Monk-a-Thon with Regina Magazine!

The Liturgy has been at the heart of community life since the beginning of Western Monasticism founded by St. Benedict himself. All of the other events of daily life give way to the primacy of the liturgy of the hours known as The Divine Office, (Lectio Divina). And in a monastery, the principal liturgy is first the Holy Sacrifice of The Mass. Mass is celebrated in the Extraordinary Form of The Roman Rite. Then the Liturgy of the Hours throughout the day. The Monks arise before dawn and enter the church to offer Morning Prayer. And the monks return throughout the day to offer communal prayer known as the Canonical hours established by Saint Benedict. The Divine Office is chanted in Latin and sung in Gregorian chant throughout the seven Canonical hours of the day. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is a fundamental value of the Monks life. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is celebrated before Vespers of Each Saturday and Sunday.
 
The Community of Saint Benedict is a community of monks striving to live a simple, genuine and full monastic life according to the Scriptures and the Rule of St. Benedict. As members of The Benedictine Congregation of The Holy Spirit, we seek to remain faithful to our authentic tradition continually revitalized by the Holy Spirit. We are committed to honor and glorify God through the harmonious balance of prayer, study work and hospitality.  We recognize our affinity with all who follow the monastic way of life, especially those who are part of the Benedictine tradition. Called together by God to a community of fraternal love, we believe our life itself to be apostolic and in the context of the church and the world community, we seek to serve all God’s people. United in faith, we celebrate God’s kingdom through prayer, life in common and work.

Beginning in 2000, the number of young men seeking to visit this Benedictine Monastery in rural Connecticut to discern their vocation has skyrocketed. These Benedictines now routinely field as many as 15 vocation requests a month.
 
In fact, the Benedictines now have ‘no more room at the inn’ – with 36 life-professed monks, 22 priests and 14 brothers, in addition to six novices, four candidates and three men studying for the priesthood. Interest is so high, in fact, that they now must house would-be monks in their former retreat center, as they have run out of room for interested candidates to stay.
 
Father Andrew Proulx, OSB, explains:
 
Q. Why are young men so attracted to your Community? 
Young men are seeking the traditional values of the Church, the liturgy and prayer. Many seek a more inner call to a life that offers them peace from a world so mixed up. Today’s young men are looking for spiritual substance. The liturgy of the community, which follows the ancient Canonical Hours of the Day bring wellsprings of a life they feel attracted to, which parish life cannot.

“Within our Community men seek a more secure reason for existence; the attraction to serving God with others who are of like mind.” The Latin phrase for this is – as the Apostles were known – “Cor unum et anima una” – “They were of one heart and of one soul.”