Monastery Life

Our life as Benedictine monks of Mount Angel Abbey is guided by the Rule of St. Benedict. We follow a communal schedule of prayer and work that includes gathering six times each day for prayer. We also spend time alone in contemplative prayer, spiritual reading (lectio divina), and personal devotions.

Our Prayer

In his Rule, our Holy Father St. 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, which is the primary work of Benedictines. The Benedictine monks of Mount Angel Abbey build each day around the hours of the Divine Office, 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. Life for a Benedictine monk of Mount Angel Abbey is a gentle and regular rhythm of prayer and work. In addition to gathering in the Abbey church six times each day for common prayer, 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 Benedictine monk’s life are prayer, work, and Christian brotherhood. Mount Angel’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. For example, one may work in the kitchens, on the grounds, or in the laundry, as well as in a position of management and administration. The seminary provides the opportunity to study and teach. Of special value, are the arts – music, iconography, painting, woodworking, calligraphy, mosaic and graphic arts. There is also ample opportunity to perform 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 the desire to be conformed to Christ. Through communal living, we learn to assist and to support one another. The Benedictine monks of Mount Angel experience fraternity daily as we pray, work, relax, recreate and study together.