The Cistercian Lay Brother

One of the greatest achievements of the first Cistercians was to foster and encourage the vocation of the Lay brother, and despite the ups-and-downs of social and monastic history this type of monastic vocation has survived through the centuries. The Cistercian lay brother is fully a monk and fully a Cistercian. The most obvious aspect of his vocation is that at the Hours of Prayer he prays either alone or in a group of peers and does not go to choir, and that traditionally in European monasticism at least, he prefers to spend more time serving the community through his work and to spend less time than others reading and studying. Without such vocations in monasteries few communities would have been able to prosper, for without them the sheer struggle for economic survival would have necessitated a drastic reduction of the time spent in choir.

In the final analysis the Divine Office is a human structure meant to help one to pray better both as an individual and in community. While every monk is meant to be a man of prayer, not every monk has to avail himself of this structure.

One must avoid confusing intelligence with education. To be happy and content participating in the Liturgy does demand a certain academic background. But since our Cistercian monastery accepts anyone genuinely trying to seek God, a man’s education can not be made a determining criterion. What is necessary is that he be content with himself as he is.

With or without an academic background, with or without qualifications in manual or technical skills, Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey welcomes the sincere enquirer.