What is the Way of Life (forma vita) of the Poor Clares today? 

The way of life of the Poor Ladies is to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ – a gospel which is timeless! The accidentals of that way of life have changed a great deal from those early days of Clare and her sisters at San Damiano, but the life of consecration to the Most High God in highest poverty, contemplation and community remains unchanged.

Enclosure: One of the distinctive marks of our way of life is our choice of enclosure. Saint Clare chose to live an enclosed life before it became a canonical requirement for contemplative women religious. It allows us sacred space that is both limited by specific boundaries and unlimited as the Mystical Body. After a sister enters the monastery, she will not leave except for “a useful, reasonable, evident, and approved purpose.” We each choose enclosure as a way of expressing our desire to love totally and to live totally for God and God’s people.

The Evangelical Counsels: Living “in obedience, without anything of one’s own, and in chastity” the sisters live the Gospel and allow themselves to be formed by Jesus.

Liturgical Prayer: The life of the community is organized around the liturgical life of the Church as expressed in the Eucharistic Liturgy and the Liturgy of the Hours. Eucharistic Adoration is deeply imbedded in our charism.

 We have the Blessed Sacrament exposed for prayer and adoration about eight hours a day.

 Work: We all share in the daily work of the community. The work of our hands remains the major source of income for us. We design and make vestments and distribute altar breads which reflects the Eucharistic love and devotion of St. Clare and her sisters.

 Daily Schedule: The daily schedule is a good illustration of activities woven around prayer: 

 5:55 a.m. Morning Offering, Angelus in chapel; Meditation

 7:05 a.m. Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours

 7:30 a.m. Liturgy of the Eucharist (Mass) followed by Midmorning Prayer

 8:30 a.m. Community work & Adoration

11:30 a.m. Office of Readings of the Liturgy of the Hours

12:00 p.m. Dinner with recreation

 1:00 p.m. Free time for personal prayer, study, leisure, rest

 2:30 p.m. Midday and Mid-afternoon Prayer of the Liturgy of the 

                 Hours followed by the Rosary

3:00 p.m. Community work, meetings, or class (ongoing formation)

4:30 p.m. Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, Meditation,

                Supper

6:15 p.m. Night Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours

 Our Vocation is a special gift of God given to each individual and to the Church. (Art. 164.1) 

 Among all the gifts which we have received and continue to receive daily from our Benefactor, the Father of compassion, and for which we must express the deepest thanks to our glorious, God, our Vocation is a great gift since it is the more perfect and greater, we should be so much more thankful to  Him for it. For this reason, the Apostle writes: Consider Your calling (Art. 164.) 

Candidate Requirements: Candidates to the Poor Clare, contemplative, enclosed way of life have a deep desire to dedicate their whole being to God in a way of life which is characterized by poverty, prayer, community, silence and solitude as an expression of their desire to live for God alone.

They should be

• Between 20 and 50 years of age

• Have a high school education

• Be free of financial and moral responsibilities

• Have good physical health

• Be socially and psychologically well balanced and mature

If you are interested in learning more about our Franciscan contemplative way of life, feel free to contact the Vocation Director.