"The custom of reciting the Office of Readings (Matins) during the night, which has endured unbroken from the time of our Mother St. Clare herself should be devotedly retained."  Constitutions, Art. 26,5

Our Poor Clare day begins in the middle of the night when we rise from sleep to praise God and intercede for the world.

A brief period of Eucharistic adoration follows the Office, after which we retire again until...

"In the morning when the sun rises, everyone should praise God!" Holy Father Francis

The sun has yet to rise most mornings as dressing prayers, the morning offering, and the invocation of the Holy Spirit set us securely on the new day's path of prayer.

An ancient hymn in honor of Our Lady is then sung as we go in procession  to...

"The Sisters shall fast at all times...."  Rule of St. Clare, 3

Our monastic meals reflect the day's liturgical feast as well as the simplicity and poverty of our Franciscan charism.

"The Sisters...shall pray the Divine Office...
on which account they may have breviaries...." Rule of St. Clare, 3

The Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration, and the Church's morning prayer (LAUDS) precedes a half hour period of meditation which prepares our hearts for...

"Holy Mass should be the object of our supreme devotion since it is the central point of our whole
 spiritual life...." Constitutions, Art. 24,1

Singing the ancient Gregorian chants (many of which were familiar to our Seraphic parents), listening to the Word of God, and receiving our Lord in Holy Communion strengthen us in our striving to make our enclosed life an unceasing sacrifice of praise in the heart of the Church.

"[The Sisters] should study closely that which they ought above all to desire: to have the Spirit of the Lord and His holy way of working...." Rule of St. Clare, 10

A period of silent thanksgiving after Mass leads into TERCE, the Hour of the Divine Office especially dedicated to the Holy Spirit. We beg His guidance as we begin the various works of the day...

"We shall gratefully acknowledge our sacred heritage from St. Francis and St. Clare of outstanding devotedness to the Holy Eucharist by focusing our lives on the tabernacle...." Constitutions, Art. 25,1

Times of individual Eucharistic adoration are interwoven with a variety of simple tasks which give practical witness to holy poverty and serve to keep God's house and gardens beautiful!

"The Sisters to whom the Lord has given the grace of working should labor faithfully and devotedly after the hour of Terce...in such a way that they do not extinguish the spirit of holy prayer...." Rule of St. Clare, 7
 

"Prayer will be nourished by the assiduous reading of sacred Scripture, particularly the New Testament where Christ Himself speaks to us as Teacher...." Constitutions, Art. 28,1

The Office of SEXT is followed most mornings by a period of spiritual reading, also known as LECTIO DIVINA.

Then we go in procession, singing a psalm, to the refectory for...

"In the convivial silence of the refectory where the spirit is served with well-selected reading...even as the body is refreshed with food, the Sisters experience the deep and intimate bond of community which was forged at the Supper of the Lord."  Constitutions, Art. 43,1

During our noon and evening meals, the on-going formation of the community is enriched by reading from a variety of sources: theological works, lives of the saints, papal writings, Church history, news and cultural articles from solid Catholic periodicals.  Not only is our intellectual formation enhanced by well-selected refectory reading, but the horizons of our intercessory prayer for the world are also expanded.

"The Liturgy of the Hours is the 'voice of the Bride addressing the Bridegroom,' and when we recite it, we stand before the throne on God in the name of our Mother the Church.  Accordingly, it should always be carried out with the greatest possible devotion and the greatest reverence..."   Constitutions, Art. 26,1

After we have participated in some general work (dishes!) and enjoyed a space of free time, the bell calls us again to the great "Work of God" (the Opus Dei) with the praying of the Office of NONE.

"I hold you to be co-workers of God Himself and the support of the wavering members of His Body."  Holy Mother Clare

Adoration hours intertwine with other works of hands and hearts which serve to unite us with the Lord during the afternoon.  Instruction is also given to our novitiate Sisters during either the morning or afternoon work period each weekday.

"Cling to His most sweet Mother!"  Holy Mother Clare

"The rosary, too, should hold a place of honor and be fostered in community."  Constitutions, Art. 29,3

The rosary is prayed in common before VESPERS, that Hour of the Divine Office traditionally offered in union and in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A time of silent prayer follows until the Blessed Sacrament is reposed and we go into procession to...

"Let [the sisters] always be solicitous to preserve intact among themselves the unity of mutual love which is the bond of perfection." Rule of St. Clare, 10

The Miserere (Ps. 51) is traditionally sung en route to our light evening meal, known in monastic terms as collation.  Before sitting down at table, we humbly thank our Sisters for all the love they have shown us this day, beg their pardon for our failures and ask their prayers that we may serve them more faithfully tomorrow.

A brief space of free time follows collation until...

"The spirit of contemplative prayer... is well served by periods of recreation which are a vital expression of community and afford adequate relaxation for the Sisters."  Constitutions, Art. 32,1

After keeping silence during the day (for silence is the gateway to prayer), the activity we most enjoy during recreation is talking! We speak of simple things - the happenings of the day, the refectory reading, sharing insights from the liturgy or our spiritual reading. There is usually much laughter, too, for JOY has ever been a hallmark of the Franciscan family!

"The Sisters must keep silence from the hour of Compline until Terce...."  Rule of St. Clare, 5

With night prayers and COMPLINE the gift of the day is offered back to God, and the Great Silence settles upon the monastery. There is a final opportunity for private prayer or spiritual reading in our cells before the retiring bell sounds. Yet it will not be long until the Matins bell - the voice of God - resounds through the halls, and a new Poor Clare day begins!