Prayer & Work
A Life of Prayer
“Prayer is an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.”
— St Teresa of Jesus
“All of us who wear this holy Carmelite habit are called to prayer and contemplation. This is what we were founded for. We are descended from those holy fathers of ours on Mount Carmel, those who went in search of that treasure—the priceless pearl we are talking about.”
—St Teresa of Jesus
Within the enclosure we lead a life centred on the daily celebration of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours which punctuate the whole day with a regular rhythm of praise and prayer, entering deeply into the prayer of the Church, praying the centuries old psalms, hymns and prayers, which in rendering praise and adoration to God are also the voice of the whole Church, indeed of the world, a voice of intercession, of supplication and entreaty going up to heaven.
“Take your Crucifix. Look. Listen.”
—St Elizabeth of the Trinity
This life of liturgical worship and prayer is common to all forms of monastic life, but in St. Teresa’s Carmels there is also the distinctive feature of two hours, one in the morning and one in the evening, of silent contemplative prayer made in community. Assembled in their Choir the nuns begin these silent hours of prayer after one of the Hours of the Divine Office, moving from vocal praise, adoration and intercession to a time of silent presence to the Lord, focused in a special way on the presence and companionship of Christ Jesus.
Prayer as a way of life is often an arduous journey of faith, and the nuns find it a great blessing to make these hours of prayer together, giving and receiving sisterly support, just by being present with one another before the Blessed Sacrament.
“For a little of this pure love is more precious to God and the soul and more beneficial to the Church, even though it seems one is doing nothing, than all these others works put together.”
Work
Enter within your heart and work in the presence of your Bridegroom, who is ever present, loving you.
— St John of the Cross
St Teresa wanted us to work for our living yet to work in a way that leaves the heart free for God. Manual labour, the ordinary work of the house and garden, sewing, printing, the making of vestments, cinctures and church linens for liturgical use, art and hand crafted items and the distribution of altar breads are part of everyday life. Work in Carmel is not simply about performing certain tasks, however important in themselves they may. Our work is also the expression of our gift of self in love to Christ.
“In imitation of Christ who wanted to work with his own hands in Nazareth, and in obedience to the prescriptions of the Rule, the nuns will submit themselves to the common law of work…They will place at the service of the sisters their energies and talents and keep in mind that labour is also a way to associate themselves with the redemptive work of Christ.”
—OCD Nuns’ Constitutions #37
“Whatever your work is, put your heart into it as if it were for the Lord and not for men, knowing that the Lord will repay you...For Christ is the real Master you serve.”
Our cloistered vocation as St Teresa understood it.