Do You Have to Be a Morning Person to be a Religious?

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Well, I couldn’t find a question like this, so: What if someone is called to be a monk, but they’re not a morning person? Sorry if that sounds silly. Everyone knows that monks and nuns generally start their days very early. Does that man all monks and nuns are morning people?

I stayed with some Benedictines for 6 months, and I was never able to get used to their schedule. They pray Matins and Lauds at 6am Monday-Saturday. (On Sunday they sleep in a whole hour and start at 7!). Anyways, I think I had to be at work at 8. So, I normally missed morning prayer, didn’t go to breakfast even at 7:30 [I often don’t even have an appetite in the morning]. I’m just wondering.

I’ve been thinking about being a Benedictine Oblate as well. Are there any Benedict Oblates who became Oblates just because the monastic life was too demanding?
 
I think you’ll find it depends on the order and even house within the order as to what schedule they keep and expectations. I have certainly known religious who begrudgingly dragged themselves to choir long enough for lauds and then returned to sleep if they weren’t otherwise committed.
 
Yes, you can change sleeping habits. Also note that sleeping habits very often change as you age. I get up at 4 every morning now, but I’m in my 60s. This certainly did not occur when I was in my 20s-50s but came about gradually. I don’t think I’m alone in this.
I am assuming that keeping early hours for monks and other enclosed orders, and a regular prayer schedule is part of the sacrifice but eventually becomes a habit. The body needs sleep and will get enough when it can, although it will grumble about the change for awhile. In short, be a monk if you are called to it by God and He will give you the grace to make the necessary physical changes.
 
Some people’s internal clocks are more hardwired than others.

Eventually the horarium will shape your Circadian rhythm to make life easier and more bearable.

Remember, the schedule is one way of ordering time and duties (including the Law of Prayer) for the monk. Your time is no longer yours.

If God calls you to be a monk, He will help you, (as will the novice master and the horarium), to make that a reality. It may take time, but with a vow of stability, you’ve got the whole rest of your life to work with. 😀

I will pray for you,
Deacon Christopher
 
Sleeping habits are changeable as long as the person has openness to the new habit. There is a small percentage of people because of a certain gene (around 1-2 percent) that require 10-12 hours of sleep and a small percentage that require 4-5 hours.
 
I didn’t know it was a genetic thing, interesting.

Both Michelangelo and Pope St. John Paul II were known to sleep just a few hours a day.

Can you splice that gene for me?

Deacon Christopher
 
This same issue came up with one of our members. She had been in the convent decades ago, and told me that she asked her fellow novitiate personnel to please make sure she was up in time for prayers.

As a result of this, I have written into the constitutions that there can be a “consensus horarium” which would be different from the one we usually follow. The consensus horarium would take into consideration just such issues, and those seminary sisters (or brothers) would be able to develop an horarium based on the available Mass times, thus possibly allowing the person with rising issues a chance to sleep. The afternoon times for prayer and reading would be followed.

I’m one of those who requires more than 8 hours of sleep. If I don’t, Body will force me into a four hour nap. It doesn’t help that I had mono and still suffer from Chronic Fatigue. I’m approaching the 40 year mark on that one.

Blessings,
Cloisters
My new congregation:
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
My particular ministry promoting the cloisters and contemplative life:
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
 
I can attest to this. When my wife and I adopted a dog, I had to start getting up earlier to take the dog out, feed him, etc. Since I drive for ride-share on the side, I’ve begun getting up around 5:30am on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s mind over matter. I was a night owl through my teens, twenties, and early-mid-thirties. It can take a few days, but you can make yourself become a morning person if you set your mind to it. Coffee helps. 🙂 :coffee:
 
Well thank you for the responses. And the prayers. I don’t really want to debate sleep studies and that. But there has been a lot of sleep studies and science done. So, I’m not going to post a link but there’s plenty out there that shows plenty of people aren’t ‘morning people’. I can force myself to work at 8am, but I’m not really mentally cognizant until 9:30 or 10am. And I find coffee is just a bandaid fix to the underlying real sleep issues.

Even if I’m fully rested and start my day early (which is rare), I won’t do much with my mornings bc I really don’t feel like it. Like, I won’t cook breakfast until a certain time. I won’t watch television, bc its too early to be thinking about my shows. I’m very truly not a morning person lol.
Cor_ad_Cor said:
I think you’ll find it depends on the order and even house within the order as to what schedule they keep and expectations. I have certainly known religious who begrudgingly dragged themselves to choir long enough for lauds and then returned to sleep if they weren’t otherwise committed.
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I just can’t imagine forcing myself to pray lauds in the morning my whole life. Either I will be alert and awake if I get used to the schedule and want to pray Lauds. Or, maybe the monastic life isn’t for me.
I have a monk friend who was allowed to take afternoon naps. But as far as I know he doesn’t need them anymore.
 
Let me just say that I really think I might be called to be a monk.
Just in prayer tonight I’m really thinking “I am not done discerning this. And, having seen the Benedictines up close, I probably will only know whether I’m called or not by entering postulancy”.

So, please pray for me. For my discernment, and my health as well (which includes my sleep 🙂 )
 
there are also other medical conditions that make this more difficult, i have iron dificiency and it doens’t matter how much i sleep, i am always exhausted, just based on that, i know i would not be able to fulfill the duties of religious life, or couse, there are other reasons as well
 
It’s absolutely fine. Obviously monasteries are arranged to suit the sleeping timetables and body clocks of the monks, especially the “Frere Jacques”. On especially cold mornings the Abbot and Prior come round with strong coffee and breakfast in bed, as per the Rule of St Benedict.
 
Fets said:
Like, I won’t cook breakfast until a certain time.
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I know nothing about sleep habits, but from my personal experience as a former evening person turned morning person (mainly because I wanted time for Lauds before going for my early morning run) a copious early breakfast helps with the transition, and with feeling awake.

The downside is that I’m still needing as much sleep as before and I’m not much use in the evening.
 
I’m sorry, but breakfast in bed? Which part of the Rule could you be referring to?
I have to also note, that there’s no way the Rule talks about coffee. Seeing as coffee and tea weren’t drank in Europe at that time.
 
I don’t think you are reading the Rule through the right eyes. It’s not so much what the letter says, as the spirit.
 
Fets said:
I just can’t imagine forcing myself to pray lauds in the morning my whole life.
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Fets said:
Let me just say that I really think I might be called to be a monk.
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Please take this with all due charity with which I intend it, but I think unless there’s an extremely strong emphasis on the “force” part of your first statement, it may we’ll be in contradiction to your second. It’s highly unlikely that you’re being called to a life of prayer that traditionally hinges on the divine office if you don’t want to pray it.
 
Fets said:
Are there any Benedict Oblates who became Oblates just because the monastic life was too demanding?
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Among the only two religious communities I know of, the Oblates outnumber the monks by about ten to one. So I think it would be fair to say that some would almost certainly fall under the circumstance of your question. I have felt drawn to become an oblate but thus far have not pursued it further. I’m a morning person and, coupled with my love for solitude and silence, felt I would have made a good monk. But being married with family responsibilities it didn’t seem to be a good fit. 🙂
 
I think you miss a point here. No matter what you choose there is a part of self sacrifice in every vocation.
For example if you become a parent instead of a monk, there will be times in which you have to be up in the middle of the night even if you are a person that really enjoys a good night sleep (think about feeding, teething, seasonal time changes etc). I still think waking up early is worth being a parent. Are you ready to pick up the cross of waking up early to follow your vocation to be a monk?
 
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We can but the procedure will be incredibly painful and possibly leave you scarred and deformed…

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