What is the typical daily life of a monk at Saint Meinrad including, work, prayer and recreation?
Engs: As part of their daily lifestyle, the monks have communal prayer together three times a day: morning prayer before breakfast, noon prayer before lunch, and vespers before dinner. These last from 15 to 40 minutes — depending upon the occasion and the Church season. In addition, they go to Mass once a day. Monks also say individual prayer before they go to bed, and do spiritual reading. They generally work an eight hour day and have many occupations — teaching, administration, clerical, technical, counseling, hospitality, creating music or art. This is balanced out by recreation, relaxation, exercise or hobbies. Hobbies range from gardening, growing orchids, making soap, bee keeping, calligraphy, fixing model trains, wood working, weaving, brewing, gourmet cooking, etc. The abbot and many of the younger monks work out in the gym or jog. The older monks walk, if able — Brother Jerome in the book talks about walking every day early in the morning. Father Rupert still rides a bike.
