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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) 🌐 Translate comments

Sofija Kostić

Kod nas u manastirima oko Niša vidim isto – braća imaju redovne molitve, jednostavnu hranu i posao u bašti, pa izgledaju vitalniji od većine muškaraca u gradu. Zanimljivo je što se ta razlika između monaha i monahinja skoro izgubi kad žive po istom pravilu. Hvala na ovom istraživanju, podseća čoveka da red i svrha više znače nego što mislimo.

Евгения Фёдорова

У нас в екатеринбургских храмах тоже замечаю, как пожилые прихожане, которые регулярно на службах и держат простой пост, выглядят бодрее соседей по подъезду. Интересно, что разница между монахами и монахинями почти исчезает при одном режиме — значит, дело действительно в распорядке и смысле, а не в поле. Спасибо за статью, почитала с удовольствием.

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

La studiu ăsta mi-a atras atenția exact ce zice despre regula comună: diferența de viață între călugări și călugărițe aproape dispare când au același program de rugăciune, masă simplă și muncă. La noi la parohie văd același lucru la bătrânii care vin regulat la slujbă și țin post simplu – par mai vioi decât vecinii care aleargă toată ziua. Interesant cum un ritm ordonat contează mai mult decât credeam.

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?