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As the five volunteers approach the final two weeks of their stay, they are encouraged to consider how what they have learned will affect their lives back in the outside world.The volunteers have been in the monastery for four weeks and have each embarked on an intensely personal and spiritual journey.They have attended church six times a day and been introduced to St Benedict’s core monastic principles of silence, obedience and humility. – without the usual distractions of the outside world. Although in Episode 2, it seemed that Gary and Anthoney had resolved their differences, the pressure boils over again at what turns out to be a disastrous community meeting, and both are forced to look inwards at themselves. Despite the arguments, a scheduled visit to a neighbouring silent monastery goes ahead.The monks at Carthusian Parkminster do not normally open their doors to visitors and spend 18 hours a day in their rooms, working, studying and praying in silence. For the group, it’s a unique opportunity to experience monasticism in its purest form – and for some it proves to be a turning point. It’s been an invaluable experience for all of them but, for one volunteer in particular, the journey is about to come to a remarkable, and life-changing, conclusion.

Five men searching for meaning in their lives accept a challenge from the Benedictine monks of Worth Abbey to live according to the monks' rules for 40 days and nights.

Primary Title
  • The Monastery
Date Broadcast
  • Sunday 25 December 2011
Start Time
  • 23 : 50
Finish Time
  • 00 : 43
Duration
  • 53:00
Episode
  • 3
Channel
  • BBC Knowledge
Broadcaster
  • Sky Network Television
Programme Description
  • Five men searching for meaning in their lives accept a challenge from the Benedictine monks of Worth Abbey to live according to the monks' rules for 40 days and nights.
Episode Description
  • As the five volunteers approach the final two weeks of their stay, they are encouraged to consider how what they have learned will affect their lives back in the outside world.The volunteers have been in the monastery for four weeks and have each embarked on an intensely personal and spiritual journey.They have attended church six times a day and been introduced to St Benedict’s core monastic principles of silence, obedience and humility. – without the usual distractions of the outside world. Although in Episode 2, it seemed that Gary and Anthoney had resolved their differences, the pressure boils over again at what turns out to be a disastrous community meeting, and both are forced to look inwards at themselves. Despite the arguments, a scheduled visit to a neighbouring silent monastery goes ahead.The monks at Carthusian Parkminster do not normally open their doors to visitors and spend 18 hours a day in their rooms, working, studying and praying in silence. For the group, it’s a unique opportunity to experience monasticism in its purest form – and for some it proves to be a turning point. It’s been an invaluable experience for all of them but, for one volunteer in particular, the journey is about to come to a remarkable, and life-changing, conclusion.
Classification
  • M
Owning Collection
  • Television Vault
Broadcast Platform
  • Television
Languages
  • English
Captions
Live Broadcast
  • No
Rights Statement
  • Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
  • Reality television programs
  • Benedictine monasteries
  • Monastic and religious life
  • Spirituality
Genres
  • Reality
  • Religious
Contributors
  • Christopher Jamison (Abbot)
  • Tony Burke (Participant)
  • Nick Buxton (Participant)
  • Peter Gruffydd (Participant)
  • Gary McCormick (Participant)
  • Anthoney Wright (Participant)
  • Tiger Aspect Productions (Production Unit)
Subjects
  • Reality television programs
  • Benedictine monasteries
  • Monastic and religious life
  • Spirituality