Why do religious communities give their members less than 8 hours of sleep?

[JimR-OCDS]

When I was in the Marines, we were suppose to be given 8hrs of sleep per day. Of course, that could mean, 4 hrs of sleep at night, and the other 4 hrs were given when you took naps between hikes and such. As an eighteen year old at the time, I could sleep 10 hrs, no problem. So, I was always tired and I could sleep on the ground, with a helicopter running next to me.

As we age, we sleep less, this is a fact. So, I can get by on six hours of sleep right now, in fact, after six hours, I’ll wake up and not be able to fall back to sleep.

When I go on retreat at St. Joseph’s Abbey with the Trappist, I’ve only gotten up once for the 3:15AM vigils. After that I figured, the point of my going on retreat is spiritual growth, but rest as well. Not being accustomed to getting up at 3:15AM, caused me to be too tired to pray and read during the rest of the day. So, I don’t bother with vigils anymore.

Jim

 

[zaramarie81]

When I was in the Marines, we were suppose to be given 8hrs of sleep per day. Of course, that could mean, 4 hrs of sleep at night, and the other 4 hrs were given when you took naps between hikes and such. As an eighteen year old at the time, I could sleep 10 hrs, no problem. So, I was always tired and I could sleep on the ground, with a helicopter running next to me.

As we age, we sleep less, this is a fact. So, I can get by on six hours of sleep right now, in fact, after six hours, I’ll wake up and not be able to fall back to sleep.

When I go on retreat at St. Joseph’s Abbey with the Trappist, I’ve only gotten up once for the 3:15AM vigils. After that I figured, the point of my going on retreat is spiritual growth, but rest as well. Not being accustomed to getting up at 3:15AM, caused me to be too tired to pray and read during the rest of the day. So, I don’t bother with vigils anymore.

Jim

I too have trouble with vigils! And yes, as we age we generally get less REM and deep sleep, and spend more time in phase 1 and 2 sleep - lighter sleep. But for some, a noticeable difference in sleep patterns often doesn’t come about until middle age or even very late in life (obviously depends on the person). Children and teens need lots of sleep because they are processing a lot of information in school and physically growing. College students and professional-age adults also tend to need a lot of sleep because they also process a lot of information and may be very physically active. Still others have sleep disorders, and feel tired after 10 hours of sleep no matter what their lifestyle. And some personalities just need more sleep throughout life… I read somewhere that melancholics tend to need more sleep than cholerics, sanguines, or phlegmatics. I believe it!

Someone else mentioned that depending on the community, it’s possible a person may need less sleep because of the lifestyle of the community. Yeah, I could see that!

 

[foolishmortal]

It seemed, at one place where I was at, the older (but not elderly) religious were yawning and having micro-naps during meditation. I was too, after a series of 6 hour naps. We both seemed more awake later in the day. I wanted to go to Confession, though not knowing if I had committed any mortal sins in ranting about the managerial job of the last pope in an angry spirit, due to many family members (I won’t say immediate or extended, but I was involved as an invitee) being lax, but I wasn’t sure if I was mentally awake enough. I can’t get any source of caffeine until breakfast (I was getting only that much sleep beforehand, but I drank a Dr. Pepper and even then, my boss was right at the time about my not focusing). Well, I could, but I was discerning and doing special stuff for myself, like missing lauds and getting some tea, might not be smiled upon.

As the Marine said, they don’t have solid 8 hours (probably less in boot camp). I believe nurses and doctors in training get very short sleeping hours as well. That seems a bit irresponsible as serious accidents can have serious consequences. Religious getting too little sleep probably couldn’t do as much harm (unless doing professional work) and the praying probably helps.

I think penances should be more elsewhere (like cold showers, maybe) and 8 hours of sleep should become the norm as a health for mind and body measure.

 

[JReducation]

It all depends on the community. Most communities do not have a common bedtime. They have a night prayer and then the religious go to bed at their own discretion, but silence is observed until after breakfast.

Some monastic communities do get up in the middle of the night, but they have a sieta in the middle of the afternoon, if they want to make use of it.

JR

 

[papalsupporter]

I was looking into the Carmelites and they get about 7 hours. I wonder why they don;'t have more than get at least 8. I am one of those people who need at least 8 but I feel God will provide for you if He calls you to less.

That is good as long as it isn’t forced. I don’t think it is healthy to force someone on a constant basis to not get enough rest that they need. One thing is for it to happen on a job that you can go home to and you are doing work. Another is when you are being indoctrinated on things of the faith while running on exhaustion. The mind doesn’t thing clearly and a person can be mislead without realizing it.