Mont St. Michel Early Mass with the Monks and Nuns?

Perhaps a query via this --- http://www.abbaye-mont-saint-michel.fr/en/Prepare-for-your-visit/PRATICAL-INFORMATION/Formulaire-de-contact-de-l-Abbaye-du-Mont-Saint-Michel --- may provide an answer.

Here is the schedule of services:

https://www.abbaye-montsaintmichel.com/documents/horaire-liturgies-abbaye-du-mont-saint-michel.pdf

Lauds prayer is at 6:50 am most days, Mass at midday. A special experience for sure!

I did the noon mass many years ago and it was wonderful! No tourist just worshipers.

Thanks Barbara! We won't be on the island for the noon one. Arriving in late afternoon and leaving mid-morning. Thanks!

jlkelman, we did this in 2015. Note, it is morning prayer not a mass. You have to be waiting at the right, unmarked and nondescript door before the scheduled start. I would suggest asking the day (we asked at the gift shop) before and make sure you specify the morning prayers or you might get info about a different service. If you're taking a tour, ask the tour guide. Some time before the scheduled time, a monk will unlock this door and let folks in, and promptly shuts and locks it, so you can't just show up. Its still a further walk up to the chapel were the prayers begin. That was our experience.

Stan, that is exactly what I was trying to find. Thanks!

Take a flashlight with you. I went with most of my RS Paris and Heart of France tour group several years ago. It was dark for the climb up the unlit street to the front door of the cathedral. We waited there for the Nun to open the door, then after she invited us in, continued the climb in the dark (and rain as there is area after you pass thru the doors that is without a roof). There is no real railing - just a rope divider between the 2 sides of the staircase so if you need a hiking pole for stability on steps take it with you. The flashlight on my phone was not enough, I wish I had had a small MagLite.

Now, for the service. I do not speak french, I am not Catholic. I felt very awkward because it was a very small congregation, all tourists and no one was doing the responses that the priest and nuns expected although that must happen every day. It is a fairly short service.

I would not do it again in the dark and rain. Please understand that I love to go to church services when I travel but I want to be unobtrusive if I can. I also felt like for me the climb up was slightly unsafe in the dark and the wet (stairs were slick going up/down/within). Hoping you have a dry morning and some daylight! It will be easier if you check out the way up the afternoon before.

I'll add this: attending these prayers, you can get a real feel for the true purpose of the place, and an appreciation of the centuries that its been going on. That was worth seeing to us, even getting up that early, more than all the omelettes, souvenir shops and throngs of tourists shuffling up and down the main street.

Thank you so much for asking this question! I will be visiting in May, 2020 and am thinking of attending the prayer service but was wondering how others had experienced it. It sounds lovely and am now looking forward to attending!

Thanks so much all! Looking forward to this.