Monastery Life

Our life as monks at the Abbey is a gentle and regular rhythm of prayer and work. In addition to gathering six times each day to pray together, we spend time alone in contemplative prayer, spiritual reading (lectio divina) and personal devotions.

Silence is diligently cultivated in the monastery, especially at night, to maintain a prayerful quiet in the house of God and in the souls of the monks. The Hours of the Divine Office are chanted in common with the Eucharist as the high point of our monastic day.

Our Prayer

In his Rule, our Holy Father Saint Benedict teaches that “nothing is to be preferred to the Work of God” (43:3). Nothing is to be preferred to the liturgical prayer of the Church. At Mount Angel Abbey, the Hours of the Divine Office are chanted in common, with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist as the center and high point of the monastic day.

Throughout the day an atmosphere of quiet prayer and reflection prevails in the monastery. Life for the monks of Mount Angel Abbey is a gentle and regular rhythm of prayer and work. Besides gathering in the church six times each day to pray together, the monks spend time alone in contemplative prayer, lectio divina, spiritual reading and personal devotions in the quiet of the monastery. Silence is diligently cultivated in the monastery, especially at night, to help maintain a prayerful quiet in the house of God and in the souls of the monks.

Our Work

At the center of a monk’s life are prayer, work and Christian brotherhood. Our Abbey’s principal apostolic works are the operation of Mount Angel Seminary, Saint Benedict Guesthouse and Retreat Center, the Abbey library, and pastoral ministry. Each monk brings his gifts to the monastery, and all kinds of work are valued and shared. There is work in the kitchens, on the grounds and in the laundry, as well as, positions of management and administration. The seminary provides opportunity to study and teach. Of special value, are the arts – music, iconography, painting, woodworking, calligraphy, mosaic and graphic arts, and, of course, the work of pastoral care, preaching, sacramental ministry, spiritual direction and parish assistance.

Our Community Life

Personal presence, friendship, recreation and conversation are important elements of our community life. The monk is not alone in his search for God and in his desire to be conformed to Christ. Through communal living, we learn to assist and to support one another. We particularly experience fraternity as we pray, work, relax, recreate and study together.