History
Benedictines
The Rule of St.Benedict
The Benedictines
Benedictine Hospitality
Benedictines in Andechs
How to become a Monk
Ethic of commercial Enterprise
A day in the life of the Benedictine monks at Andechs Monastery
St. Bonifaz
Monastery Church
Art on the Holy Mountain
Monastery Friends
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Andechs Farming
 
The Search for God in Everything
A day in the life of the Benedictine monks at Andechs monastery

The search for God is the declared aim of the Benedictine order. Today there are seven monks aged between 36 and 80 living at Andechs Monastery. The daily routine at the monastery is characterised on the one hand by periods of the day that the monks use for solitary prayer, meditation and work. On the other, however, there are also certain times of the day when communal activities bring the monks together. These periods alternate with each other. In this way the monk is constantly called upon to try to find his own way to God. At the same time he is also assured of the community of his fellow monks who have chosen the same aim. It is the task of the abbot to pave the way for the monks to search for their path to God and to then integrate it into the monastic community and the work done there.
 

The day begins at 7 a.m. with morning prayers – Laudes. The monks come together for this in the choir chapel of the monastery, Hymns, psalms, readings and prayers alternate with each other. The chanting of the prayer with its familiar words creates space for an encounter with God. After Laudes the monks then meet in front of the choir chapel to discuss the day ahead of them. The monks exchange information about the tasks awaiting them in the course of the day. Breakfast begins at 7.30 a.m. in the refectory. At around 8.00 a.m. the monks then start their work in the various areas of the monastery and its businesses. Nowadays the Benedictines work in all kinds of fields, ranging from pastoral care and pilgrimage counselling, as sextons and sacristans, in the field of gastronomy and hospitality, in the management of the monastery brewery and “Bräustüberl” restaurant, in the monastery garden and monastery shop as well as in the monastery’s cultural events and promotions company “Kultur- und Veranstaltungs GmbH”.

Just before 12 noon the monks stop their work and assemble in the choir chapel for a quarter of an hour of midday prayer. It is time for a little contemplation in the middle of the day. Afterwards the monks then all sit down to lunch together in the refectory. The meal is both preceded and followed by a blessing and a prayer of thanks. This is then followed by a short act of worship in the choir chapel. The afternoon is once again devoted to working in the various areas of the monastery.

Towards 5.45 p.m. the Benedictines’ regular working day comes to an end. At 6.00 p.m. the community then gathers for Vespers and the celebration of the Eucharist. Evening meal is then taken after this in silence. During the meal excerpts from the Rules of St. Benedict are read aloud, as well as various passages by other spiritual authors. After a prayer of thanks the monks then get together for an informal chat about the events of the day – what is known as recreation. The Compline, evening prayer, in the choir chapel finishes at about 7.45 p.m. and that is the end of the communal elements of the monk’s day.

It is absolutely essential for every monk and every monastic community to establish a healthy balance between prayer and work, exertion and relaxation, individuality and community. The antithesis of prayer and work gives way to a kind of productive tension which has helped the Benedictine community on the Holy Mount to get through the many ups and downs it has had to face over the last 550 years.