Day 3: Sanctify Time

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Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival." (Psalm 81:3) 

In the book of Leviticus, the people of Israel are invited to sanctify time and to attend “solemnities and holy meetings”. This psalm can resonate with us, it is an invitation to in turn live this sanctification of time.

Prayer is the rhythm of a Poor Clare's life; it is the heart of the life of a Sister of the Order of Saint Clare. The bell rings at different hours of the day to invite us to return to the Chapel, where we sing praises to God and intercede for our brothers and sisters in humanity (these days, especially for you who joined our “community of prayer”!).

By leaving our work to go to the Chapel several times a day, we demonstrate that the Lord comes first, that our relationship Him is what structures our day, and that we have faith in the power of prayer.

In that same vein, St. Clare's entire life seems to have been directed by the rhythm of the major events of the Liturgical life of the Church, from Palm Sunday (when she began her life as a “Poor Sister”) to the celebration of her own Passover.

During Clare's canonization process, her sisters shared their memories by referring to the feasts and the different services of the Liturgy of the Hours that were connected with specific events: Some event took place "during Compline”, some other event “in the morning at Terce”, another one “on the night of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary” or “around Saint Martin's day” or “on Good Friday”, etc. 

What an example of a life “focused” on the relationship with God! 

Prayer

Today, Lord, You invite us to sanctify time and live all things “in the time of God”, that is, in relation with You.

We thank You for offering us to live in this time that is ours, at the place that is ours.

Grant us to live every minute of this day, every minute of our lives, in Your Presence, to do all things with You and for You

Meditation of the Day

  1. I ask myself: what is my daily relation to Time? How does God direct the rhythm of my weeks, my months and my years? Do I sometimes remember the “major events” of my Christian life? How do I sanctify Sundays? What feasts are particularly important to me?  What “breaks” do I take to be with the Lord during the day? At what time? For how long? How often? How regularly? Do I pray the Angelus?
  2. I put my questions into action: today, and on Fridays: I sanctify time by remembering the Passion of the Lord. In the morning He is brought to Pilatus…at noon He is crucified…at 3.00PM He dies…in the evening He is laid in the tomb. I can remember that day in many ways: I can fast; set an alarm on my phone for 3.00PM to plunge into the Passion of Jesus – be it only for a minute – ; go into a church and pray before the Cross; read the episode of the Passion; meditate the Sorrowful Mysteries or say the Rosary of the Divine Mercy…It is down to each of us to find his or our own way to organize the hours of the day to unite with the One who loved us so much. 

What if you planned a visit to the closest Convent of the Poor Clares (Clarissines) at the end of this novena to celebrate Saint Clare ?

Community prayer

St. Clare's Blessing

I bless you in my life and after my death as much as I can and more than I can. With all the blessings with which the Father of mercies has and will have blessed His sons and daughters in heaven and on earth, and a spiritual father and mother have blessed and bless their spiritual sons and daughters. Always be lovers of God and your souls and the souls of your Sisters, and always be eager to observe what you have promised the Lord. May the Lord be with you always and, wherever you are, may you be with Him always. Amen.

Thank you! 91 people prayed

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Col 4:6

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