Vocations Anyone? A Glimpse into Monastic and Religious Life

There is a Website:  http://religious-vocation.com/ which assists those discerning a call to the Consecrated life and also to the Monastic life. In short order this website details the differences between contemplative and active orders. It also names those communities and supplies to links to other websites that discuss more of each order. There are practical steps for discernment along with many pictures and videos. Take time to visit the site.

What is daily Monastic life like? The site helps answer this question by noting that the schedules of religious communities  share basic similarities. A typical daily schedule (horarium) may look something like the following;

5:15 AM, Rise, Private Prayer
6:00 AM, Divine Office (Lauds / Prime; Morning Prayer)
6:45 AM, Spiritual Reading (Lectio Divina)
7:30 AM, Mass
8:15 AM, Breakfast
9:15 AM, Morning Chores / Classes
11:30 AM, Divine Office (Terce; Mid-Morning Prayer)
12:00 PM, Lunch (with spiritual readings)
12:30 PM, Free Time / Siesta
1:30 PM, Divine Office (Sext, None; Midday Prayer)
2:00 PM, Work / Apostolate
5:00 PM, Divine Office (Vespers; Evening Prayer)
5:45 PM, Private Study / Meditation
7:00 PM, Dinner
8:15 PM, Divine Office (Compline; Night Prayer)
9:00 PM, Lights Out

Here is a  short vocational video on traditional monastic life, available at the site which shows scenes  from the Abbey of Notre Dame de Fontgombault,  and featuring the singing of  “Alleluia Vir Dei Benedictus omni”.