The community of monks at Marmion Abbey has its schedule and pattern of living. A Benedictine monastery bases its schedule and way of life upon a Rule for monks, which was written almost 1500 years ago.

Perhaps what is most striking about the daily life of Marmion Abbey are the qualities that are characteristic of St. Benedict's Rule: moderation, balance and a rhythm of life. The most important thing the monks do is pray.

Community prayer is joined to community work. In addition to the work of education and parish help given by the monks outside the monastery, monks do a good deal of work in and around the Abbey.

Periods of leisure time are very important for the individual monk. They can be used for private prayer and reading, physical exercise, hobbies, catching up on personal work or joining others for conversation. Outside these times there is an atmosphere of silence in the Abbey. This is to conform with St. Benedict's admonition that such an environment is conducive to prayer and an awareness of God's presence.

A charism of Benedictines is life in community. The monks at Marmion strive to conform to a way of life that is faithful to this model, sharing their prayer, work, and leisure in a common life where all seek God.

"What do monks do?" That is the question frequently asked by those who sincerely wonder what happens inside a monastery. They do a great variety of works, all of which should help them to seek and find God in the monastery.

Monks at Marmion Abbey have always been closely identified with education. Since 1933, Marmion Benedictines have taught at what is now Marmion Academy. Given the location of the school on the same property as the monastery, a close connection between the two has been maintained.

Also on Marmion's property of over 300 acres are a Christmas tree farm, and orchard and many gardens and green space. The monks oversee the planting and trimming of Christmas trees, as well as maintaining the lawns and flowerbeds. Produce from the garden and fruit from the orchard serve as staples that appear at monastic meals.

Marmion's priest-monks have provided pastoral assistance to the Catholic parishes of the local Church from the start of their existence in Aurora. Today, Marmion has one permanent parish that the monks staff. They also provide assistance to a number of parishes and convents in the local Aurora deanery and the Rockford diocese on a regular basis. Marmion has had monks serve as chaplains in the Armed Forces, as well as parish priests and prison chaplains at places outside the diocese.

Since 1965, Marmion has had a monastic foundation in Guatemala. San José Priory is the site of a mixed monastic community of American and Guatemalan monks. Not unlike the monastic community at Marmion, the Guatemalan monks conduct a school. It is a seminary to educate the indigenous Guatemalans.

Monks at Marmion and in Guatemala conduct retreats, do spiritual direction and write. They also take responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the Abbey building.