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| Our
Life - Prayer and Ministry |
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The
Holy Spirit never ceases to call into existence forms of Religious
Life that respond to the needs of the times. So it has been
for centuries, as when the founders of the great Orders such
as the Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites and others established
"Lay" or "Third" Orders within their foundations
for those, both married and single, men and women, who had
a vocation to the Religious Life but were unable to leave
the world to live in a convent or monastery. Therefore, The
Servants of the Sacred Cross, while not part of a larger Order,
follows in the tradition and concept of the historic Lay Orders. Our expression of Religious Life includes the witness of wearing a distinctive Religious Habit, by both single and married Sisters, as did the first such Communities some eight hundred years ago and, even earlier, with the Orders of Penitents, the humiliati.
The
Servants of the Sacred Cross are called to take up their cross
and follow Christ in a life of prayer and service. Extern Sisters
are both married and single, living and working in their own
homes and communities under Vows of Simplicity, Purity, and
Obedience. |
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Some
Sisters carry out a variety of active ministries in their
parishes and local communities. Other Sisters are called to
a more contemplative expression of service in a life of solitude
and prayerful intercession. The prayer of each Sister must
be, "Lord Jesus, as it would please you, bring me
someone today whom I can serve."
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The Sisters gather together once each year for a Retreat and
Chapter meetings.
Single or widowed women called to live "in community" as Conventual Sisters may, after suitable discernment, test their vocation to live within Sacred Cross Convent, a semi-contemplative house of the Community. Sisters within the Convent profess Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience in a full and traditional expression of the Evangelical Counsels. Their day is one which incorporates an ebb and flow of prayer, silence, spiritual reading and meditation balanced with adequate rest and recreation.
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The Horarium of Sacred Cross Convent
A bell will be rung thrice as an announcement to the house five minutes before the commencement of each Office and before meals.
6:00 AM – Rise (the rising bell will be rung five times).
Sisters silently pray their Morning Offering.
The Great Silence continues
7:00 AM Angelus + Mattins
Breakfast eaten in silence immediately following Mattins.
The Great Silence ends after breakfast.
Mass - times may vary. A period of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament before or after Mass will take place, if possible. * N.B. Until such time as Mass is celebrated in the Convent Sisters must go out to a parish for Mass.
Terce said privately before or after Mass.
Return to Convent. (Errands outside of house one day per week) |
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"
I tell you that you have more to suffer in following the Cross than in serving the world and its pleasures. "
(Saint John Vianney) |
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10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Daily Chapter and morning work period, as per assignments.
12:00 PM – Angelus + Sext + Rosary.
12:30 PM – Lunch – talking meal.
1:00 – 3:00 PM – afternoon work period, as per assignments.
3.00 PM – None
Personal free time follows until 4:00 PM.
Lesser Silence
The house is in silence from 4:00 PM until after Dinner. Sisters are engaged in personal prayer, reading, meditation or study.
5:00 PM – Angelus + Evening Prayer
5:45 PM – Dinner – silent meal with recorded meditations or readings.
Lesser Silence ends
Community recreation following supper until Compline.
8:30 PM – Compline |
Patrons
Being dedicated to the Cross of Christ, the Community holds
in particular honour, as patron saints, the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Mother of God, and Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist,
remembering them in their place on Calvary, at the foot of
the Cross.
In their ministry of prayer for priests, the Community honours
Saint John Mary Vianney, patron of parish priests. Saint Athanasius
is held as patron in their prayer for the orthodoxy and unity
of the Universal Church. |
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