Our Lady Porta Caeli — Cistercian Monastery
Daily Life · The Horarium
Every hour returns the heart to God.
Cistercian days follow a rhythm called the horarium. It is simple and repetitive on purpose: the rhythm keeps the mind free from distraction so the heart can stay with God.
The rhythm of the day · West Africa Time
The monks pray the full cycle of the Liturgy of the Hours every day, from Vigils before dawn to Compline at night. See the full horarium →
The Weekday Horarium
From the darkness before Vigils to the Great Silence.
Days look similar, and that is their gift: the focus is on being present to God in prayer and in ordinary work.
3:00 – 5:30 am
Rising, Angelus and Vigils
The community rises in the night: Vigils, prayer of the heart, Lectio Divina and intervals.
5:30 – 7:00 am
Lauds, Mass and Text
Morning praise and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
7:00 – 7:30 am
Breakfast
Taken in silence. On Saturdays, the Chapter talk (6:55 – 7:25).
7:30 – 10:40 am
Morning work
Silent manual work on the land and in the house.
10:45 – 11:40 am
Study and classes
Scripture, the Rule, and the wisdom of the monastic tradition.
11:45 am – 2:05 pm
Sext and None, dinner and siesta
The midday hours of prayer, the community meal, and rest.
2:15 – 3:15 pm
Class and study
3:15 – 5:00 pm
Afternoon work and intervals
Labour continued as prayer through the body.
5:15 – 6:30 pm
Vespers, reflection and supper
The community gathers as the light lowers.
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Recollection
7:30 – 8:30 pm
Compline and repose
The day closes; the Great Silence begins.
An hour of Adoration is kept at 7:00 pm every Friday, on Sundays and on solemnities.
Sundays & Holy Days
The Lord’s Day keeps a gentler rhythm.
5:10 – 7:00 am
Breakfast and Lauds
7:00 – 8:30 am
Review of Life, private prayer and intervals
8:30 – 10:30 am
Holy Mass
10:30 – 11:45 am
Intervals and private study
11:45 am – 2:30 pm
Sext and None, Angelus, lunch and siesta
2:30 – 5:15 pm
Private prayer, recollection and intervals
5:15 – 7:00 pm
Vespers, brief private prayer, supper
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Adoration and Benediction, Community Rosary, Compline and repose
Ora et Labora
The work of our hands.
Farming
Vegetables, grains and fruits feed the community and keep the monastery independent and simple. The work is done in silence, as a way of prayer — and the methods are organic and sustainable: stewardship, not exploitation.
Poultry
The poultry provides meat and eggs — food for the community, income for its needs, and assistance for the poor around us. Its gentle labour fits the monastic rhythm alongside the hours of prayer.
The Neighbourhood
The monastery is a quiet hub for the area: people come to buy farm produce, to seek counsel, or simply to find peace on the grounds. Income from the farm helps fund the monastery’s almsgiving.
Keep the hours with us.
Guests are welcome at every office and at Holy Mass. Come and live this day for yourself.