The world is a vast array of space and experiences. Every human has a birthright to live in these spaces, to take part in these experiences. At the moment of conception, God has granted us a mother, a father, shelter, a guardian angel, and the potential to love. Even if we lose that mother, that father, that shelter, and that guardian angel, we’re still grounded in our likeness to God. We still exist in Him so long as He allows and, in this existence, we grow. We grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and, God-willing, spiritually. We grow into what God has called us to be– priests, prophets, and kings. We grow big, like God is big.
Unless we don’t.
Sometimes we don’t grow. We know that feeling all too well – when we’re stifled, when we’re motionless, when we’re stuck.
We often can’t put our finger on why we aren’t making progress.
Why didn’t I pass that test?
Why is my brain so fried?
Why is it so hard to make friends?
Why am I always so tired?
Why am I depressed?
Why am I struggling spiritually?
Who am I becoming?
Who was I to begin with?
Since 2010, those questions have surfaced a little more than they did for previous generations. Based on the title of this article, I’d wager you can imagine why: A tech boom hit our lives, and we’re still recovering from its blast.
Actually, it’s a lot darker than that. The tech boom hit, and every shrapnel of its mass destruction grew into spiritual drill bits with unlimited power that burrow into our minds and hearts, mining our souls in order to capitalize on every one of our sinful inclinations so that 1) tech companies can use our attention for their profit and 2) the devil can eliminate our thoughts of God and replace them with…anything else.
If you think I’m exaggerating by bringing the devil into this, then feel free to scroll back to your email inbox, your limitless social media scroll, or your endless digital news feed. But if you have a little faith, perhaps you really know what is happening in the world. As Fulton Sheen once said, “the great masses without faith are unconscious of the destructive processes going on, because they have lost the vision of the heights from which they have fallen.”
The moment that screen came into your life, your soul was compromised. Perhaps you felt the disconnect it wedged between you and your Savior. You logged on with good intentions: you wanted to live a more efficient life, you wanted to connect with loved ones, you wanted to accomplish x,y, and z with the click of a button instead of the burden of doing it the “analog” way which required a higher degree of will, action, and energy.
But somewhere between the miracle it was promised to be and the vice it has become, there grew a shadow within you, didn’t it? A wedge. A sword. A divider.
The word “devil” actually comes from the Latin dividere, which means, “to divide.” From the beginning it was the devil’s primary mission to divide man from his Creator. When God the Father told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree in the garden, the serpent whispered into Eve’s ears, “You certainly will not die! God knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil.” With a taste of her lips, she would know all of the things God was holding back from her. She’d be like Him.
She bit. Adam did too. And they were divided.
So too, does the devil whisper into our ears when we hold our little Pandora’s boxes of good and evil, “You will not die! Your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil. What’s more, you’ll be able to control it all with the tip of your finger.”
We scroll. We click. We are divided.
On one side, there’s God. On the other, there’s everything that keeps us from Him.
To remedy this disconnect, I’d like to pose two lifestyle extremes – that of a regular tech user, and that of a Benedictine Monk. Perhaps you’ll notice some discrepancies, at least, I hope you will.
Note: Portions of the following were taken with permission from the Benedictine Monks of the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Chicago, IL.
A Day in the Life of a Benedictine Monk
Our day begins at 3:10 a.m. with the wake-up bell. After a small cup of coffee, the brothers quietly make their way to the chapel for Vigils, the longest office of the day. Over the course of an hour, we chant fourteen Psalms and listen to two long readings, one from the Scriptures and a second from the Church Fathers.
We join the angels, who never sleep, in watching for the coming of Jesus Christ in glory to save those who eagerly are waiting for Him.
This communal prayer is followed by a period of private prayer called lectio divina. This is a traditional prayerful meditation on God’s Word, particular the Holy Scriptures.
At 6:00 a.m., we return to the chapel for the office of ‘Lauds’, our morning praise of God.
This is followed directly by the celebration of Holy Mass, with traditional Gregorian chant. We sing most of the offices in English and most of the Mass in Latin.
After Mass, there is a short period for personal matters and breakfast.
At 8:15 a.m., we gather in the Chapter Room, where the Prior reads from the Rule of Saint Benedict and gives a short commentary applying its sixth-century text to our contemporary situation. We then have a few moments to discuss together our work for the day.
