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

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…