Do monks play sport, go to the movies, lay on Spanish beaches, watch Friends or read comic books? EMILY ROGERS reveals all

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a monk?

What do they do when they're not praying? Do they always wear their robes?

Do monks play sport, go to the movies, lay on Spanish beaches, watch Friends or read comic books? EMILY ROGERS reveals all

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a monk?

What do they do when they're not praying? Do they always wear their robes? And what is it really like to lead a life of poverty, chastity and obedience in a society that reveres money, sex and power?

Public relations is not something we readily associate with the seemingly hermetic life within a monastery. But Ealing Abbey is opening its doors next month to give curious enquirers a chance to be monks for a weekend.

It is a concept which Novice Master, Father David Pearce, who has been at the Charlbury Grove Monastery for 31 years, conceived about 25 years ago.

'We think our way of life has a great deal of value and speaks to people today perhaps more than they realise.

'And we wanted to dispel the sense of mystery often associated with monastic life.'

Monastic Experience Weekends are held at the monastery three times a year and the next one, between November 3 and 5, will give young men a chance to eat, breathe and sleep the monks' daily lives for 48 hours and hear first hand from them what makes them tick.

Hearing Father David describe a day in the life of a monk confirms some preconceptions, but does offer some surprises.

There is certainly a lot of praying ,, it starts at 6am with prayers and psalms, which is followed by private prayer and the Eucharist ,, the sacrament of bread and wine and further prayer.

There's more prayer at midday and in the evening, but the rest of the day for the abbey's 21 monks is devoted to parish work, including teaching in St Benedicts' Primary and Secondary RC Schools, community visits and running the monastery. Although a day at the monastery generally ends early due to the early start, life there is becoming less sheltered than it once was.

The majority of the monks come from diverse backgrounds and have enjoyed a secular life before they take their vows.

And they can shed the robes in their free time to indulge in personal reading, uncensored television and holidays abroad.

'We are refining the options of mainstream life - our life does not hold as many decisions, but it filters through what's relevant to people here,' explained Father David.

'Some people have found our life too inward and have left. But lots of people are very lonely and it's an essential part of the Benedictine way of life that we get to know God better together and serve him together as a close community.'

Candidates at the monastic weekends are given plenty of time to decide whether it's for them.

If they are still interested after the weekend, they are invited back on their own for two to three weekends, then for two to three months before living for a year as a monk.

At the end of the trial year, they can make vows for three years, and only after this time can they make vows for life.

The vows made by the Benedictine monks are of obedience, stability ,, staying within the monastic family ,, and a vow called conversatio morum, which means continual striving to grow closer to God.

But how do you know when you're ready to commit your life to God?

'How do you know when you're in love? ' retorted Father David. 'It's being completely at peace with yourself.'

And the ideal candidate?

'Someone who's male and single, obviously. Who knows his need of God and is at peace with himself and with others, but also realises that he does need other people to live out his potential as a human being.'

'And we recommend that people get to know their own church first, before tasting the monastery.'

A question still niggled me as I prepared to leave.

Do monks play sport, I asked, eager to take away with me an image of a muddied, sweating monk in his robes, tearing down a pitch with a rugby ball.

'A healthy mind belongs to a healthy body,' smiled Father David.

We are all pretty much alike after all, I thought as I left the abbey.

For information about the next Monastic Experience weekend, call Father David Pearce on 8862 2100, or write to him at Ealing Abbey, Charlbury Grove, London W5 2DY.