Our Daily Life
A Carmelite Day
Although Carmel has always been regarded as one of the strictest Religious Orders of the Church, its spirit is one of “love and joy in self-sacrifice,” of silence and solitude, liturgical and silent prayer, penance, and manual labor.
From early rising until retirement late at night, the day is filled with a continuous interchange of spiritual exercises: recitation of the Divine Office, Holy Mass, mental prayer and spiritual reading, along with manual labor and two one-hour periods of recreation during which they are employed in some kind of useful occupation (except on Sundays and Feast days). Manual labor can include every kind of duty, from baking Altar Breads, fine sacristy work, painting crucifixes and statues- to the vigorous use of the hammer and saw, garden fork and hoe, the hum of sewing machines, mops and other implements of toil.
A dull, monotonous day in Carmel is practically unknown, as the sustained regiment of prayer and work, far from becoming wearisome, strengthens, and gives stability to the soul. It is all “love and joy in self- sacrifice.”
everything I had. Even my own will!
5:00 AM – Clappers are sounded to awaken the sisters for prayer
5:30 AM – Lauds is recited in choir, followed by Prime
6:10 AM – Mental prayer, Terce
7:30 AM – The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (TLM) and thanksgiving
8:30 AM –Breakfast followed by manual labor
11:15 AM – The hour of Sext, followed by an examen of conscience and the Holy Rosary
11:45 AM – Dinner in the refectory
1:00 PM – Recreation followed by visit to the Blessed Sacrament
2:00 PM – The hour of None is recited followed by spiritual reading in the cell.
3:00 PM – The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is recited followed by manual labor
5:00 PM – Vespers is recited in the choir followed by an hour of mental prayer.
6:15 PM – Supper (or collation during the Fast from September 14 until Easter Sunday)
7:30 PM – Recreation
8:30 PM – Compline. The Great Silence begins
9:30 PM – Matins, The Gospel of the following day is read.
10:30 PM – The sisters retire to their cells, receive the night blessing, and rest in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
On Sundays and Solemnities, Lauds and Vespers are solemnly chanted and the entire Divine Office is recited daily in Latin in the traditional Roman Rite, as the Second Vatican Council & Summorum Pontificum recommends, that the rich heritage of the Latin language and the treasury of Gregorian Chant may be preserved. Every Sunday our conventual Mass is celebrated in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
St. Joseph’s Altar Bread
According to Our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Jesus, the way of life established in her Carmels is modeled after the simple and hidden life of the Blessed Virgin at Nazareth. Thus manual labor is an important part of our life, even as it was no doubt of hers. Our Holy Rule tells us that we should help ourselves by the work of our hands as St. Paul did, and this helps to support our Monastery. It is essential for us to build St. Joseph’s house, where we bake altar breads, as soon as possible so that we might continue this work in support of our contemplative life. Please consider contributing to the New Monastery Project.
Our Work is a Prayer
Traditionally, the work of making altar breads belonged exclusively to women Religious. This work is especially conducive to prayer and silence because of its simplicity; our Holy Mother desired that her daughters would not engage in elaborate works, so that the mind and heart are free for prayer even while the hands are occupied, and also to preserve the spirit of poverty. We feel that it is a beautiful and very fitting work for Nuns to lovingly prepare with their own hands the bread destined to become Jesus—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. We think as well of the millions of souls who are fed and strengthened each day in receiving this Bread of Life, and it brings us great joy to be closely associated with Our Lord’s gift of Himself to souls. Thus our work too is a prayer, offered for each soul who will partake of these altar breads.
About St. Joseph's Altar Breads
We have suspended our work of host baking until we are established on the Monastery grounds and are able to begin once again. We hope that you will continue to support us with your prayers, both for a peaceful move and for the new Carmel building project. We will let you know when we are ready to begin baking again and will post it on this website.
Temporary Suspension
of St. Joseph's Altar Breads
In order to facilitate our continuing move to PA, we have suspended our work of host baking until we relocate and are able to begin once again. We hope that you will continue to support us with your prayers, both for a peaceful move and for the new Carmel building project. We will let you know when we are ready to begin baking again and will post it on this website.
PRAYER INTENTIONS
We are happy to receive your prayer requests. Visit the monastery to write them in the book, or email them:
info@kinghillcarmel.org
(due to the nature of our contemplative life and withdrawal from the world, we are not always able to respond or correspond at length, but please be assured of our prayers for you and your intentions).
At the monastery, we sell rosaries, scapulars, books on Carmelite saints and spirituality, and “Angel Bread”—the unused portions of the bread from which we make the hosts for Holy Mass.
WE ARE PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT
On Carmel’s Heights by Day and Night
Someone Prays
for You
YOUR GENEROSITY SUSTAINS THE HEARTBEAT OF PRAYER
morning.