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> Vocation: Calling > Consecrated Life
> Contemplative Religious
A Call to Ministry of Prayer "I thirst." These words of Christ found an echo in the heart of Catherine Aurelia Caouette. The love of Jesus in the mystery of shedding His Precious Blood on the Cross was a great inspiration to her. She saw in the manner of its shedding, a sign of HIS LOVE, unappreciated and the gift of salvation rejected by many. In her devotion to the Blood of Christ, two themes always emerge: The Cross and the Eucharist. She not only responded to this love of Jesus herself, but began the first contemplative religious community of women in Canada in 1861. I believe that for every authentic call to religious life, the heart sets out in love long before the feet do! At an early age I experienced God's love as being very personal. I wanted so much to make a response. Being taught by the Ursuline Sisters of Prelate SK., I saw in their dedicated lives such a loving response to God. Yet, I did not feel drawn to teaching and so I was directed by one of their Sisters to the community of the Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood. This community seemed to me to be the best place to enter more deeply into my experience of friendship with the Lord. It was the best decision I have made! Our very life style has its own sign value. To some, it is a mysterious sign in relationship to God. To others who visit us, phone or write, we are a sign of a caring community. They know we are here for them! Often prayed for by name, these people with their various intentions bring a concreteness into our prayer life and strengthen our faith. In the depth of each one of us there is a 'holy place' and its doors are opened through the peaceful stillness of presence and intimacy, where prayer becomes so much a part of who we are. What would happen to our world if all praying ceased? Or what would happen if you and I were no longer called to intimacy with the Living God? Remembering you in prayer, Sr. Theresia Elder  A Day in the Life of a Sister of the Precious Blood Rise and Shine: Each Sister begins her day with an hour of meditation followed by Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours 7:30 am. Mass or the Eucharistic Liturgy Breakfast: not scheduled, so each Sister makes her own. Time for Work: Usually consists of packaging and mailing of altar breads to the parishes, answering the telephone which is often a request for prayer, doing household duties, sewing, secretarial work (answering the many letters that come in) and business work for the treasurer or anything else that may need to be done to keep the monastery functioning so that all the Sisters can live their life of prayer 11:40 Midday Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours 12:00 Dinner, followed by doing the dishes and tidying up as a community. This is followed by time to do our daily spiritual reading, to say the Rosary, make the Way of the Cross and/or rest. 3:00 pm We return to our regular work. 5:00 pm Another period of meditation followed by Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours 6:00 pm Supper. When we have completed that meal, we tidy up and do the dishes, each doing what they can, as a community. This is followed by an hour or so of recreation together. 7:30 pm Office of Readings from the Liturgy of the Hours, followed by a nocturnal hour. This hour of prayer can be made later in the evening if the Sister chooses to do so. Night Prayer is the last prayer of the day which is not said in common but each Sister prays this part of the Liturgy of the Hours before she retires for the night. The schedule above is usually the same from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, Mass is usually a little later and the schedule will vary accordingly. Besides this, each Sisters has a daily 2 hour or so of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Each Sister chooses the hour she would like to make this prayer. We try to schedule these hours so that an Adorer will be present before the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day. Each week we have a Community hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed. Each month we have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day, each Sister making the hour of her choice. We also have a monthly retreat, usually on the First Sunday. Once a month we have a "Free Day". This is a day when we say all the above prayers in our own time frame while only having Mass and our meals as a community. We are also free to do the type of work we choose. This is great time to write letters, listen to music or work on a personal project! This is the way we take holidays! Each year we have a Triduum retreat before Sept 14th and a week or so of retreat, usually within the Monastery. On a yearly basis, we are permitted to go on a community outing. The purpose of this is to enjoy the beauties of nature and provide another form of relaxation. Sr. Theresia Elder RPB If you would like to receive more information about us contact the: Sisters of the Precious Blood 2210 - 25th Ave Regina, SK. S4S 4E6 Phone 306-586-2150 | |||||||||||||
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