A Day in the Life of a Tech User
I wake up at 6 A.M. to the sound of the alarm on my phone. I hit snooze once or twice, then get annoyed by the sound. I really need to change my ringtone to something else, something less…annoying. But I don’t have time for that right now – I have a decision to make: to pee or not to pee?
My hand has already made the decision for me as my fingertip unlocks my phone to the same social media window I was scrolling on until 1 A.M. last night. Ugh! It’s just the same pictures, save a few new ones the algorithm threw into the feed. Oh, wow– an ad for a new phone case. I was just talking about that with my roommate last night.
How did the algorithm know?
Benedictine Monk
After Chapter, we have classes each day, on liturgy, Scripture, the Tradition, moral and spiritual theology, the vows, and other topics important to deepening our monastic life.
At 9:30 a.m., we return to the chapel for the office of Terce. When this concludes, we begin the main work period of the day.
Monastic work is preferably humble and manual, though it also includes intellectual work of study and the preparation of classes, homilies, and conferences.
Our work in hospitality means that cooking and cleaning occupy a good portion of the brothers’ mornings.
We also have a large garden. We do not employ any outside help for the daily work of cooking or keeping the cloister clean and in good repair.
Tech User
My bladder makes me get out of bed, but thankfully, I still have my phone. I can’t even remember the last time I did my business without it.
I only had to pee, but after 15 minutes of scrolling through a slew of Amazon recommendations, I achieve two things: 1) I bought that phone case and 2) my legs fell asleep. I know, I’m a man, but it’s hard to scroll standing up so I sit when I pee now.
Oh no! It’s already 7:50. I need to be at work at 8:15!
I set my Keurig to strong and, as the sweet coffee pours into my travel mug I zip back to my room and get dressed.
On the way out the door, I grab the three leftover powdered donut holes, the coffee, and wait to close the door until Alexa is finished telling me what the weather will be like.
I close the door and start the car. I pull out of the driveway, but stop and put it back in reverse – I forgot my work computer. I contemplate whether or not I can do all of my work on my phone at the office, but quickly decide it’s not work the extra effort – everything is way easier with my laptop. Plus, if I’m on my phone all day, everyone will think I’m just wasting time.
I sprint back inside, get my computer, and dash back to the car.
I place my earbuds into my ears and play my Spotify “I’m late for work” mix.
After the first song, I stop at a red light and switch it to an audiobook on how to live a more disciplined life. All of the things the reader suggests are impossible for me:
“Wake up earlier to get ahead start on your day,” he says. Yeh right. I barely get enough sleep as is.
“Plan your tomorrow in your mind the night before.” Does this guy even live in the real world?
“Establish routines for exercise, prayer, and your hobbies.” Who has time for those?
“Limit your screen time.”
…
Benedictine Monk
At 12:45 p.m. the work period ends, and we gather for the midday office of Sext.
This is followed by the main meal of the day, in silence, with table reading. The reading is typically something of interest in the monastic life, but we also enjoy books on history and biography.
The main meal is served by one or two of the brothers. The community does the dishes, and then we have about an hour for a siesta or other personal matters.
Tech User
I arrive late to work. It’s 8:30 and I’m still in my car, parked in front of my office building. We have a meeting today, and I don’t want to enter in the middle of it. I’ll just wait for them to send out the meeting minutes then occupy my cubicle. Hopefully they don’t take attendance. Wouldn’t be the first time. Nobody will notice I wasn’t there.
I’m checking my email waiting for the minutes to arrive in my inbox. Michelle, our secretary, always sends them as soon as the meeting is adjourned. She’s so efficient! I wish I could be as focused as her.
I scroll through Instagram and wait for the notification from my email to ping me.
9:00am – the email comes. Dang it, they took attendance. Plus, we have several new projects. Ugh, looks like I’ll be working through lunch, with no breaks, today.
Benedictine Monk
At 2:30 p.m., we pray the office of None.
This is followed by shorter classes, either chant or languages (Latin, Greek or French). The rest of the afternoon is usually used for exercise, practicing musical instruments, or reading.
Tech User
My boss didn’t call me into his office for missing the meeting. He did pass by my desk a couple of times, though. He was probably monitoring my progress. I made it through three projects today, which is impressive for an entry-level employee like me. I probably could have finished a fourth, but I spent some time in the bathroom (on my phone checking the news, the latest sports from last night, and monitoring the delivery status of when my new phone case will arrive).
Oh, will you look at that… my ex-girlfriend liked my last Instagram post, the one where I’m biting my medal for running a 5k last spring.
Weird.
