Intellectual work of monks as a way to getting closer to God by understanding better His creation?

Intellectual work of monks as a way to getting closer to God by understanding better His creation?

This question reminds me of St. Benedict’s iconic expression that can be found in his Holy Rule:

Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus (That in all things may God be glorified - 1 Peter 4:11)

As we more frequently see is his very well known motto:

Ora et Labora (Work and Prayer)

It has been the constant tradition of truly contemplative hermits and monks to incorporate every aspect of their daily existence in to aiding them in the spiritual life and to contemplate spiritual things in order to bring them into closer union with God.

Hermits and monks (nuns) do a variety of daily activities in order to maintain a healthy relationship with God. That naturally includes intellectual work (such as studying the Scriptures, theology, Catholic mystics, etc). It also includes the mundane such as working (cooking, gardening, cleaning, etc.), sleeping, praying (the Divine Office and personal prayer).

Most traditional Catholics has a form of recreation for the Brethren to be able to talk and enjoy one another’s company. Depending on the monastery these recreation times can be either daily, weekly or even monthly. Remember that true religious in these types of monastic settings value silence of the upmost importance to their spiritual life.

Many monasteries have two different types of vocations within their ranks. There are the lay brothers who by nature prefer to sanctify themselves through more physical work and less intellectual studies. And then there are the choir monks who by their intellectual aptitude’s given them by God prefer to study various Church works in philosophy, theology, Church history, science, etc. Most choir monks go on to become ordained priests.

A monks life is totally ordered towards union with God. In some monasteries, the communities take more advantage of the Roman Ritual’s prayers for blessings on various occasions. Here follows a little sampling:

• Benedict vini in Festo S. Joannis Ap. et Ev.
• Benedictio auri, thuris et myrrhffi in Festo Epiphaniæ
• Benedictio herbarum in Festo Assumptionis B. M. V.
• Benedictio seminum et segetum In Festo Nativitatis B. Mariæ Virg
• Benedictio numismatum S. Benedicti
• Benedictio agni (Blessing of the lamb on Easter Sunday)

Some foods are traditionally found on monastic tables to not only be traditional, but to remind the religious to remember what the particular signifies, whether it is a feast related to some Divine Mystery or simply a gentle reminder to pray to the saint of the day.

• The Blessing of Basil on the Feast of the Holy Cross (September 14)
• Innocents' Pabulum on the Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 28) Served to the novices in some religious houses, at the evening meal.
• Grapes and other fruits are blessed on the Transfiguration (August 6)
• Madeleines for the feast of St. Mary Magdalene

A monk life is centred towards his Creator and prays for other’s salvation at the same time. The sacrifices they make is to draw not only themselves to God, but all of mankind. His intellectual studies are always geared towards this!

Let the monk always keep death daily before his eyes. - Rule of St. Benedict.

St. Thomas Aquinas described the necessity of studying God's creation in his Summa contra gentiles bk. 2 (Creation) ch. 2 ("That the consideration of creatures is useful for instruction of faith"):

1. through meditating on His works we are able somewhat to admire and consider the divine wisdom;
2. it leads us to admire the sublime power of God, and consequently begets in men's hearts a reverence for God,
3. inflames the souls of men to the love of the divine goodness, and
4. bestows on man a certain likeness to the divine perfection.

cf. Jean Leclercq, O.S.B., The Love of Learning and the Desire for God: A Study of Monastic Culture.

Actually there is a very good guide to this topic which is based on St Bonaventure: Theology as the Road to Holiness in St. Bonaventure by Charles Thomas Carpenter (1999).

A new edition of the book (2019) makes it more readable (Latin phrases translated).