Have you ever wondered what life as a sister is like?
In a video uploaded to the FOCUS Catholic YouTube channel, Sister Mary Grace, S.V., and Sister Ann Immaculee, S.V. walk through a typical day in the life of a Sister of Life in hopes of providing a glimpse into the beauty of their religious vocation.
Their schedule is a beautiful balance of prayer, work, and rest.
5:00 a.m. - Rise
5:30 a.m. - Morning Prayer
“We have 30 minutes of just silent meditation where we’re praying with Scripture, just talking to the Lord about what’s in our heart,” Sister Anne Immaculee, S.V., shares.
6:45 a.m. - Mass
7:30 a.m. - Breakfast
“We have a monastic tradition of listening to table readings. It’s all kinds of wonderful things that the Church has provided for us,” Sister Ann Immaculee, S.V. shares.
Their table readings include information on the lives of the saints, homilies, talks, and words from the Holy Father.
Sister Mary Grace, S.V., reveals that before entering the Sisters of Life, she was always curious about what the sisters eat.
“I usually would skip breakfast before I entered, but over the years I’ve been really converted myself…seeing how stabilizing it is to sit down and eat a meal together. Really just like a family.”
8:30 a.m. - Mission Work
Sister Ann Immaculee, S.V., explains that their main “work” is prayer,
“We’re called to union with God first and to love one another, and then your mission flows from that. It’s God, community, mission.”
The Sisters of Life have a mission of accompanying pregnant and vulnerable women. They help them choose life for themselves and their babies. The Sisters of Life provide for them materially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Sister Ann Immaculee, S.V., adds that their mission is “really just being a mother and friend” to these women, and affirming their goodness.
Sister Mary Grace, S.V., reveals that this task was daunting in her early days as a sister, and the best advice she received at that time was that no woman who comes to the Sisters of Life needs to be fixed. Instead, she says, “every person that approaches us needs to be loved.”
12:00 p.m. - Midday Prayer
At this point, the sisters pray the Liturgy of the Hours in the chapel.
The video shows the sisters singing, but the pair confirms that musical ability is not required to join the community.
12:30 p.m. - Lunch
Earlier in the video, the sisters reveal that they spend their second meal of the day in silence.
“When you can sit together with someone in silence, that’s when you know you’re friends,” Sister Mary Grace, S.V. adds.
1:00 p.m. - Mission Work
The sisters explain that their work continues after lunch with phone calls, collaborative projects, and more chances to encounter their community and each other in love.
3:30 p.m. - Break
At this time of day, the sisters explain, the group meets for a team break. They gather in the kitchen and, if needed, grab a cup of coffee or tea. They check in with each other and catch up on the day’s activities.
3:45 p.m. - Personal Recreation
“So then we have an hour of basically what’s rejuvenating to each sister,” Sister Mary Grace, S.V. says.
She explains that some sisters go for walks, others play games, make crafts, listen to music, go for a hike, or just rest.
“Whatever they need to do just to have a moment to remember the truth that they don’t exist to work, but to be.”
Sister Ann Immaculee, S.V., adds that leisure is an essential part of every human heart.
“It is not a luxury, it is a necessity.”
4:45 p.m. - Adoration/Vespers
This, the sisters explain, is a time of deep intimacy between a sister and her spouse, Jesus Christ.
6:30 p.m. - Dinner
7:15 p.m. Community Recreation
Sister Mary Grace, S.V. says,
“So, after dinner, we usually spend an hour together, our whole local community.”
She clarifies that there are seven Sisters of Life in Denver.
During this time, they may do a variety of different things.
“Really, it’s just like, again, a protected time in a schedule to say: ‘you are a family and you don’t do this life on your own.’”
The video cuts to a very talented Sister Ann Immaculee, S.V., on the guitar.
8:15 p.m. - Marian Procession
“After we pray night prayer, we process with candles out of the chapel and we sing to Our Lady and we process to a beautiful image of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” Sister Ann Immaculee, S.V. says.
She adds that Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the unborn. They believe that her intercession has carried their community in a special way.
“There’s no better way to end the day than to turn to your mother,” Sister Mary Grace, S.V. adds.
They explain it as a way to give Our Blessed Mother all the baggage from their day before going to bed.