Monastic works
The work of God in the monastery is centred on the Divine Office or the Liturgy of the Hours, those set times throughout the day when the community comes together for prayer recited or sung in choir in the Abbey church.
Monks must also earn their keep and this is done primarily through the educational and parochial apostolate, running schools and parishes. At the moment, the monks of Ampleforth are involved in the running of two schools - Ampleforth College and St Martin's Ampleforth - and St Benet's Hall, a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford. Monks also work in 18 parishes and in 1997 the community established the Monastery of Christ the Word in Macheke, Zimbabwe, where four Ampleforth monks are resident.
In his Rule Saint Benedict wrote that any guest "should be received just as we would receive Christ himself". Hospitality, therefore, is an important work of the community, with a number of monks devoting their time to offering retreats and courses throughout the year. This work is co-ordinated by the Hospitality and Pastoral Office. Visitors and guests are welcome to share in the monks' life of prayer.
The orchards at Ampleforth Abbey are reputed to be the most northerly commercial orchards in Britain and are home to more than 40 varieties of apple. The monks harvest the apples and not only sell bags of fruit but also produce Ampleforth Cider and Cider Brandy. Smaller trading works include a book and gift shop, and the making and selling of Easter eggs and Christmas chocolate truffles.
The Abbey Shop is open to the public Mondays to Saturdays from 10.30am to 12.20pm and from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, also on Sundays from 11.00am to noon. Tel: 01439 766778.