The Benedictine Day

Monastic Life is a search for God. Each day that search begins again with solitary prayer (often called “Contemplative Prayer”) and reading called “Lectio Divina” The fact that at the beginning of each day “Always We Begin Again” – can be very comforting. Towards evening, each monastic, monk or nun, devotes themselves to prayer once more.

The Benedictine Day – Before Dawn Six or seven times a day the community gathers in church for worship. The first office of the day is called Vigils, sometimes Matins. In some communities, Vigils can be at 3.00 am before dawn, but these days 5.00 or 6.00 am is more usual. Singing of psalms and scripture readings as night ends and Christ draws near.

The Benedictine Day - Sunrise Lauds, sung at sunrise, is the Church’s morning praise of God. Everyone in the monastic community and usually the extended community of guests and visitors contribute. At Ampleforth and Ealing we join with the monks in choir. The Morning Prayer of the Church is the equivalent of Lauds, but with fewer psalms than Lauds

Monks in Choir

The Benedictine Day - Breakfast Meals are simple and frugal. “Everything in moderation” being observed as St Benedict lays down in his Rule. Breakfast is taken at around 8.00 am

The Benedictine Day – Terce Terce – one of the “Little Hours” of Terce, Sext and None at the Third, Sixth and Ninth hours am, Noon and 3.00 pm Terce – Jesus, our Saviour, at this hour you were led to the cross for the salvation of the world. Let not our sins weary you, but forgive us always, and lead us along the path which you have opened for us, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.

The Benedictine Day - Mass Mass is the most important liturgy of the day and the source of every other activity in the monastery. Here we too become “Christ Bearers”. Before concelebration of the Mass became allowed, every monk who was a priest had to say Mass daily. This is the reason for the number of little chapels to be seen in most Abbey churches and Cathedrals.

Chapels – St Boniface

The Benedictine Day Ora et Labora. Prayer and Work. In addition to the usual household tasks, various arts, crafts and trades are carried on in many Benedictine Communities. Work can include farming, teaching, book binding, printing, pottery, stained glassware to name but a few. Some of the best Belgian Beers are brewed by monks. Work is typically from am to noon.

The Benedictine Day Midday Office – Sext the sixth hour. Lord Jesus, Saviour of the world, this is the hour when you were lifted up from the earth. By looking on your Cross and seeing the depth of your love for us, may we never again stray from you, who reign with the Father forever and ever. Sext is followed by lunch and some free time for hobbies, a walk in the garden or perhaps catching up with the news or a special interest.

The Benedictine Day Monastic work takes many forms and, although largely carried out within the enclosure of the Monastery often reaches far beyond its walls – literally in the case of broadcasts for TV programmes (The Monastery), Sister Wendy on Art, Songs of Praise or BBC World Service let alone Internet Websites.

The Benedictine Day None – the ninth hour. Lord Jesus, at this hour when you died on the Cross, and made of death a pathway to true life, we bless you for the victory of your love; and we ask you to light up our paths, for you live forever and ever. or Lord God, grant that through our work we may provide for the needs of this life, while never losing sight of what is of true value, those things which alone remain forever and ever.

The Benedictine Day The Community meets once a day for a period of recreation, with time to relax or chat. Some members will follow this with a time for private prayer or reading, while others will be working. Many communities have dependent houses or parishes either in this country or abroad.

The Benedictine Day Vespers (Evening Prayer) is said around 6.00 pm. Sometimes it is sung in traditional Latin plainsong, uniting them with the Church in prayer in every age and in every place. For other offices English is usually used, often in settings composed at Stanbrook Abbey by Nuns of the English Benedictine Congregation.

The Benedictine Day After supper comes Compline (Night Prayer), and the day ends as it began with prayer “Save us Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep, that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with Him in peace.” And so to bed. “Lights out” is not until pm so there is time for more reading and prayer, channelling God’s love towards a sleeping world.

Oblates are lay members of a particular community. The writer is a member of Ealing Abbey and also of the Internet Monastic Community of MonasticLife