A Day in the Life

The nuns at St. Scholastica Priory follow a Rule of life written by St. Benedict in the 6th century. Our main occupation and work is prayer and prayer takes on many forms. In fact our daily chores are a prayer in themselves as they are all done as a support to our primary work of prayer.

At 5:45 am a bell rings out loud and clear, calling us to our first community activity which is prayer. Seven times a day we answer the call to go to chapel to sing the praises of God and to pray for all of humanity. In several chapters of his Rule, St. Benedict alludes to the importance of obeying the bell without delay. Each should “hasten to arrive at the Word of God (the Divine Office) before the others, yet with all dignity and decorum.”

On most days (Sundays and Solemnities are the exception) from 5:45 till 10:30 am we are engaged in varied forms of prayer, some communal, some private. Mass is celebrated during this time.

From about 10:30 in the morning till 1:00 pm, we attend to the necessary household and business tasks necessary to keep the monastery functioning. At 1:00 pm the bell rings to summon us to the midday prayer of Sext. That is followed by a communal meal – our main meal of the day.

After the midday dinner, each sister has “free time” for about an hour. This provides an opportunity for rest, exercise, study, reading, relaxation, or whatever activity appeals to each nun.

At 3:00 pm we again go to church for the prayer of None which lasts about fifteen minutes. That is followed by another two hour period of household and business activities until 5:20 pm. At that time, the main work of the Priory - prayer - resumes with meditation in the church followed by Vespers at 6:00 pm.

At 7:00 pm we meet for half an hour of community recreation. This is followed by Vigils in the church at 7:30 and then at 8:00 we chant the Office of Compline. And so ends the day.

Each nun retires to her own room by around 9:00 pm to pray and sleep in preparation for another day of prayer.