The Carthusian Order
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This is a timetable of a typical week-day for a cloister monk. An average day which will vary from house to house, from monk to monk, and from one day to another. In grey are the conventual Offices in the Chapel.
Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers et Complines name the Offices which punctuate the day. Each canonical Office is accompanied (either preceeded or followed) by the Office of Our Lady, the Virgin Mary.
Time | Object | Precisions |
---|---|---|
11h30pm | Rise Prayer in Cell |
This nocturnal prayer in solitude is particularly appreciated by many. |
0h15am | Matins followed by Lauds | In the Chapel. This office last two to three hours depending on the day or the Feast. |
Lauds of our Lady | In cell. Praise to God with the Virgin Mary. Then back to sleep. | |
6h30am | Rise | The time is approximate. To be ready for Prime. |
7h00am | Prime - Angelus | After the Angelus, the time is consecrated to Prayer or Lectio Divina (e.g. prepartion of the Mass readings). |
8h00am | Conventual Mass | In the Chapel. |
Thanksgiving Lectio Divina |
Lectio Divina is a meditative reading of the Bible. This time can also be used for prayer. | |
10h00am | Terce | Approximatively every two hours an Office is recited : Terce is one of them. |
Study or Manual Work | No manual work before Terce. It can be done morning and afternoon, or all at once. | |
12h00am | Angélus Sext |
Recitation of the Office of Sext |
Meal - Recreation | The time of recreation may be employed freely. reading, working, gardening, or enjoying the sun… when it shines. | |
2h00pm | None | Recitation of the Office of None |
Manual Work (1 hr) Study | The time accorded to each depends on the individual in negociation with his Superior. (Prior or Novice Master) | |
4h00pm | Vespers of Our Lady | Praise to God with the Virgin Mary. |
4h15pm | Vespers | In Church |
Collation Reading - Prayer |
Reading of the Bible, a spiritual writer, or other appropriate material. The collation is a light meal, taken any time between Vespers and Complines. | |
6h45pm | Angélus - Complines | Recitation of Complines, the last Office of the day. |
7h30pm | Bedtime | Advisable before 8h00pm. |