Monks are God-seekers. In silence and seclusion, they devote themselves entirely to prayer in order to be as open as possible to the divine. Life in a monastic community offers them a good foundation for this. The monks who live in the Abbey of Our Lady of Koningshoeven come together at specific times for common prayer. They also devote a great deal of time to personal prayer and spiritual reading. In addition, they work.

Prayer and Work
Following an old tradition, the monks come together seven times a day for prayer, the high point being the celebration of the Eucharist. Celebrating these seven offices in common helps the monks extend their prayer throughout the entire day. 'Lectio Divina', or spiritual reading, also plays a significant role in this. The monks have fixed times when they meditatively read texts from the

Bible, the Church Fathers or other spiritual authors. This form of prayerful reading isn’t just a matter of gathering intellectual information; rather, it’s a form of dialogue between God and the reader.

At specific times in the morning and in the afternoon, the monks work, earning their living through their work. Work also provides opportunities for experiencing solidarity with the world which God has created. And further, work is a form of spiritual and physical relaxation.

Freedom
The monks pray and work within the enclosure of the monastery. Living in seclusion isn’t an expression of an aversion for society; rather, it’s a free and conscious choice not to get wrapped up in it. Separation from 'the world' gives monks a certain freedom to 'be there for everyone'. A fourth-century monk wrote: “A monk is someone who is outwardly separated from everyone, but who inwardly remains even more deeply united with everyone and everything.” In their personal and common prayer, the monks stand before God not only as themselves but, in a certain sense, vicariously for the whole world.The fact that monks are “there for everyone” finds expression in their hospitality, receiving as guests people who would like to step briefly out of the busy, alienating society in which they find themselves. The monastic community offers them an atmosphere of silence, stillness and reflection in which they can once again find themselves and God.

Functions
The head of a community of monks is called an 'abbot' (from the Latin 'abbas' or 'father'). The monks choose one of the brothers from their own community to be their abbot and he provides leadership for the abbey for a minimum of six years, or until he reaches the age of 75. The abbot appoints others to help him with the various functions in the monastery. He names a prior who can take his place in his absence, a treasurer who manages the business dealings of the monastery, a novice master who is responsible for the formation of aspiring monks and a 'cellarer' who takes care of domestic needs. Every monk also has his own job within the community; for example, someone is responsible for the wash, for housecleaning, for the kitchen and the dining room, for the carpentry shop, the bookbindery, the library, the sacristy and the church, the grounds and the woods, and for receiving guests. The abbot has a council which assists him in his governance of the abbey. This council is composed of at least three members, one of whom is chosen by the community. There is also a financial council which assists the abbot in financial matters. For some decisions to be valid, the abbot needs the approval of the Chapter of the community. All the monks who have made solemn profession – who have thus made a definitive commitment to the monastic community – have a vote in Chapter.

Daily Schedule
Monks live according to an established rhythm. This in their daily schedule:
(bold type indicates 'in the church' and open to visitors)

04.15    rise
04.30    vigils (matins)

05.30    breakfast, personal prayer, spiritual reading
07.00    morning prayer(lauds) and eucharist (mass)
08.15    spiritual reading together
08.45    mid-morning prayer (tierce)
09.00    work
12.00    midday prayer (sext)
12.15    dinner and meridian
14.30    mid-afternoon prayer (none)
14.45    work
17.45    evening prayer (vespers) incl. meditation
18.30    supper and free time
19.30    compline

On Sundays and Feast days, the eucharist (mass) is celebrated at 11:00 AM and from 17.00-18.00 (incl. ½ hour meditation) evening prayer.

The Psalms make up a large part of the Divine Office each day. Every two weeks, all the Psalms are sung according to the 'Distribution of the Psalms' in which Week I refers to the even-numbered weeks, and Week II to the odd-numbered weeks.

Each week begins on Sunday.

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