The monastic life
Why? For whom? ... living together in a monastery !
“To live in God alone and to stand in his presence, to leave everything to attain peace.”
Listen! The Monastic Life of the Cistercians
Cistercian monks and nuns live according to the Rule of Saint Benedict.
The first word of this rule is “LISTEN…”
Even after fourteen centuries, it remains a spiritual guide for many communities worldwide, thanks to its balance between prayer and work, solitude and community, love of God and love of neighbor. Its adaptability makes it relevant across cultures and eras.
In his rule, Saint Benedict presents a loving God, a tender Father, who invites every person to listen and welcome the divine Light: “Listen, my son, incline the ear of your heart, willingly accept the teachings of a loving father.” (Prologue, v.1)
Those who follow this rule are pilgrims, seekers of God, attentive to His voice, which calls out: “Who is the man who desires life and would like to see good days?” (Prologue, v.15)
The Rule of Saint Benedict is a path to happiness and freedom, guided by the Gospel, leading us to live with Jesus, who brings us closer to the Father and our brothers and sisters. With deep human insight, Saint Benedict emphasizes humility as the core attitude that enables true faithfulness to the Gospel (Chapter 7).
The Way Jesus Prayed
Jesus never left us a manual on prayer. Instead, He prayed — and in doing so, He taught us by example.
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He withdrew in silence, often at night.
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He prayed in secret, with humility — not to be seen, but to be true before God.
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He trusted, gave thanks, and opened His heart fully to the Father.
Before every major decision, Jesus would take time to pray.
He gave us the Our Father, a prayer of simplicity and surrender.
And in the New Testament, St. Paul urges us to “pray without ceasing,” in every circumstance.
Prayer: A Sacred Encounter
There are as many definitions of prayer as there are people who pray.
But one truth remains: prayer is an encounter with God, with Jesus Christ — a deep, inner listening to what the Holy Spirit whispers in the heart.
To truly pray, we must offer God our time and silence, freely and without calculation.
Like the prophet Elijah, who heard God not in the hurricane, nor the earthquake, nor the fire — but in a gentle breeze (1 Kings 19) — we discover that God does not shout. As Isaiah says, He does not raise His voice.
We pray to God, and yet God also calls to us, waiting patiently for our response, inviting us to receive and share His message of peace and love.
The Rhythm of Prayer
“Seven times a day, I will sing your praise.” (Psalm 118/119)
4 : 00 VIGILES - MEDITATION
5 : 00 READING LECTIO
6 : 00 LAUDS
7 : 00 MASS - TERCE
8 : 30 WORK
12 : 10 SEXT
14 : 15 NONE
14 : 30 STUDY - MEETING
15 : 30 WORK
17 : 30 VESPERS - MEDITATION
19 : 30 COMPLINE
In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke describes the first Christian communities gathering regularly in prayer. From these early practices grew the tradition of the Divine Office, the Liturgy of the Hours — a sacred rhythm still kept today in monasteries around the world.
Why Prayer Matters
Prayer transforms the heart. It attunes us to God, helping us see not with human eyes, but with the eyes of Christ.
Spending time in prayer is like spending time with a friend: we come to know, to recognize, to love.
Just as we cannot build a relationship without presence, there is no Christian life without prayer. As Jesus taught: “You will be my disciples if you love one another as I have loved you.”
And to love like Him means giving ourselves — not only in great acts, but in daily offerings of time, energy, and attention.
Community Life: A Path of Unity and Love
“The community forms a single body in Christ. Each sister is to contribute to the upbuilding of relations within the community, especially by sharing with others the spiritual gifts she has received by God's manifold grace.”
— Constitution 14 of the OCSO
Community life brings both deep joy and great strength. Yet it can also be challenging — because we have not chosen one another. It is God who has chosen each of us to live together.
Ananda Matha Ashram owns a small property with a vegetable and flower garden, and a modest production of coffee and pepper.
Our work includes everything needed in a household: cooking, cleaning, building maintenance. But beyond these daily tasks, our main activity is the packaging of spices and products from organic farming, in preparation for export.
When we work, we feel connected to the whole world.
Manual labor holds a central place in our life. It often consists of simple and humble tasks that not only support our community, but can also provide help to those in financial difficulty.
Work that is done well, with heart, in joy and in consideration for others, brings us closer to God — to Jesus, who lived an ordinary, humble life as a carpenter for thirty years. A life of work, prayer, and human presence — a hidden life, though He was the Son of God.
Work : A Monastic Vocation
“They are truly monastic when they live by the labor of their hands.”
(Rule of Saint Benedict, ch. 48)
« Work, especially manual work, has always been held in high esteem in the Cistercian tradition, for it offers the nuns the opportunity to participate in the divine work of creation and redemption, and to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. This work, both demanding and redemptive, provides for the sustenance of the community and of others, especially the poor. It also expresses solidarity with all workers... »
(Constitution 36 of the OCSO)
A Hermitage for Deeper Retreat
For those seeking a more solitary and extended time of retreat,
a hermitage is available within the grounds of the monastery.
It offers a quiet space for several days or even a few weeks of silence and prayer,
in communion with nature and God.
For more information or to make a reservation, please contact us
A Life Given to Prayer
Pope Benedict XVI said in 2012:
“We owe so much to those who dedicate their entire lives to prayer for the Church and for the world.”
And Pope Francis, speaking in Assisi (2013), reminded us:
“When a contemplative nun gives her life entirely to God, a great transformation occurs — not isolation, but deep humanity. In prayer, in union with Christ, she becomes capable of understanding life’s sorrows and joys, interceding for the world, and forgiving with the heart of God.”
To live true fraternal life, we must first come to know ourselves — recognizing not only our qualities, but also our faults and weaknesses. When we are aware of our own fragility, we are more able to understand, accept, and patiently endure the weaknesses of others.
Fraternal life calls for openness of heart, attentive listening, and true respect — welcoming others as they are, with their strengths and limitations. Each of us is unique. We come from different backgrounds, cultures, and education, yet God gathers us to bear witness to the truth of Psalm 133:
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.”
Community life — like life in a couple, a family, or a parish — includes joys and trials. That is part of the human condition.
But it becomes a source of life when love and forgiveness are at its heart.