Gratitude: Lessons from Monastic Life

Gratitude is an attitude that transforms life. In the monastery, it is not just taught—it is lived every day. The shared life, the rhythm of prayer, and the simplicity of daily routines make the monastery a unique school of gratitude.

1. The Eucharist – The Heart of Gratitude

At the center of our monastic life is the daily celebration of the Eucharist. The very word “Eucharist” means thanksgiving. Here, we thank God for the greatest gift: He sent His Son for our salvation. In every Mass, we offer our thanks—for Jesus’ abiding presence, for His love, and for the community He creates. The Eucharist reminds us that everything we are and have is, in the end, a gift.

2. Gratitude for the Visible and the Invisible

Often, it is the small, everyday things that awaken gratitude in the monastery:

• Living in a beautiful, old house that has been filled with prayer for centuries.

• Always being able to walk to the church with dry feet, because everything is connected.

• The sense of community with sisters who have lived and prayed here before us - and with those who share the journey with us today.

This awareness of our community’s history and present fills me with gratitude - for the people who seek God with me, who sing His praise, pray, and share daily life together.

3. Gratitude in Community

In the monastery, each sister contributes her skills to the common life. I don’t have to do everything myself - someone cooks, another does the laundry, someone else tends the garden or manages administration. Every contribution is important and valuable. This relieves and creates space for gratitude: for the gifts of others, for mutual support, and for the knowledge that I am part of something greater.

4. The School of Simplicity

Our life is simple. We have no personal money and cannot just buy things whenever we want. Instead, we ask ourselves: do I really need this? Only if the answer is “yes” do we request it—and we are grateful when we receive it. This simplicity teaches us to appreciate what is essential: a roof over our heads, enough to eat, clothing, community, and time for prayer.

5. Gratitude for Spiritual Growth

Monastic life is also a school for the heart. In the rhythm of prayer, work, and silence, a deep gratitude grows for what God is working in us - often in hidden ways. We learn to be grateful even for challenges and hardships, because they shape us and draw us closer to God.

6. Other Aspects of Gratitude

• Gratitude for the people who support us from outside - through prayer, donations, or practical help.

• Gratitude for the nature that surrounds us and the beauty of creation we experience each day.

• Gratitude for the freedom to dedicate our lives entirely to God and to share this life with others.

  
  

Conclusion

Monastic life nurtures gratitude—for the great and the small, for the visible and the invisible, for the gift of community, and for God’s presence in all things. Whoever learns to live gratefully discovers a deep and fulfilling happiness.