Daily rhythm

Salve Regina

THE ROSE WINDOW, EAST WALL OF THE CHURCH

Daily rhythm

In his daily life lived out beneath Mary's gaze, the monk tries to form himself on her inner disposition of availability and of obedience to the Lord. Like Mary he re-affirms in his heart, " Here I am, Lord ; I am ready ; I come to do what you ask of me."

Show me your diary and I shall tell you who you are.

The way in which a man uses his time reveals his life-style and his priorities. To what does a man give his time ? For whom has he time ? In a monk's diary pride of place is given to seeking the Lord. The day is organised around those moments of gratuity, around those non-profit making hours which are the hours of prayer.

It is there that one touches the price of monastic life : it foresees moments in which the monk does nothing other than take the time to live for God, the time to come together as a community of brothers and to sing together of God's love for man, the time to remain silent in the presence of the One Who gives life.