I’m exhausted. I should probably go home and take a nap.
But I stop by the gym on the way back home hoping the adrenaline will wake me up. I was hoping to go to a friend’s apartment to watch the game tonight.
Benedictine Monk
Vespers is a solemn office each day, beginning at 5:15 p.m. with a short procession. On Sundays and major feasts, we also use incense and vestments to mark the solemnity of the office. It is a particularly beautiful time of day in our church, with the setting sun streaming through the golden Magnificat window in the choir loft.
Vespers is followed by a light optional meal called ‘collation.’
Tech User
I couldn’t get through my workout without popping a couple energy drinks. They helped. A lot. I’m wired, like, I could go all night.
I text my friend and tell him I’ll bring the pizza, which I do, after I take a shower, change, stop at my apartment to drop off my computer, and pick up the pizza from the corner-store pizzeria.
Just as soon as I put it on his table, I’ve eaten my half. I had forgotten I missed lunch. And man! That pizza grease felt good after a sweaty workout.
The game gets off to a slow start. My friend is already on his phone, tweeting his thoughts on who his team needs to trade to make this game more interesting.
So I grab my phone and start scrolling. I found my ex-girlfriend’s feed. She was good to me. Why did we break up again?
I’m about to send her a text when I start thinking, “Do I really want to send this?” I spend a few minutes looking into the sunset and before I know it, the rush from the energy drinks loses its gusto and I’m passed out on my friend’s couch.
Benedictine Monk
After the meal, brothers have some time of their own again, though three nights a week we have recreation, and one of those nights, the Prior also gives a longer spiritual conference.
Compline follows at 7:15 p.m., ending with the great antiphon to Our Lady, either the Salve Regina (during Ordinary Time) or another antiphon varying by season.
Ideally, the monks return to their cells and prepare to retire for the night. Often, there is some reading to be done in preparation for the next day’s classes, and this quiet time of night is also ideal for personal prayer.
Tech User
The game has long been over.
My friend is asleep on the other couch across from me. He may have had a few too many beers. Probably forgot I was even there.
It’s 2 A.M..
I have to be at work at 8:30.
I still have to get home.
I look at my phone and see three emails in my inbox from my boss. I click on them.
They are audits from the three projects I completed that day.
I made some major errors.
He says they could have been avoided had I been at the meeting.
He requested I come in earlier than usual so he can catch me up and so I can get a head start on correcting those errors.
He says I might have to work over the weekend to catch up. Sunday too. Unpaid.
I have an emergency set of work clothes in my car. At this point, it doesn’t make sense to go home. I’ll just get a few hours of shut-eye here on my friends’ couch and then go straight to work.
Early.
Man! Why can’t I focus?
I’m not tired.
I’m upset.
I’m lonely.
I want to send that text to my ex-girlfriend. I want to invite her out to dinner on Sunday.
But it looks like I’ll have to work.
So I just scroll through her feed for the next couple of hours.
Benedictine Monk
Sundays follow a slightly different schedule. We try to refrain from manual labor and to keep a greater silence. The liturgies are a bit longer and more solemn. At Mass, we normally have about 40 guests and we sing more polyphony.
In the evening we have a recreational meal—the one meal of the week where we visit with one another.
Tech User
My alarm didn’t go off.
The battery was dead.
I woke up with a blank screen in my right hand…
More or Less Monk?
This article highlights two very different lifestyle extremes. If you place the Luddite Benedictine on one side of the spectrum and the tech addict on the other, I’d wager that the majority of us would place ourselves on a point much closer to the tech user than the monk.
If that is true for you, turn your screen off for an hour and take the following questions with you to prayer today.
- What do you seek by being on your screen? In other words, what is your “why” when it comes to screen usage?
- What is your prayer life like?
- What does the digital world offer you that the real world cannot?
- Which is stronger, your digital friendships or your real-life ones?
- Have you ever felt a darkness when on your device? Where does that darkness come from?
- Consider how humans have survived without screens for several millennia. Do you think their lives were more or less complete than yours?
- How does your device help you grow spiritually?
- Are you more monk or more tech user?
- Review your screentime usage. How many hours and minutes per day do you spend in front of a screen? Is that time used to advance yourself, or to waste time?
- Think about someone in your life who “has it all together,” someone your admire. How often do you think they are on screens on a daily basis and for what purpose?
- What messages does your Guardian Angel deliver to God as he looks over your shoulder upon the screen you gaze into?
