. the monks gather again in the Common Room for The Daily
Chapter. Here the daily reading from the Rule and Customary are read aloud,
notices are given of upcoming guest reservations, meetings and events, and each
monk speaks about what he may have on the schedule for the day, then
everyone is given the opportunity to offer up intentions for prayer for
the day to be kept in mind and heart by the community. After
Chapter, the monks commence with their first work period of the day until
11:45 a.m. There is much work to be done in a monastery: cooking,
cleaning, accounting, writing letters and thank you notes for donations,
making soap and vestments for sale, grounds keeping, etc. Those in
formation may spend part of the morning in class and study.
The monks come back together at 12:00 noon for the office of Midday Prayer which is followed by lunch. This meal is a family style meal where free conversation is enjoyed. The time just after lunch is set aside for personal time. Some brothers take a short nap or go out for a walk. At 2:00 p.m. the monks spend the remainder of the afternoon in our second work period of the day. From 5:00 until time for Vespers is personal time- those who have been working outside may need a quick shower, others may utilize this time for additional Spiritual Reading or Lectio, or for simply relaxing- Silence is observed from 5:00 p.m. until Vespers.
At 5:30 we
come together in Chapel for Vespers.
This is a very solemn office almost completely sung in traditional
Gregorian Chant using the psalms as prescribed by St. Benedict in the
Rule.
Feast Days and Saturday and Sunday Vespers includes a bit of
incense. After Vespers the assigned cook for the day returns to the
kitchen to finish preparations for supper while the table waiter
prepares the refectory for the meal. Supper is a formal meal that
begins with a reading of the hagiography of the Saint of the Day if
there is one, and the remainder is taken in silence while
listening to reading from books on CD or talks given by famed spiritual
writers such as Thomas Merton. The meal begins and ends with the
traditional Benedictine Table Prayers.
The period after supper is used for community recreation- family time when the monks enjoy fellowship with their brothers and any guests who may be visiting with us. Often we will watch a favorite show on television- (on Saturday evenings we enjoy 'extended recreation' with a movie after Vigils of Sunday). We gather in the chapel for the last time in the day at 8:30 for the Office of Compline- the Great Silence begins at 9:00 p.m. There is no talking during the Great Silence until after Chapter the next morning. This is to facilitate monks' closeness to the Lord in the nighttime hours.
There are no work periods on Saturday afternoon or on Sundays. This is "sabbath time"- free time for each monk to use in the pursuit of a hobby, reading, or rest. All meals on Sunday are 'talking meals' where free conversation at table is enjoyed.
This
is a simple life, yet can be a bit
overwhelming for the newcomer if he is not used to living by a schedule
and with significant amounts of silence!
Even after many years, it can take real effort to get out of bed to sing
joyfully. Like everyone else, monks go through periods where they
are excited about prayer and all the elements of living the monastic
life in community, and times when they are not, but no matter how we may
feel we continue forward no matter what! This really helps the
monk to go 'outside of himself' and learn to turn over his own desires
and feelings to God.
The Interior life is the "work" of the monastery, and we take seriously
the challenge of the Vow of Conversatio morum.
The more hidden part of this life is community. We see the same brothers every day for most of the time. We live in close quarters that can amplify differences and 'quirks' that we all possess. It is essential in this environment to learn humility- how to treat our brothers in a way that is supportive and encouraging and not picky, irritable and selfish. This is demanding work and it is the small detail of monastic life that people in the world do not see. This unseen 'work', though not readily recognized by others, is essential to this life, for if we give ourselves over to it and resist the urge to distract ourselves with 'more important' things, then God can really mold us and shape us into His image.