Best Abbey Escondido Near Me

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ALTHOUGH THE BENEDICTINE MONKS OF PRINCE OF PEACE ABBEY have been in the diocese of San Diego since only 1958, they are members of an uninterrupted tradition of more than one thousand four hundred years in the Church— a tradition of monks who seek God through worship and prayer, work and community life.


In his book or “Rule for Monks,” Saint Benedict says that at all times the life of a monk is to be an offering he makes to God with the joy of the Holy Spirit as he looks forward to the Resurrection with the joy of spiritual desire.


Saint Benedict wrote his “Rule for Monks” (before A.D. 547) as a short book of spiritual teaching and practical regulations governing the lives of monks. In it St. Benedict states concisely that a monk is a man who obeys and serves God and his fellow monks in the context of:


(2) under the discipline of a “rule” (a specific code of regulations governing monastic life)...


(3) and under the leadership of an abbot (the superior of an abbey or monastery).


The three vows that St. Benedict spelled out for monks may be said to correspond to the above three points:


(1) the vow of Stability unites a monk to one community for life;


(2) the vow of ongoing, perpetual Conversion binds a man to observe the specific disciplines of monastic life (essentially including the obligations of poverty, or “community of goods”, and celibacy);


(3) the vow of Obedience places him under the leadership of both his abbot and his community.


Apart from the hours necessary for sleeping and eating, the “Rule” of St. Benedict divides the daily schedule of monastic life among three activities. These are (1) liturgical worship in common, (2) private prayerful spiritual reading, and (3) work.


The daily hours of liturgical worship in common are composed of the various “Divine Offices” throughout the day (i.e., Vigils, Lauds, Sext, Vespers, Compline) and the daily celebration of the Mass.


The several hours of private prayer and reading are devoted especially to Sacred Scripture, but also may include other writings of spiritual, religious and theological importance.

Most Benedictine monasteries take up some sort of work relatively “outside” the immediate orbit of monastic life. These “outside” works often include parish ministry, schools or retreat centers. However, Benedictine life as specifically monastic requires the monks to be responsible for a rather domestic form of living: the monks themselves are to do the cooking, cleaning, laundry, grounds keeping and whatever else is necessary to maintain their household and community life.

This is most easily described by an examination of our monastery’s daily schedule.

The Community Liturgical Office of Vigils (a hymn, recited Psalms, readings, responsories, a closing prayer), in church, lasting roughly forty-five minutes.

This is followed by a silent period of private personal prayer and reading until the Office of Lauds.

The Community Liturgical Office of Lauds (a hymn, singing of the Psalms, a reading, a sung responsory and canticle, closing prayers), in church, lasting about a half hour.

The morning work period begins. On Sundays and the most important feastdays, this whole period is used instead for private personal prayer and reading.

Work ceases for the sake of silent individual prayer in preparation for Mass.

Lunch. On weekdays this is without speaking, but is accompanied by a book read aloud by a lector; on Sundays and solemnities, there is conversation during the meal.

Lunch is followed immediately by the community liturgical office of Sext (a hymn, recited Psalms, a brief reading and a closing prayer).

On Sundays, Wednesdays and some solemnities, the afternoons are unstructured free time until Vespers at 5:00 in the evening.

On regular weekdays, another period of private personal prayer and reading begins, lasting until Vespers at 5:00.

The Community Liturgical Office of Vespers (a hymn, singing of the Psalms, a reading, a sung responsory and a canticle, closing prayers), in church, lasting a half hour. At the conclusion of Vespers on Saturday: Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with procession to her shrine in the monastery church. At the conclusion of Vespers on Sunday: Eucharistic Exposition, Adoration, and Benediction.

This is followed by private personal prayer or reading until supper.

Supper: on weekdays this is without speaking, but is accompanied by a book read aloud by a lector; on Sundays and feastdays, there is conversation during the meal.