Living simply, centered on prayer

By Carol Schuck Scheiber. Photos courtesy of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey and by David Peterson.

The nuns of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey follow an ancient, communal tradition of prayer, contemplation, and work, which lifts their hearts to God each moment of the day.

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The nuns of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, along with visitors who have joined them for Mass, celebrate Palm Sunday with an outdoor procession.

The nuns of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, along with visitors who have joined them for Mass, celebrate Palm Sunday with an outdoor procession. (Photo courtesy of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey.)


IN RURAL IOWA, along the banks of the Mississippi River, 17 nuns have a simple goal for their lives together. “We try to follow Jesus Christ through a life of prayer, silence, simplicity, and ordinary work,” they declare on their website.

A TYPICAL DAY AT OUR LADY
OF THE MISSISSIPPI ABBEY

3:30 a.m. Rise
3:45 a.m. Vigils
Time for private prayer, breakfast, reading
7:15 a.m. Lauds and Mass
8:30 a.m. Community meeting followed by work
9:45 a.m. Terce (short prayer at the workplace)
11:30 a.m. End of work
12:00 p.m. Sext
12:15 p.m. Dinner together in silence with a reading
Dishwashing together; time for a nap
2:00 p.m. None
2:15 p.m. Work
3:45 p.m. End of work
5:00 p.m. Vespers
5:15 p.m. 15 minutes of quiet prayer together in church
Individual supper
7:15 p.m. Compline
8:00 p.m. Retire

They are the Trappistine Cistercian nuns of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey. They carry on a tradition that stretches back to the year 1098 when the first Cistercian monastery was founded in France. Their modern lives follow a centuries-old pattern. In keeping with Catholic monasteries around the world, they pray the Divine Office, a series of prayers, psalms, hymns, and scripture readings that are chanted, sung, and recited at set intervals during the day. These prayer times are known by their Latin names: Vigils, Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline.

To provide income and food, the nuns make and sell candy, raise chickens, and cultivate fruit and organic vegetables on part of their 650 acres of land. When they are not praying together or at work, they have free time for reading scripture, exploring nature, praying privately, exercising, and enjoying hobbies.

The abbey’s typical schedule reflects the rhythm of their days, which begin when most of their neighbors are sleeping. No matter the time of day or the activity, however, the purpose of each moment at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey is to remain aware of and open to God’s presence. 

Related article: VocationNetwork.org, “A Dominican’s day—timeless and timely.”


The chapel of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey
The community places a priority on cultivating beauty in its chapel and on its grounds. (Photo courtesy of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey.)
The sisters take a popcorn break to celebrate the birthday of Sister Ciaran Shields, O.C.S.O. (far right). Joining in the fun are Sisters Kathleen O’Neill, O.C.S.O., Myra Hill, O.C.S.O., and Carol Dvorak, O.C.S.O.
The sisters take a popcorn break to celebrate the birthday of Sister Ciaran Shields, O.C.S.O. (far right). Joining in the fun are Sisters Kathleen O’Neill, O.C.S.O., Myra Hill, O.C.S.O., and Carol Dvorak, O.C.S.O. (Photo by David Peterson.)
Sister Myra Hill, O.C.S.O. works in the garden.
Garden work keeps the nuns close to the land, and the produce benefits both them and the neighbors with whom they share it. Sister Myra Hill, O.C.S.O. works in the garden. (Photo courtesy of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey.)
Sister Gail Fitzpatrick, O.C.S.O. works at candy-making.
Making caramels and chocolates for Monastery Candy is the main economic support for the community. Sister Gail Fitzpatrick, O.C.S.O. works at candy-making. (Photo courtesy of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey.)
Sisters Harriet Pedersen, O.C.S.O. and Madeleine Beverly, O.C.S.O. in the garden.
Sisters Harriet Pedersen, O.C.S.O. and Madeleine Beverly, O.C.S.O. in the garden. (Photo courtesy of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey.)
Before the sun rises, the nuns gather to pray Vigils.
Before the sun rises, the nuns gather to pray Vigils. (Photo courtesy of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey.)
Sister Kathleen O’Neill, O.C.S.O. tunes her harp.
Those who are able contribute musically. Sister Kathleen O’Neill, O.C.S.O. tunes her harp. (Photo by David Peterson.)

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Carol Schuck Scheiber
Carol Schuck Scheiber is managing editor of VISION and editor of HORIZON, both publications of the National Religious Vocation Conference.
© 2021 TrueQuest Communications

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