Life Lived Abundantly
Life Lived Abundantly: Benedictine Wisdom from Mount Angel Abbey
We are pleased to share with you a new video about our life here at Mount Angel!
Life Lived Abundantly is an in-depth presentation of the Benedictine life of the monks of Mount Angel Abbey seen through the lens of what Abbot Jeremy Driscoll calls, the “Seven Rich Ways.” These rich ways of the Benedictine monastic charism are not simply for the monks themselves but are offered as a gift to the Church, the world, and you. Abbot Jeremy says that “the effects of such living are powerful, humanizing, an antidote to the turmoil, confusion, and the extreme divisions we experience in our society today.”
The Seven Rich Ways
-
Rich Ways of Prayer
In addition to daily Mass, the monks gather for the public celebration and chanting of the Divine Office five times each day, called together by the ringing of the bell tower. This work of God (Opus Dei), to which St. Benedict assigns supreme importance, shows the Church always at prayer, seeking communion with God and keeping it alive in the heart throughout the course of the day.
-
Rich Ways of Life Together
The Rule of St. Benedict outlines habits and attitudes that monks ought to cultivate toward each other with humility and charity, “each trying to be the first to show respect for the other” (RB 72). In this, they model a way of living that can enrich the lives of all people.
-
Rich Ways of Deep Reading
Monks spend several hours each day engaging in slow, prayerful reading of the Scriptures and various other subjects. This disciplined practice, traditionally known as lectio divina, enacts their commitment to hearken to the revelatory power of the written and incarnate Word.
-
Rich Ways of Hospitality
St. Benedict tells his monks that “all guests who arrive shall be received as Christ” (RB 53). This spiritual intuition, that Christ himself is present in the person of the guest, undergirds the monastery’s unconditional welcome of all guests and its reverence for them.
-
Rich Ways of Centering on the Eucharist
Monastic life is centered on the daily celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy and draws its life from it. The monks are committed to celebrating the liturgy beautifully and reverently, so that the visible signs may help serve a deeper, active participation in the invisible mysteries of God.
-
Rich Ways of Promoting Arts and Culture
Praying and pondering the Christian mysteries, the monks of Mount Angel nurture and promote a transformative way of seeing humanity through the arts and the cultivation of a culture centered on the good news of Christ.
-
Rich Ways of Caring for the Land and Environment
The monks make a vow of stability to a particular community in a particular place. This continually prompts their commitment to stewardship of the portion of God’s creation entrusted to them.
Life Lived Abundantly will remain available for viewing on this page and also on Mount Angel’s YouTube channel. We pray that these rich ways of our Benedictine monastic life will enrich the lives of you and your loved ones.
Your spiritual and financial support of Mount Angel Abbey is gratefully received!