A day in the life
How can we live in harmony? First we need to know we are all madly in love with the same God.
– St. Thomas Aquinas
ST. Mary Sisters' Regular Schedule
The monastic structure of the life of the St. Mary Sisters bears fruit and leads to freedom when embraced with love. The externals of silence, the cloister, and other monastic observances lead to a deeper intimacy with Christ. In meeting the daily challenge to pass from what is visible to the invisible through fidelity to religious discipline – authentic communion is fostered and the heart is opened wide for mission.
Rising – 4:45 AM
Morning Prayer
Office of Readings – 5:15 AM
The Sisters start their communal prayers by reciting the Office of Readings – giving them Sacred Scripture and the words of the Church to feed their meditation.
Meditation – 5:30 AM
Mental prayer, which engages the thought, imagination, emotion, and desire, becomes in its practice, a life-giving encounter with the Beloved, Who stands knocking at the door of the heart.
Lauds – 6:15 AM
The choral recitation of the Divine Office draws the Sisters more profoundly into the liturgical life of the Church, affording occasions for unceasing renewal in their zeal to sacrifice themselves unconditionally in continuous worship of God in love. Participation in Christ’s priestly work of praise and intercession to the Father nourishes personal prayer, and sanctifies the entire day. The Sisters chant in common the hours of Lauds, Daytime Prayer, Vespers, and Compline.
Holy Mass – 6:30 AM
The Eucharist is the very heart of consecrated life. The source and summit of the Sisters’ daily life of prayer is the community Mass, through which members offer and are offered in union with Christ’s Holy Sacrifice.
Breakfast – 7:00 AM
Professed Sisters spend the day teaching, while the postulants and novices attend classes at the House of Formation
Vespers & Rosary – 5:00 PM
Seeking to contemplate the mysteries of Christ at the school of Mary, the Sisters pray together five mysteries of the Rosary after Vespers.
Dinner – 5:30 PM
The refectory or dining room is the monastic setting where, in addition to taking their meals in common, the Sisters are fed with the Word of God through the exercise of one of the Sisters reading a spiritual book aloud during meals.
Recreation – 6:30 PM
Each evening a period of recreation is set aside when the Sisters gather to enjoy each other’s company chatting, playing board games, going on walks, and other relaxing activities.
Spiritual Reading – 7:30 PM
The Sisters engage in periods of spiritual reading of at least a quarter of an hour each day which serve as sustenance to their life of prayer and pursuit of Truth.
Compline & Salve – 7:45 PM
Every evening after Compline, the Latin antiphon Salve Regina and the O Lumen are sung in procession to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Dominic.
Silence & Study – 8:00 PM
Aware that times of silence are a necessity to listening to God speaking to her heart, the Sisters embrace monastic silence, governed by charity, and to create the vital space for fruitful dialogue with Christ.
Profound Silence – 10:00 PM
The Sisters retire to their rooms and remain in complete silence to pray, study, and rest alone with the Lord.