Many friends and family ask, “what is Christmas like in the monastery?” Here is a brief description of the events:
The monks rise as usual at 3:30 AM on Christmas Eve, the 24th. Matins which begin at 4:00 AM are proper of the Vigil of Christmas. There is a special invitatory antiphon which proclaims, “Hodie scietis quia veniet Dominus: Et mane videbitis gloriam ejus.” Today you will know that the Lord shall come: And in the morning you will see his glory.
Matins last about an hour. Then there is the usual one hour of time for Lectio Divina in the monk’s cell. At 6:00 AM Lauds begin, followed by private Masses and breakfast. Monks might also use that time for shower, teeth brushing and the like.
At 7:45 the office of Prime is chanted in solemn fashion with coped cantor and candles. At the end of the office, still in choir, the martyrology is chanted which ends with the final phrase using music from the sung Passion of Palm Sunday. The monks process into the chapter room singing the De Profundis.
From 8:30 to 9:40 monks do various works of preparation, in the kitchen and sacristy and attend chant practices.
Terce at 9:40 is followed by the daily Missa Cantata offered in the crypt of the Basilica, where St. Benedict and his twin sister Scholastica were born. Mass lasts about one hour and is followed by 15 minutes of thanksgiving in the house chapel, where we also have the Blessed Sacrament reserved.
Sext is sung as usual at 12:45. Work continues throughout the day. None is sung at 2:45 PM after which time the meal is taken. From September 14th until Ash Wednesday the monks eat the one meal at 3:00 PM and Christmas Eve is no exception. A short nap for some, or the washing of dishes for others follows.
1st Vespers, with the chanting of Rex pacificus and Christe, Redemptor omnium, are solemnly chanted with 3 copes at 6:00 PM. Then the 1st set of Private Masses begin for Christmas. Meanwhile the sacristy continues its marathon of preparation and the kitchen prepares for the post-midnight Mass Gaudeamus.
Matins begin at 8:30 PM and last until 11:30 PM. The monks start to get a little tired by this point. But a breath of fresh air in the cloister helps wake them up. Midnight Mass begins, of course, at midnight. Dominus dixit ad me. It is solemn and in the extraordinary form. Many tourists and townspeople come. The Church is packed. At 2:00 AM the monks gather in the library (decorated for Christmas!) for a Gaudeamus celebration. Some monks are in bed by 2:15. Others stay up until 4:00. The second set of Private Masses begins at 7:00 AM on Christmas Day.
Lauds are sung at 8:00 AM with a hearty breakfast following. Christmas is one of the 3 times a year in which the monks are allowed to eat meat. Local sausages and bacon are served along with scrambled eggs. The kitchen gears up for the big meal at 1:30.
Terce and Solemn Mass are offered at 10:00. This is the Dawn Mass. Lux fulgebit. The monks are now feeling like they’ve been on one of those overnight flights from Atlanta to Rome which don’t allow for much sleep!
Sext at 11:30 and then the final Mass, this time in the Ordinary Form, at 12:00, Puer natus. None is sung a little early so that monks might take a longer nap. Solemn Vespers again at 6:00 PM with Benediction and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Recreation follows. The monks recount their labors cheerfully. Compline at 7:45 PM leads quickly into bedtime. St Stephen’s Matins at 4:00 AM the next day…