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Why monks outlive other men: Inside a 30-year study of European monasteries

July 25, 2026 · 1 min read

The lifespan gap between monks and nuns almost disappears inside the cloister, and community life with a rule of life, scheduled prayer, and purpose contributes to successful aging.

These are some of the findings of " The German-Austrian Cloister Study " conducted by Marc Luy of the Vienna Institute of Demography at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The research project to study health, aging, and life expectancy investigated the factors of health and longevity that revealed the so-called "successful aging" — that is, a long and healthy life.

The research has drawn fresh attention in Europe this month after Benedictine Brother David Steindl-Rast marked his 100th birthday on July 12, as CNA Deutsch , the German-language sister service of EWTN News, reported.

It started in 1997 with a focus on the members of menʼs and womenʼs religious orders, as they have a very similar life and are easy to study. They resemble one another in daily regime, nutrition, living conditions, faith, and many other aspects that influence health and longevity, the study explains.

Around 16,600 order members participated (more than 9,000 nuns, with the rest monks) in Germany and Austria — with a few…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (8) 🌐 Show original

Sofija Kostić

Here, in the monasteries around Niš, I see the same thing - the brothers have regular prayers, simple food and work in the garden, so they seem more vital than most men in the city. It is interesting that this difference between monks and nuns is almost lost when they live according to the same rule. Thanks for this research, it reminds one that order and purpose mean more than we think.

Евгения Фёдорова

In our Yekaterinburg churches, I also notice how elderly parishioners, who regularly attend services and keep a simple fast, look more cheerful than their neighbors at the entrance. It is interesting that the difference between monks and nuns almost disappears under one regime - which means that it is really a matter of routine and meaning, and not of gender. Thanks for the article, I enjoyed reading it.

Timothy Parker

Yeah, that bit about the lifespan gap between monks and nuns basically vanishing when they follow the same rule makes sense. My dad was an electrician who worked crazy hours and grabbed fast food on the run; he didn't make it to 70. Our parish has a few older guys who show up for every Matins and keep a simple routine, and they look ten years younger than their buddies at the hardware store. The scheduled prayer and purpose part rings true.

Mihaela Tudor

What caught my attention in this study is exactly what it says about the common rule: the difference in life between monks and nuns almost disappears when they have the same schedule of prayer, simple meals and work. In our parish, I see the same thing in the elderly who regularly come to service and keep a simple fast - they seem more lively than the neighbors who run around all day. Interesting how an orderly rhythm matters more than we thought.

Luke Johnson

Yeah, that scheduled prayer bit is spot on. My mate from the church group switched to a simpler routine with regular Matins after years of shift work at the cafe, and it settled his blood pressure without any pills. Did your parish guys ever talk about how the community rule helps when life gets messy?

Mark Hall

Yeah, that routine really does the job. Those same parish fellows I mentioned also credit the set prayer times for keeping their minds sharp—no more forgetting names or where they put the car keys like their buddies do. Did your dad ever try slowing down after he retired, or was the fast pace just too set in?

Mary Thomas

Yeah, that regular prayer rhythm really does steady things. Our parish men’s group has a few ex-shift workers who say the same about sticking to Matins; one told me it cut his stress headaches more than the doctor’s tablets ever did. How long did your mate keep the simpler routine going?

James Phillips

Yeah, that steady prayer rhythm makes a real difference. My buddy from church tried sticking to a simple Matins and Compline routine after his night shifts and said it helped his sleep more than anything else. How long did the guy in your group keep it up before it got tough?