Trinity Benedictine Monastery

Fujimi (Nagano) Japan

Guests of the Monastery

Welcome

Let all guests who arrive
Be received like Christ.
(Rule of Benedict, Chapter 53)

Trinity Benedictine Monastery is a place where dedicated religious men have come together to seek God through prayer, contemplation, work, and community life. This foundation in the presence of God inspires us toward the service of others. We seek to create a sacred place that is permeated with reverence, hospitality, charity, and prayer. We seek to live lives based upon the gospel, using the challenges of common life as the means to do this.

Saint Benedict of Nursia founded the Benedictine order in the sixth century and wrote a Rule that would help guide the lives of those who lived in his monastery. He saw the monastery as "a school for the Lord's service," a place for dedicated individuals to come and make good efforts at living lives based upon the truths of the gospel. Since Benedict's time, men and women have gathered together in various communities to dedicate their lives in this manner. In doing so, they demonstrate how people can come together to live lives of peace, seeking Christ in all thing

The Monastic Day

The schedule of our day is divided among four major activities:

1. We come together for prayer six times a day, during which we recite the public prayer of the church.
2. Between common prayer times we care for our guests, reach out to others through pastoral ministry in nearby parishes, and tend to our own daily needs.
3. We take time for private prayer, meditation, and prayerful reading.
4. We support each other in our common life through conversation, shared meals, and common recreation.

Oblates and Guests

The Rule of Saint Benedict is a gentle guide for living out the gospel in a monastic manner of life. However, the spirit of the Rule is also observed by laypersons, called Oblates, affiliated with particular monasteries. With the support of the monastery, these Oblates make promises to live prayerful lives based upon the same Rule of Saint Benedict. They do so living lives in the ordinary settings in which they find themselves.

Saint Benedict instructs his monks to seek Christ in others, especially in the guest and the stranger. All should be received as Christ. Consequently, visitors and guests are always most welcome to join the monks at daily prayer and Eucharist. In addition, they are welcome to stay for a time in retreat in our monastery's guest quarters. Equipped for single occupancy, our guest quarters provide opportunity for guests to spend time in prayerful, quiet contemplation.

The Daily Prayer Schedule:

  6:30 a.m. Office of Reading
  8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer
12:00 p.m. Eucharist
  2:30 p.m. Midday Prayer
  6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer
  8:30 p.m. Compline

For information regarding monastic life or the oblate program, please contact Father Peter.

For information regarding visiting, overnight stays for making a retreat, or taking a quiet time away, contact the Guestmaster.

Trinity Benedictine Monastery
3110 Fujimi machi, Nagano
399-211 JAPAN

Tel. 0266-62-8770
Fax. 0266-62-8765
E-mail: <fujimi@osb.or.jp>
Web Site: <www.osb.or.jp>

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