Eight hundred years later, Dominic’s charism is still drawing women to the cloister. Why do they come? What are they looking for? One nun would answer this way:

Each vocational story is as unique as the individual person God calls. My story began when I was twenty-six years old and suddenly the thought popped into my head, apparently from nowhere, “I think God wants me to be a contemplative nun!” My reaction to this unexpected invitation was to ask, “Where? What kind of nun do you want me to be, Lord?” That very night, on the evening news, there was a short human interest story on a monastery of Dominican Nuns in West Springfield, Massachusetts. As I later wrote in my prayer journal, they had all the “stuff” I felt attracted to: devotion to Our Lady through the rosary, Eucharistic adoration, the singing of the Divine Office, a habit and community life.

Now, twenty-five years later, I think the best way to try to describe our way of life is to go back to this initial attraction. What was I looking for? And have I found it?

The Rosary

As Dominicans, we have a special devotion to Our Lady, wearing the white scapular she gave to our Order many centuries ago. For like Mary, whose whole life was centered on the Incarnate Word, her Son Jesus, we seek to live a Word-centered life through recitation of the rosary, lectio divina and study, and to give the fruits of our contemplation to others. As I have discovered, it’s a life with a mission: working for the salvation of souls.

The Eucharist

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, we know that the Lord comes to us in the Eucharist, but “his presence is veiled” (#1404). As contemplative nuns our lives, too, are veiled, hidden in our withdrawal from the world and our call to silence. What do we do all day? On the surface, only humble and ordinary tasks: a little of this, a little of that. Times of prayer. Times of work. Times of study. Times of recreation and laughter. But underneath the surface is a great adventure: the search for a deeper and deeper relationship with God. As I have discovered, it’s a life of faith.

The Divine Office

Consecrated to the Lord by vows of obedience, chastity and poverty, we are commissioned by the Church to sing the Lord’s praises. Our day begins at 4:40 in the morning, when the rising bell summons us to prepare our hearts for Office of Readings (Matins) and Morning Prayer (Lauds). The day ends around 8:15 as we finish Night Prayer (Compline) and process to Mary’s statue singing the Salve Regina. In between our day is punctuated with times of communal prayer, as the bell summons us, again and again, to leave our lesser preoccupations behind and go to the Choir. As I have discovered, it’s a sacrificial life, a call to holiness, and, quite frankly, a challenge!

A Habit

Because our lives are consecrated to the Lord, it is important that we wear an outward sign of this. “He has placed a seal upon my countenance that I may admit no lover but him,” is a short antiphon we sing during a Sister’s solemn profession. We live a decidedly feminine vocation, imaging the Church as “Bride of the Lamb”. We take on, then, the concerns of our Spouse, especially through our intercessory prayer. Who do we pray for? Just about everyone! For our Holy Father and our Bishop and all priests. For pro-life legislation and for families in distress. For peace in the world and for the safety of our troops overseas. For those who, with great faith, ask for our prayers and for those who don’t even know God. For the living and the dead. As Pope John Paul II wrote in his Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem, “Spousal love—with its maternal potential hidden in the heart of the woman as a virginal bride—when joined to Christ, the Redeemer of each and every person, is also predisposed to being open to each and every person” (#21). As I have discovered, it’s an ecclesial life, a call to “mother” the Church.

Community

Following the ancient Rule of Saint Augustine, we strive to be of “one mind and one heart” in the Lord. This is not easy! It means a constant growth in virtue, a constant “metanoia” or conversion, away from individualism to thinking of the common good. In this we have a practical way of showing our love for the Lord, by showing love and compassion to each other. And that is why we strive to follow our monastic observances, to train and discipline ourselves in the “school of love”. As the latest instruction on enclosure, Verbi Sponsa, puts it: “Because of the mutual love involved, fraternal life is a God-filled space in which the mystical presence of the risen Lord is experienced: in a spirit of communion, nuns share the grace of the same vocation with the members of their own community, helping one another to follow the same path” (#6). As I have discovered, it’s a penitential life, but one leading to joy.

So yes, I did find what I was looking for—and even more!

Are you ready to come and see, too?