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Chapter 2: Life in a Wexford Monastery

(Written by 4th Class Bunclody National School)

Hello and goodwill to all!

We are a group of mannerly monks who live peacefully in a close-knit community. Life in our Wexford monastery is very strict. "Pray daily, fast daily, study daily, work daily." This is the rule we all try our best to obey.

There are seventy monks in this monastery and an abbot who is in charge of us. All around us is our land, which the local chieftain gave to us as a generous gift. We use this land wisely to rear sheep, goats and cattle. We also grow vegetables, fruit and other crops.

We provide all the food we need for ourselves and we give a lot of it away to the poor. Each of us has our own jobs to do and everyone makes a great effort. Unfortunately if we break any rule we have to fast for days (we’re only human after all.)

We copy down parts of the bible and other holy writing onto pieces of vellum which is made from calf’s skin or lamb’s skin. We use different coloured inks to make beautiful manuscripts. All this work is done in a special building called a Scriptorium.

We have a forge where some of the monks work as goldsmiths and silversmiths. They make magnificent ornaments, chalices and croziers. We also get our tools from here.

In our church and graveyard we kneel and pray for hours on end. We are very holy men and for our penance we sometimes stand or kneel in freezing cold water and pray for hours.

Now as the sun sets behind the green hills, it is time for evening prayer followed by our evening of fresh fish from the local river. Mmmm! We’re starving.

We bid you farewell for now and God bless you all.