What is a regular worship routine for a monk or nun (i.e. a ‘religious’)?

«Return

While most lay people go to a church only once a week, Religious gather together four to seven times a day to worship and pray.  The cycles of prayer that they follow have been practiced for centuries, are central to the Religious life, and are a gift to the life of the Church and all its members.   

Below are some sample worship schedules.  Note that different communities use ancient and modern names for the different “hours” of “offices” of the day.  

Holy Cross Monastery, West Park NY
www.holycrossmonastery.com/Worship.htm

Horarium
6:00 a.m.  Matins
8:15 a.m.  Great Silence ends
 Eucharist (Wednesday - Saturday)
9:00 a.m.  Eucharist (Sunday)
12:00 pm.  Diurnum
5:00 p.m.  Vespers
7:40 p.m.  Compline
9:00 p.m.  Great Silence begins

Community of St. John Baptist, Mendham NJ
www.csjb.org/services.htm

Schedule
7:30 a.m.  Lauds (Morning Prayer Rite II)
(7:00 on Sundays & Festivals)
8:00 a.m.  Eucharist
(7:30 on Sundays & Festivals)
9:30 a.m.  Terce
11:55 a.m.  Noonday Office
4:55 p.m  Vespers
8:30 p.m  Compline

Episcopal Sisters of Charity, Martinsburg WV

Worship Times
8 a.m.  Morning Prayer
(8 a.m.  Holy Eucharist on Thursdays)
Noon  Noonday Prayer
5 p.m.  Evening Prayer
7 p.m.  Compline (night prayers)