Prayer & Work: Benedictine Monks of St. Meinrad

The Toledo Blade's insert Toledo Magazine has some extensive coverage of the Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad's Archabbey (.pdf file here):

ST. MEINRAD, Ind. — The Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad Archabbey leave the secular world behind and devote themselves to the work of God, a devotion that they practice both inside and outside the walls of the church. The Benedictine motto of Ora et Labora, Latin for “Prayer and Work,” serves as a reminder that God is present everywhere.

The monks seek to do God’s work when they gather in the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln, and when they leave for their jobs. The 100 monks at St. Meinrad — including seven from northwest Ohio — work as professors, gardeners, stainedglass artists, editors, potters, musicians, tailors, carpenters, and more.

They start their day early, many getting up at 3 or 4 a.m. for “quiet time” before the church bells begin ringing at 5:15 to call them to lauds and vigils.

[More]

Additional stories about St. Meinrad's from Toledo Magazine can be read at The Blade's website:

Notes from the archabbey

St. Meinrad seminary shares enduring link with NW Ohio

Monks stride into faith's embrace

Archabbot's plan: A life in the priesthood

Inner voice calls man to monastery; once 'miserable person' rediscovers a life of faith

Kudos to The Blade - a paper of which I have often been critical regarding some aspects of its religion coverage - for its coverage of St. Meinrad's.