A Day in the Life of a Poor Clare of Perpetual Adoration
A Day in the Life
Our life is structured around an horarium, a rhythm of prayer throughout the day. The specific times of prayer are marked by the ringing of the bells, which symbolize the voice of God calling us to prayer. The Divine Office (also known as the Liturgy of the Hours), the Mass and the Eucharistic Adoration are the main framework around which our life of prayer revolves. It also includes manual labor, duties and community recreation which give balance to our times of prayer. In this rhythmic exchange of prayer, labor, and rest, we are liberated from the distractions of the world, free to dedicate our entire selves to living the Eucharistic Mystery.
We daily devote ourselves wholly to God alone:
by daily and personal conversion to the Gospel
by offering loving adoration, praise, and thanksgiving to God on behalf of all people
by our efforts to live and work contemplatively and to deepen our union with God in times of silence and solitude
by our intercessory prayer for the Church and all people,
by our efforts to love and serve our Sisters in true Community
by extending spiritual and material assistance to others in ways compatible with our contemplative life
by showing Sisterly hospitality and care to those who come to our monastery and in our relations with all persons
This is our cherished gift and call from our gracious God for which we are deeply grateful.
Horarium
5:15 AM
Wake up—Rise and Shine!
6:00 AM
Meditation
6:30 AM
Morning Prayer followed by Mid-Morning Prayer
Breakfast
Work
9:00 AM
The Holy Sacrifice of Mass—Prayer of Thanksgiving is made privately
Office of Readings—On Sundays we move this to 11:30 and combine it with Mid-Day Prayer
10:15 AM
Work for fully Professed Sisters
Class and/or Work for Formation Sisters
11:45 AM
Mid-Day Prayer
12:00 PM
Dinner in Silence followed by dishes
Recreation at table on Sundays and Thursdays
Free time or Work
3:00 PM
Mid-Afternoon Prayer followed by Divine Mercy Chaplet Work for fully Professed Sisters
Class and/or Work for Formation Sisters
4:30 PM
Evening Prayer followed by Communal Rosary—this becomes our Holy Hour for vocations for our Monastery on Fridays throughout the year and on Sundays in Lent and Advent
5:30-6:45 pm
Supper in Silence followed by Dishes with Community
Recreation on Mondays and Tuesdays
Ongoing Formation for the solemnly Professed Sisters on Thursdays; Otherwise directly to Night Prayer
6:45 pm
Night Prayer followed by personal time. On Sundays we have an optional movie recreation following this
On Tuesdays and Thursdays we have our nocturnal adoration
9:30 pm
Be in your rooms
10:00 pm
Grand Silence and lights out—Good night sleepyheads!
*Each Sister is privileged to have one hour of adoration a day, an hour of nocturnal adoration twice a week, and adoration during a meal time each week.