Every so often, someone asks how we spend our days. We thought we would share a little of that with you. As you will see, our days reflect many of the aspects that you might encounter in your own day.
Our day is lived in the presence of the Living God, seeking to commune with Him and being sensitive to His guidance and constant expressions of love. All of our work is important, for it is done for love of God, for each other, and for all of God’s People. We seek to have an atmosphere of quiet in order that we may better live out Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.”
As a community, we gather in the chapel throughout the day for the Liturgy of the Hours, which consists of hymns, psalms, Scripture readings, and silent reflection. Throughout the day, as you can see from our schedule, we stop to turn our full attention to God by praying the seven “hours.”
Our Horarium
of “ORA et LABORA”
- 6:00 – Lauds (Morning
- 6:30 Breakfast in silence and walk
- 7:15 Adoration, Rosary, Lectio Divina
- 9:00 Labora
- 12:00 – Noon meal (with table reading)
- 12:45 – Noon Prayer
- 3:00 – Mid-Day Prayer and Divine Mercy Chaplet
- 5:00 – Vespers (Evening Praise)
- 5:30 – Evening meal
- 8:00 – Compline
DAILY MASS Varies in local parishes
- Tuesday and Thursday
- in the a.m.
- Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- in the p.m.
The Liturgy of the Hours is integral to our life as monastics. A monastic community is to “pray always,” in whatever occupation is being undertaken. We use the Benedictine Daily Prayer as our Liturgy of the Hours Book, which provides the seven “hours” of monastic prayer.
Our work consists of housework, correspondence, finances, hospitality, listening to and praying with people in need, coordinating groups that will be coming for renewal, monastic and development meetings, finances, preparing for oblate-vocations gatherings, errands, and appointments in Rio Grande City or the McAllen area, to name some of our tasks. We support various outreach efforts such as a Mexican ministry that assists those living in substandard conditions, and local centers that help pregnant women in crisis situations. We also hold Benedictine Life Weekends for women discerning a religious vocation.
The ultimate event of each day is to participate in Holy Mass and offer praise, thanksgiving, and prayers for all. The Eucharist is our source of life and enthusiasm.
We enjoy our surroundings by taking walks on our monastery ground and by having picnics down by Presa Placida, our placid pond, in cooler weather.
Our breakfast is in silence and on our own time schedule. As a community we eat our noon and evening meal together every day. We seek to have table reading as often as possible.
Most days bring surprises, such as phone calls with good or sad news, a rare rainbow, beautiful flowers blooming, a great variety of birds at the feeder, and even an occasional wild creature that may wander onto our grounds — once it was a stray pig, five feet in length!
Our constant of each day is the Word of God that comforts, guides, and enlightens us. We seek to live a life of balance, allowing for a life that is joyful and refreshing. Our lives are full of opportunities to serve and love our Lord with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength, “so that in all things God may be glorified” (1 Peter 4:11).