3:40 AM
My alarm clock goes off. It keeps beeping until I finally become conscious enough to turn it off. Then I sit up, stretch my arms, and drag my body out of bed. A short morning offering and then I do my morning hygiene routine, get dressed in my habit, and head off to the first Divine Office of the day: Vigils.
4:15 AM
The Office of Vigils begins. Vigils is one of the longest Offices of the day, and is comprised of more than twelve psalms and several readings from either Scripture or the Fathers of the Church. Praying Vigils while it is still night time is one of the hallmarks of monastic life. It is a long standing tradition which goes back all the way to the Desert Fathers. By waking up during the night to pray, the monk keeps watch for the Lord and waits to hear His word in the silence and stillness of the night.
5:15 AM
After Vigils are over, it is time of Lectio Divina. I go up to my cell and pray.
6:00 AM
After Vigils and Lectio Divina, the monks meet together again for the Office of Lauds which is chanted at the break of day. Lauds is comprised of about seven Psalms, a reading, hymn, and the Canticle of Zechariah, known as the Benedictus. Lauds ends with the praying of the Angelus.
6:45 AM
After Lauds I have breakfast. For breakfast we have bread with various condiments available, such as jam, butter, peanut butter, or honey. Likewise we also have coffee or tea available. After breakfast there is about half an hour of personal time. Usually I use this time to plan the menu for the daily meal.
7:30 AM
Next the monks meet for the Office of Prime. Prime is the first of the daytime hours, and is comprised of just three psalms. After Prime the monks meet for the daily chapter meeting (except on Sundays) in which a passage from the Rule of St. Benedict is read. The superior then says, “Benedicite” and all respond, “Dominus.” With this phrase: “Bless the Lord,” the solemn silence is ended. Then the superior gives a short explanation or exhortation concerning the passage just read. After that there is time for each monk, in order of seniority, to make an announcement about daily events, unexpected happenings, new guests who have arrived, or other tid-bits of useful information concerning the day.
8:15 AM
At this time the novices and first year juniors have classes. These classes are concerned with various monastic topics, such as the Rule of St. Benedict, Monastic History, the Psalms, the study of Latin, and Monastic Literature.
9:40 AM
The monks meet again for the Office of Terce.
10:00 AM
After Terce, the Conventual Mass is offered.
After Mass the monks pray in silence for about fifteen minutes.
11:00 AM
The monks begin their daily work assignments. Usually I use this time to get things organized in the kitchen and to do the necessary grocery shopping.
12:45 PM
The monks meet for the Office of Sext and the praying of the Angelus. Afterwards they all return to their work. This is when I begin the actual cooking of the meal.
2:45 PM
The monks meet for the Office of None.
3:00 PM
After None, the monks go to the refrectory for the daily meal. According to ancient monastic tradition, for more than half of the year the monks eat only one meal during the day.
During our community meals one of the brothers reads from a book, and another brother serves as the table waiter. They both eat after the meal is over. This is also the time for dish clean up.
Then the monks have time for a siesta, which by this point in the day is a well-deserved rest.
The rest of the afternoon is devoted to work, and some time for leisure if the daily work allows for it.
6:30 PM
The monks meet for Vespers. Vespers is one of the more solemn hours of the Divine Office. It is at Vespers that the next liturgical day is innagurated.
7:00 PM
After Vespers the monks have more time for Lectio Divina.
7:30 PM
The monks meet for Compline, the last hour of the Divine Office. At the end of Compline the monks chant the final antiphon to the Blessed Virgin Mary, then the Angelus is prayed, and the superior sprinkles all the monks with holy water.
8:00 PM
After Compline solemn silence begins. The monks are free to go to bed at any time after Compline. Usually I end up going to bed by 8:30. There is no specific bed time for the monks, but most of us get to bed at a reasonable hour since we have to be up for Vigils the next day.