Community
From the very origins of monasticism,
The monastic life lived in common refers to the first Christian community in Jerusalem as described in the New Testament in the book of Acts:
"The multitude of those who had become believers were of one heart and one soul, and no one considered any of his possessions his own; on the contrary, they held everything in common." Acts 4:32
Community life
The community meets seven times a day in the church to pray and listen to the Word of God, and to pray about life and the concerns of humanity.
In his Son Jesus Christ, God fully embraces human nature; our prayer is inhabited and carried by his presence and by faith in his fullness of life.
Activities
The brothers develop activities to meet all the needs of everyday life.
Wine-growing, olive-growing, liqueurs, a shop selling monastic products and an all-day catering service are their main sources of income.
The profits from their work are pooled and also used to help other communities in need or other charities.
The remaining activities relate to domestic needs, intellectual training and building maintenance.
A great deal of attention is paid to welcoming people who come to recharge their batteries on the island, either by staying in our monastic guest house, visiting for the day or by organising sessions and seminars.
Our relationship with the world
Chosen by Saint Honorat at the beginning of the 5th century for its wild and secluded character, the island of Saint-Honorat allows its inhabitants to preserve the silence conducive to prayer and interiority. Yet it is only a stone's throw from the Croisette.
This short distance gives us a glimpse of the paradoxical evangelical demand to live in the world without being "of the world".
It is important for the monk to be supported in his efforts at Christian conversion by a community - an isolated Christian is a Christian in danger - but in return the community also becomes stronger to face the challenges of a Christian life in the present time.
The monks are in solidarity with their contemporaries through their work, both manual and intellectual, the welcome they give and their commitment to solidarity initiatives. Prayer of praise and intercession permeates these different areas of activity and the relationships that the monks maintain with everyone they meet. A certain separation from the world, which is necessary to meet God in prayer and fraternal life, also makes it possible to give a frank welcome to all those who do not share the life of the community but can benefit from coming into contact with it. Evagrius, a fourth-century monk, had already expressed this in a formula that has become famous:
"A monk is someone who is separated from everything in order to be united with everyone.