Imagine the quiet hours before dawn… you are in Clyde, Missouri at the Benedictine Sisters' monastery… For many sisters this is a time for personal prayer, adoration, lectio, or study. Sisters may choose to eat breakfast in the silence of the softly lit refectory (dining room.) The day officially begins at 6:30am with Lauds (morning prayer), a half hour of chanting Psalms and hearing Scriptures.

We gather for Mass at 7:30am. Afterwards, sisters who haven’t eaten, take breakfast before the work period begins at 8:30am. There are a great variety of jobs - altar bread work, maintenance, correspondence, liturgy, office work, cleaning, preparing for guests, caring for our elder sisters, and many more.

At noon we come together again for prayer. This brief period of prayer refocuses our energies and calls us back from our work to rest again in God. Dinner follows in the refectory. We see our common table as an extension of the Eucharist and enjoy conversation with our sisters and guests that may be present. As in most homes, after the meal there are always dishes! Some sisters wash the plates and utensils and others wash the pots and pans. It is also a time to enjoy each other as we work.

After dinner, sisters return to their work for another hour or so. From 3:00pm - 4:00pm is unstructured time. Sisters may choose to exercise, work on a hobby or craft, pray, read, study or nap. The hour from 4:00pm - 5:00pm is set aside as “lectio hour.” We keep the house as quiet as possible during this time so that sisters can read and pray more easily.

Vespers (evening prayer) is at 5:30pm followed by supper. Again, we talk at table and share in the dishwashing afterwards. At 7:00pm we have a short community gathering to make any announcements and then we return to chapel for Compline (night prayer).

After Compline the house is quieter. Some sisters choose to use this time for personal prayer and study; others may enjoy a walk or game of cards before going to bed. Soon it is morning and another day begins…

Our routine is simple. The sameness frees us from worrying about what we are to do next or where we have to be. We can focus our attention and energy on God and enter into unceasing prayer.