Our life together as a community should make it possible for each
member to grow to her full potential as a person created and loved by
God. We consider our differences in education and background as an
enrichment rather than a barrier. Our time-table is arranged in
such a way to make provisions for prayer and work, together and
individually. The Divine Office is our fundamental prayer, in
addition we set aside periods of reflective prayer and reading.
1. We maintain the ancient custom of nocturnal prayer,
commonly referred to as Matins or Office of Readings, arising at 11 p.m.
for the Chaplet and the Office of Readings, Prayers of intercession for
the needs of world and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. In
times of evident need these two latter items can be omitted.
2. We start each day invoking the anointing of the Holy Spirit
with the sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus in the company of
Mary the Mother of God in the prayer of the Angelus. A period of
reflective prayer follows, usually in conjunction with Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament. This is succeeded by Lauds, the Church'
Morning Prayer and Holy Mass.
2. The time from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4.30p.m. is occupied
by needful and appropriate work. Each Sister should be aware of needing
to contribute to the common good. Our work is chosen so as to be done in
common as far as possible. We also share our talents and gifts
with each other, mindful that as part of our poverty we do not
consider as our own the gifts God gave us. A life which basically
devotes nearly seven hours a day to prayer cannot aim to be
self-supporting, though we endeavour to work diligently during the time
given.
3. Our midday meal is simple but nourishing. We uphold total abstinence
from meat in accordance with the tradition of our order. Our
morning refection consists of tea and bread or equivalent. As
advised in our Holy Rule, the young and the infirm are dispensed and
allowances can be made for those in need according to the discretion of
the Abbess or her Vicaress.
4. We spend 30 minutes per day in some recreational manner. This
time is given to forming creative relationships in shared activities,
i.e. music, art, etc. We treasure our
possibilities to share, and wish to up-build our life together by
contributing toward recreations. These are necessary opportunities to
become other-orientated so that we may grow closer to the heart of God,
and therefore are of great importance to us.
4. During the evening meal we listen to a book, tape or
record. After Vespers follows another period of reflective
prayer which is concluded with Compline and Marian Devotions in the
Shrine Chapel of the Portiuncula.
5. We use modern equipment to work efficiently but do not indulge
in luxuries. Each Sister is responsible not to accumulate
possessions. As a community we honour our concerns as regards bills,
benefactors, donations etc., as seems wise. We uphold the
custom of obtaining permission even for small things, mindful of
our freely chosen dependence on God.
6. Encounter with visitors in the parlour should also be an
opportunity to share our life with outsiders. For most periods
visits can be allowed, but not in Lent or Advent. The Extern
regions are set aside for guests desirous of sharing our life.
The Sisters appointed to this task take care of all
matters pertaining to this, likewise the Abbess and the portress
take care of guests etc.
7. The community as such has no contacts other than visits in the
parlour and by letter. The use of the telephone [and other media] is
relegated to needful business and personal calls are an exception.
In case of need the Abbess can give permission for a Sister to use
the phone, but no Sister has the right to demand this.
8. Material possessions, money affairs, etc., need to
be settled before entry or to be delegated to an agent. No Sister
can settle business affairs in an independent manner.
9. Study, as such, has no formal place in our life. It
is permissible for the Sisters to learn various subjects according to
the directives of the Abbess if these contribute to the growth of the
Sister(s) concerned. We do not seek achievement in these
matters and refrain from spending benefactors' money on expensive
books and equipment.
10. We hold things in common, accepting the inconvenience of having
to share as part of our poverty.
11. We value our relationships with each other, and settle any
differences before nightfall, seeking to forgive and to be
forgiven and accept responsibility without excuse. In accordance
with the Holy Rule the community meets before Compline to confess any
fault against charity, leaving to each individual Sister to freely
decide to settle this as a matter of conscience. Long experience
has given evidence that trust in mutual relationships is greatly helped
as each Sister respects the freedom of the other and it is taken for
granted that nothing said on these occasions is communicated later on.
It also enables the Abbess to give any important news or to
consult the Sisters should this be needful.
12. We are aware that difficulties in relationships
must be overcome by prayer and patient love. We are on our guard
against a spirit of murmuring and reveal our problems to the
Abbess as the first recourse of those in distress. We know
that anger and upset will certainly pervade our prayer, and seek
after peace with our whole heart, mindful that charity is the
bond of perfection. We consider our life together as a
prophetic sign in the Church and in the world in the face of
class-distinction and colour bar.
13. We also maintain the traditional habit of simple cut,
kerchief, cap, black veil and cord. We retain the custom of
wearing a night habit. The Sisters are allowed to wear pullovers,
etc., under the habits in place of or with the chemise and
warm underwear according to the needs of individuals and climate.
For heavier manual work we exchange our day habit for a work habit
of simple cut and suitable colour.
14. We also maintain the custom of going barefoot. Should
the necessity arise, simple cloth slippers may be worn or other
appropriate footgear used.
15. We consider our enclosure as a needful environment for
creating a life of community and prayer and therefore refrain from
unnecessary exits. This includes family visits even in the case of
dying parents. We are mindful that our prayer is our first service of
love and that we who have put our trust in God shall not be
disappointed.
16. We willingly forego all seeking for news and
information beyond the daily opportunities, mindful that curiosity is
harmful to our life of prayer and is related to unchastity.
17. The Sisters in formation share in the life of the
community as far as this is appropriate. They are also given
opportunities to develop latent potentials within the monastic
framework. We are, however, mindful of a needful separation to
enable those in the Novitiate to experience their life together in a
situation set apart from the community. The relationship between
the Novitiate Sisters and the community is from time to time discussed
and reviewed by the Abbess and discreets. The aim of the Novitiate
is to enable each Sister to aim for spiritual and human growth and
gain an understanding of our Poor Clare charism and also to become
to some extent familiar with the Word of God and the teachings of the
Church.
18. We undertake the care of our old and infirm Sisters as the need
arises in accordance with our Holy Rule.
19. It is our desire to develop a Gospel way of life within our Poor
Clare Colettine heritage in our present day situation, and we
are confident that He who began the good work in us will bring it to
perfection.