The community is currently made up of 20 monks aged from 30 to 75. Our lives revolve around prayer and work, which, with the principles of sharing resources and helping others, constitute the essence of monastic life.
We learn to grow together, accepting our diversity and celebrating our complementary gifts. Our chosen way of life involves long and sometimes painful study, but is always a source of internal peace and deep joy.
We require large resources in order to ensure the maintenance and upkeep of the heritage which has been entrusted to our community; our simple lifestyle also has modest costs.
We spend between three and five hours per day in prayer, either together in the heart of the church for common prayer, or alone in the early hours of the day.
The first office starts at 4.15 am. A time of solitary reflection from 5.15am–7.30am, is followed by the office of Lauds, after which we start our daily work. Mass is generally celebrated in late morning, except on Sundays and important feast days of the Christian calendar when Mass is celebrated at 9.50am. Our midday meal is framed by two short prayers of ten minutes; we then resume our work activities until evening prayers.
As a community, the stability of monastic life is a delicate balance between the common good and the wellbeing of each brother. However, the main objective of our community is to remain focused on the wellbeing of others and most notably on those in need.
The community makes donations to many worthwhile causes, but also welcomes people to Saint Honorat. On average 30–35 people each day make the trip in order to recharge their batteries and take time for prayer and quiet reflection.
The dynamic of our community is based on loving and helping one and another; for this reason the Abbey de Lérins set up the le Clos de la Charité (www.closdelacharité.fr).
This aim of this foundation is to promote and share the joy of giving: there is more joy in giving than in receiving.
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