The
Vocation of Clare
and her KOKOMO DAUGHTERS as seen through her name:
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Courageous conformity to CHRIST CRUCIFIED Complete fidelity to the CATHOLIC CHURCH Caring, compassionate COMMUNITY
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Ladies: LOVING Him totally who gave Himself totally for love Ladies: LOVED totally and always loving Ladies: Mirroring the life of our LADY
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Always abiding in ADORATION Atoning APOSTOLIC ASCETICISM Always ANCHORED in awe
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REMAINING radically rooted in Reality RECEIVING humbly all in reverence as gift RADIATING joyfully the Redeemer's mercy
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Emptied to be filled and ESPOUSED TO THE SPIRIT Entirely EVANGELICAL EXISTENCE Everything and Everyone to be found in the EUCHARIST |
Our Life of Prayer
The life of a Poor Clare is preeminently one of prayer. It is one of adoration and praise of God in His Eucharistic Presence simply because He is God. It is also one of petition for the whole human family. Our life finds its source and summit in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours around which our day revolves.
Our Day of Prayer
The Church has entrusted to us the Mission of praying. As contemplatives, we pray seven times a day the official prayer of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours, in the name of the whole Church, for the whole Church.
Our Monastic Schedule
| Midnight | MATINS: MIDNIGHT OFFICE OF READINGS |
| 5:00 a.m. | Rise |
| 5:20 a.m. | LAUDS: MORNING PRAYER and meditation |
| 6:45 a.m. | TERCE: MIDMORNING PRAYER |
| 7:00 a.m. | Holy Mass |
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. | Work Period and novitiate instruction |
| 11:10 a.m. | SEXT: MIDDAY PRAYER |
| 11:45 a.m. | Dinner |
| 1:10 p.m. | NONE: MID-AFTERNOON PRAYER and scriptural reading |
| 2:00 p.m. | Work Period |
| 3:50 p.m. | Meditation |
| 4:30 p.m. | VESPERS: EVENING PRAYER and Rosary |
| 5:40 p.m. | Collation (a light meal) |
| 6:15 p.m. | Recreation |
| 7:30 p.m. | COMPLINE: NIGHT PRAYER |
| 9:00 p.m. | Retire to bed |
Our Life of Formation
A religious vocation is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Are you called to a life of prayer and joyous commitment to Jesus as a Poor Clare?
"Listen to the invitation of Jesus: 'Come and See'. Do not be afraid to follow the demanding and courageous paths of charity and generous commitment." - Pope John Paul II
The formation of those called to our way of life takes place gradually through the unfolding of our days, the season, and the liturgical atmosphere which permeates our lives. The six years of initial formation prepare young women for a life of vowed consecration to God.
Stages of Formation to BECOME A POOR CLARE
| COME FOLLOW ME ... |
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After entering the monastery, the postulant is introduced to our daily schedule, our customs and the spirituality of the contemplative Poor Clare way of life. The postulant's life of prayer, like that of the sisters, includes daily Mass and celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic adoration, meditation on the Word of God and the Rosary. She spends the year of postulancy in prayerful discernment, seeking to discover if she is truly being called to the joyous and wholehearted service to God and his community. |
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The two-year noviceship begins when the postulant is clothed in the religious habit, white veil and cord without knots. During the ceremony she receives her religious name, becoming the newest sister of the community. These years are a time for the novice to intensify her love for Christ and to grow in her understanding of Gospel living. With an open heart, she studies the vows as lived in the spirit of St. Clare, and is led deeper into the mystery of her Poor Clare vocation. |
| HERE I AM LORD ... | |
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It is during the Mass of Temporary Profession that the novice pronounces her vows and receives the black veil and cord with four knots, which are symbolic of the vows. Having committed herself to following Christ more closely in poverty, chastity, obedience and enclosure, the junior sister now begins to share more fully in the activities of the community. She spends this period of three years preparing her heart as she joyfully looks forward to sealing her commitment with the pledge for a lifetime. |
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When the time of temporary profession is completed, the sister makes her solemn profession of vows. At the Mass, she receives a silver ring, a symbol that she is forever consecrated to God as a Bride of Christ. A crown of thorns is placed on her head, showing her desire to be a witness of Christ's redemptive love for the world. Her future lies open before her and she moves forward with the certainty that it is in giving up everything to follow Christ that she will find everything her heart desires. |
Any woman who feels called to live as a Poor Clare in Kokomo, Indiana, is invited to write to:
Reverend
Mother Abbess
Monastery of the Poor Clares
1175. N. 300 W.
Kokomo, IN 46901-1799 USA
A vocation is a free gift from God. Please spread this GOOD NEWS by sharing our web site address and its message with someone.
