Laser Monks: a profit in the land

Monks have always gone in for selling precious liquids, but this US Brotherhood realized that in the hardworking modern age it isn't just liqueurs like Benedictine that bring in a profit, and nor can they rely on the old staples of holy-pictures and medals. Cistercians in Madison County, US,  are selling printer cartridges. They point out that medieval monks made paper and ink and were "the first multinationals ", and turn over $2.5m. They call themselves Lasermonks. They also market via monkegifts such treats as "Trappist Chocolate Fruitcake" and illuminating kits.
      In the UK, more modestly, Gorton monastery will provide fridge magnets among other things,  and Ampleforth offers Old Amplefordian braces, damson gin, cufflinks , and a link to some Norwegian Cistercian nuns who market moisturizer and "St Olav's Skin Treatment", made of  pomegranate, aloe vera, peach kernel, yarrow, rosemary and green tea in a bottle with a "real wood" top. No flies on them. Get your Christmas shopping done now.

Comments

[Philip in the USA]

Monks made a lot more money back in the day, when they sold penance. Oh, but then there was that Reformation thing. My bad.

[charle]

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ENTERING THE MARKET PLACE TO SUSTAIN A LIFE OF WORK AND PRAYER.THE MONASTIC COMMUNITES AND THIER ONGOING PRAYER ARE WHAT KEEPS THE WORLD GOING... WITHOUT THEM EVIL CYNICAL MEN WOULD HAVE ALREADY DESTROYED THE EARTH WITH THIER WARS AND THEIR HATE.THE MONKS WERE THE ONES THAT BROUGHT THE WORLD BACK FROM THE DARK AGES AND THEY CONTINUE TO SO,AND THEY ARENT FORMING HEDGEFUNDS TO STEAL FROM THE COMMON INVESTORS, SO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jay for]

It ought to be remembered that were it not for the Cistercian/Benedictines, all of western (and quite a bit of eastern) europe would have been culturally, historically, physically and spiritually destroyed. We owe them thanks not calumniating reprisals.
Will you or i be here a century from now repudiating these men or thanking them?

[Peter Lobo]

A very wise choice of earning supplementary income for a monk community. All Printer companies actually make most of their money via Ink & Toner Cartridges and with a bit of Environmental/Green manufacturing and handling, some catchy advertizing like monk-e-cartridges and keeping high on the local Google search engine, you guys should be off to self sustaining funding. Its time our Catholic institutions start growing in vocations, funding and acknowledgement - no apologies need be made for our beliefs or activities which are rooted in Gods laws and in Natural Law.

[Carl Waring]

Sorry, did somebody say something?