Happy St. Patrick's Day!
(Note: This has nothing to do with St. Patrick!) We received a newsletter in the mail the other day from the nuns in Hanceville, AL. (Sweet Home Alabama - my heart has been yearning to go there again.....) Anyhow, in their newsletter they gave their daily schedule and, after analyzing it, I was in awe of how balanced it was. Here is their day:
5:20 Rise
6:05 Prayers
7:00 Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
8:00 Thanksgiving
8:20 Holy Rosary
8:50 Breakfast
9:00 - 11:30 Work
11:30 Prayers
12:00 Dinner
12:30 - 2:00 Free time
2:00 - 4:00 Work
4:00 Lesson
4:30 Spiritual Reading
5:00 Prayer time
5:30 Supper
6:30 Recreation
8:00 Grand Silence
I like how they have about 4 1/2 hours of prayer a day balanced by about 4 hours of work and 3 hours of free/recreation time. (By the way, this is an order of contemplative nuns). In the newsletter they comment, "The daily monastic schedule is the sturdy anchor of the religious house. Each hour of the day is determined, enabling us to embrace the present moment with certainty and freedom, always knowing when and where we are supposed to be." (italics added)
Isn't that beautiful. You better believe this schedule and that quote is going to find its way into my "A Plan For Joy in the Home" workshop. It sums everything up so wonderfully. When our day has a plan, we can focus on the moment, not worrying or thinking about what else needs to be done or what we would rather be doing, knowing that everything will be allotted its proper time during the day.
If you have been thinking about being more organized in your day or have gotten away from a schedule, maybe this will give you some food for thought about getting one in place!
That was fascinating. I jsust read it to the kids. Very inspiring and thank God for them.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the schedule that the Carmelite Sisters keep. I love this verse: "Each hour of the day is determined, enabling us to embrace the present moment with certainty and freedom, always knowing when and where we are supposed to be." Really a beautiful example for us to model...with more flexibility of course : )
ReplyDeleteThanks, I needed that!
ReplyDeleteI have gotten away from my schedule lately...sometimes I wish I could SIMPLIFY more...
Maybe I could hire someone todo the shopping!
Blessings of St Patrick to you :)
But Laura, they don't have to CARPOOL.....and they can walk to Holy Mass! It's funny that you posted this today because I just re-read the newsletter myself today and thought about what a lovely schedule they have. There is also something to be said for having a habit....no bad hair days, no shopping for clothes, no what do I wear...God bless!
ReplyDelete