Latest news with #LiturgyoftheHours
Herald Malaysia
4 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
MeetIng the Carmelite Sisters
St Teresa's Secondary School students and young ladies aged between 15 to 37 years were very honoured and blessed to be able to meet the Sisters at the Carmelite Monastery visitors' parlour from 3.30pm – 5.00 pm, and pray the Vespers from 5.00 – 5.30 pm at the Carmelite Chapel recently. Jul 18, 2025 KUCHING: St Teresa's Secondary School students and young ladies aged between 15 to 37 years were very honoured and blessed to be able to meet the Sisters at the Carmelite Monastery visitors' parlour from 3.30pm – 5.00 pm, and pray the Vespers from 5.00 – 5.30 pm at the Carmelite Chapel recently. The girls were enlightened about the life of the Carmelite Sisters in the monastery. Throughout the meet session, Sr Dominica Chai and Sr Karen Emmanuel of Jesus on the Cross shared how they were called to be Carmelite Sisters. Through the Q & A, students learnt that Carmelite sisters dedicate their lives to a contemplative life focused on prayer, spiritual reading, and manual labor, living in community and following vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They spend significant time in silent prayer and meditation, engaging in the Liturgy of the Hours and daily Mass. The Carmelite nuns withdraw completely from the world and dedicate themselves entirely to a life of prayer and penance. But their sacrifices and their prayers reach out to the world they have left behind. They have not fled the world because they did not enjoy the life they had there. They love the world – they love life – and they have found it in all its richness and beauty…by giving themselves to God. According to Sr Karen, her greatest joy and peace is to spend personal time praying and having personal relationship with the Lord. A question was also asked regarding the length of formation to become Carmelite Sister, to which Sr Karen explained that it ran from 9-12 years.• Aspirancy: 1-2 years • Postulancy: 1-2 years • Novitiate: 2 years Temporary professed nun (with temporary vows) – 5 years or more until a minimum of 9 years of formation is completed. Solemn professed nun (with lifelong vows) – lifelong formation. The earliest stage is a time to get to know the candidate and for the candidate to be exposed to some experience of stay-in with the community inside the monastery. Interested candidates usually meet a few times with Mother Prioress or the nun who is appointed for formation, and eventually meet the whole community 2-3 times before applying for stay-in. Candidates are to write a letter to apply for stay-in. Then wait for approval. Duration of stay-in depends on the candidate's choice, but generally, a longer stay-in period is recommended to better experience the Carmelite life (maximum length of stay-in period is three months). For enquiries, candidates may come to the Turn at the monastery. The teachers and students would like to take this opportunity to thank the Carmelite Sisters for their warmth and kindness in sharing their vocation. We pray more young ladies would respond to God's calling and seek divine guidance and inspiration to answer God's call to a life dedicated to serving the Church. We pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance in discerning and following one's true vocation and for the strength and perseverance to live faithfully within that vocation. --Today's Catholic
Epoch Times
11-07-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
A Prayer and a Song: Compline and ‘An Evening Hymn'
In countries all over the world, the bells of abbeys and convents toll at periodic intervals to call people to communal devotion. The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office, speaks in a common tongue that bridges different languages. The readings and songs of each Hour are a meditative dialogue between humanity and God. This routine is primarily maintained by religious orders. Secular Christians are invited to participate either on their own or by attending services at a church, abbey, or convent.
