During Spring Break, I visited the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut, alongside some other BC students. It was a great experience. Every day presented unique opportunities, but the regular schedule conveys a good picture of a day spent away from the world and with Jesus at the Abbey.
Everyday at 6 am, we said Lauds, or Morning Prayer, with the nuns in the chapel. Despite not really knowing Latin, being immersed in the quiet and prayerful environment was a wonderful way to begin my day in grateful service and attentiveness to Christ.
Following this, the BC group spent time in relative quiet at the communal meeting space/barn. I was able to read a wonderful book called Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence that helped me to understand the will of God more intimately in my life.
Then, we would go to Terce, or mid-morning prayers, and Mass in the Church of Jesu Fili Mariae. This Mass allows both professed religious and lay people to enter deeply into the mysteries of Christ’s love, seen most visibly in the gift of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. The church building itself allows significant amounts of light in, embodying the fact that ‘the Light shines in the Darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ (cf. Jn. 1:5).
We would return to the community space and typically hear from one of the nuns about her thoughts on the Liturgy of the Hours or the Psalms. The life of a cloistered nun allows for extended periods of reflection on God’s word, which includes the Psalms of David. These beautiful verses present to the reader all sorts of human experiences, emotions, struggles, and joys all in the context of a trustful relationship with God.
If I wasn’t cooking my (only slightly burnt) Mexican lunch, I would go to the chapel for Sext and None, or the midday and mid-afternoon prayers. These were short, but allowed us to refocus our minds and hearts on God before starting afternoon tasks.
Following lunch, we would engage in ‘Land Work,’ which involved either cutting and stacking wood, moving mulch, or working with the animals and their enclosures. All of these tasks had the commonality of being straightforward and laborious. Most college students would consider this kind of work insignificant or boring, but the simplicity of the work allows the mind to relax, perform the simple labor well, and focus attention on God and His creation.
Next, we prayed Vespers, or evening prayer, with the nuns in the chapel. This prayer struck me as profound when I started praying it at BC with the Sons of St. Patrick, and it was even more mysterious and inspiring in the presence of these spiritual mothers.
We move on to supper. This would sometimes consist of cheese and breads made on the property. Having non-processed food certainly affects you in a positive way and I encourage anyone who has never experienced this kind of diet to try it sometime.
Then, we would complete the day with Compline, or night prayer, in the chapel and return to our houses to get some sleep. These prudent virgins have given their whole lives to Jesus Christ and to watch them sit at their master’s feet, like Mary did two thousand years ago, was a privilege and joy. I hope to return soon and, in the meantime, to live out their mission in the world, Ora et Labora.
Max Montana is a senior studying philosophy and theology. When not writing for The Torch, he enjoys reading more about the Catholic faith and philosophy, serving the unborn and mothers in need, and hanging out with friends. Max is honored to hail from the state with many gators and the bishop of the moon: Florida.
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