A beautiful city
Washington is a beautiful city, a city of gardens, historical monuments and museums. Our "industry" is primarily the work of government, the Congress and the President, federal departments and the Supreme Court. Washington has been called "Powertown" because of the great concern of so many groups to influence national legislation. A national budget of billions of dollars gives immense power to those who make the decisions. The city offers great opportunities for profitable careers. Money, ambition, prestige are here in abundance. Washington is also a city of perpetual flux: with the change of political fortunes many come to our city and many leave.

A monastery in Washington
On forty acres just inside the northeast boundary of the city you will find St. Anselm's Abbey, a community living the monastic life according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. Do these men, followers of an ancient tradition, have anything to say to Washington? Our way of life, a life of prayer and work, seems very distant from Washington's feverish activity and social whirl.

Life in Powertown
A major goal of government is to pursue the common good, the good of all citizens. The newspapers constantly remind us that those dedicated to this pursuit face many temptations. The power and influence one has can be diverted to private gain or private pleasure. The very intensity of the work may occasion the neglect of personal and family concerns. Preoccupation with the crisis of the moment tempts one to lose perspective. Many tragedies attest to the danger of following a career in Powertown.

Many individuals and groups do seek a spiritual dimension for the work of our city. To give but one example, there are prayer groups in the Pentagon. St. Anselm's is not alone in the striving to relate all of life to God. Still, Washingtonians who visit the monastery tell us, "You've got what we need." What could they mean?

Why monks in Washington?
A monk's life, in the popular understanding, seems far removed from the life of a Washington careerist. Don't monks "leave the world" to get away from such temptations? Any monk can tell you that living in a monastery gives no automatic freedom from temptation. A monk does, of course, dedicate himself to living the Christian life as fully as possible; the monastic way does offer contrasts with ordinary life. But over-all, our way contains principles that can be most instructive for anyone trying to live a Christian life in our city. What are these principles?

The Benedictine way
In the spirit of St Benedict , we say that our way of life is a life before God; a life that is patterned by a rule, a regimen that offers a balance of prayer, work and leisure. It is a life lived in community but with great respect for the needs and gifts of each member. Awareness of God in prayer is the first concern of the monk. The community gathers five times a day to pray.. Another hour is given to individual prayer flowing from reflection on the Scriptures. The praise of God calls one to growth in Christian life, a growth that finds its measure in one's love for God and neighbor. Growth in love gradually overcomes temptations to the self-serving vices: greed, overweening ambition, sensuality. Monks work for their living; our work load can be demanding, but it is carried out within the balanced pattern of our monastic life.

First things first
Washingtonians need a balanced life that puts first things first. By striving to live that balanced life the monks of St Anselm's offer a pattern whose principles can help those who live the challenging life of our city. The following more detailed descriptions of life here will give greater clarity to what this means for us and those who come to know us.