What purpose do monks serve?

How many times do we hear the question? Well, perhaps we should just have the confidence to say: they serve no purpose. Not even that of hoarding the treasures of civilisation. They have never really thought about it. They recognise that they are removed from the worries of this world. Monks serve no purpose. They serve a person.

From the guide to L'Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux