Our Daily Life
Prayer and Work: The Pillars of Benedictine Life
We are both body and soul. The beauty of the Benedictine way of life is that we seek to always use both in harmony. We offer our manual labor to God as a prayer. In the liturgy, we raise our voices in praise and bow our bodies in worship of their Creator and Redeemer. If the whole man is to be saved, then the whole man needs to be sanctified.
The Monastic Life
Hear from our youngest, most recent monastic aspirants, as they discuss their journey to our way of life. Brother Leo, Brother Chrysostom, and Brother Bede come from different places, different lives, and all have found a place, and themselves, here at the Abbey.
Prayer
Our daily life revolves around Mass and the Divine Office. For without God, we can do nothing. Time is also set aside for spiritual reading, personal reflection and Lectio Divina. Far from taking time away from work, our prayers flow into our work and lift them up to God as an offering of praise.
Work
Each monk wears the same habit, yet each performs different tasks that contribute to the common good of the monastery. Some take care of the refectory (dining room) or sacristy. Others greet and assist guests. Still others assume more specialized tasks, such as overseeing the monastery’s finances.
Not Just a Community, but a Family
We’re not hermits living solitary lives. St. Benedict wanted his monks to live together as family with everyone pitching in and looking out for each other. As a family, we also enjoy having fun together, whether that is going on a picnic, boating on the lake or playing games. Our recreation refreshes our souls for the tasks ahead and also draws us closer together in the bonds of charity and brotherly affection.
Belmont Abbey’s Special Contribution
Not all Benedictine monasteries have colleges attached to them. We have Belmont Abbey College, and some of our monks teach there as professors. We are continuing a long-standing tradition of Benedictine monasteries contributing to the preservation and dissemination of sacred and secular knowledge.
In the World, but Not of the World
Although our lives are mostly separated from the wider world, we always have the world’s needs in our hearts. We include these needs in the intentions we offer in our prayers and during Mass.
Get in Touch
Whether you have questions about discernment and vocations or want general information about Belmont Abbey, we invite you to reach out and ask!
