Religious Who Pray by Night

[Conservative]

Years ago, I heard that there were/was an order of nuns who got up at midnight or sometime during the middle of the night - to pray for the world or poor souls. I’m really not sure about particulars.

In today’s modern world, I’m wondering do any of these religious orders of nuns (or priests) still exist? If so, who are they and what, in particular, do they pray for? I’d like to send my intentions to them and know that during the hours when I’m sleeping someone is still praying for serious needs. I know we can have our guardian angel do these things also but just wondered if you know of anyone who does this still? Thanks and God bless you,

 

[porthos11]

Years ago, I heard that there were/was an order of nuns who got up at midnight or sometime during the middle of the night - to pray for the world or poor souls. I’m really not sure about particulars.

In today’s modern world, I’m wondering do any of these religious orders of nuns (or priests) still exist? If so, who are they and what, in particular, do they pray for? I’d like to send my intentions to them and know that during the hours when I’m sleeping someone is still praying for serious needs. I know we can have our guardian angel do these things also but just wondered if you know of anyone who does this still? Thanks and God bless you,

Many, if not most, monastic orders get up at midnight or early morning (while still dark) to pray the Office of Readings. If there is a monastery nearby, you can ask them about them offering their your intentions in their prayer.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Years ago, I heard that there were/was an order of nuns who got up at midnight or sometime during the middle of the night - to pray for the world or poor souls. I’m really not sure about particulars.

In today’s modern world, I’m wondering do any of these religious orders of nuns (or priests) still exist? If so, who are they and what, in particular, do they pray for? I’d like to send my intentions to them and know that during the hours when I’m sleeping someone is still praying for serious needs. I know we can have our guardian angel do these things also but just wondered if you know of anyone who does this still? Thanks and God bless you,

The Trappist begin vigils at 3AM every morning. When I was on retreat at St. Joseph’s Abbey, in Spencer, MA, the first time, I got up and went to the Vigils. It was beautiful. The entire Church is dark. They say each reading, followed by a hymn. After each reading, 2 lamps on the Church walls are lighted at a time in succession, until the final reading, the entire church and altar is lighted.

Jim

 

[Conservative]

Many thanks to you both - JimR and Porthos - for the insight and direction.

God Bless You -

 

[Andruschak]

Years ago, I heard that there were/was an order of nuns who got up at midnight or sometime during the middle of the night - to pray for the world or poor souls. I’m really not sure about particulars.

In today’s modern world, I’m wondering do any of these religious orders of nuns (or priests) still exist? If so, who are they and what, in particular, do they pray for? I’d like to send my intentions to them and know that during the hours when I’m sleeping someone is still praying for serious needs. I know we can have our guardian angel do these things also but just wondered if you know of anyone who does this still? Thanks and God bless you,

The Carthusian Order traditionally sleeps around 7:30 PM - 11 PM, and 2 AM - 5:30 AM. Time will very with the particular Monastary. But in general, 11 PM- 2AM will see them awake in prayer and meditation.

What can you do to help them out, and acknowledge their efforts? As part of your bedtime prayers and/or Compline, recite Psalm 134 for their intentions.

 

[marty30]

Years ago, I heard that there were/was an order of nuns who got up at midnight or sometime during the middle of the night - to pray for the world or poor souls. I’m really not sure about particulars.

In today’s modern world, I’m wondering do any of these religious orders of nuns (or priests) still exist? If so, who are they and what, in particular, do they pray for? I’d like to send my intentions to them and know that during the hours when I’m sleeping someone is still praying for serious needs. I know we can have our guardian angel do these things also but just wondered if you know of anyone who does this still? Thanks and God bless you,

There is a community that I know of that prays at midnight every night for suffering addicts and alcoholics. The comminties are run by religous and lay people, however it is a community were addicts live for a minimum of three years in poverty and abstinance and the addicts who live there are the ones who get up every night and pray. The communities are called "Comunita Cenacolo. They are in Europe, Ireland, and ST. Augustine Florida. ST. Augustine has three houses, two for men and one for women. They have an annual festival every year. My wife and I went to one this past year and it was amazing.
comunitacenacolo.org/

 

[NMJenny]

Many of the Poor Clare cloistered nuns rise in the middle of the night to pray. I know of one particular group, the Poor Clares of Roswell, New Mexico, whose late Abbess wrote a fascinating book about the daily life of the nuns, called *A Right to be Merry. *It is still in print, I found a copy on Amazon some weeks back…

 

[Andruschak]

There is a community that I know of that prays at midnight every night for suffering addicts and alcoholics. The comminties are run by religous and lay people, however it is a community were addicts live for a minimum of three years in poverty and abstinance and the addicts who live there are the ones who get up every night and pray. The communities are called "Comunita Cenacolo. They are in Europe, Ireland, and ST. Augustine Florida. ST. Augustine has three houses, two for men and one for women. They have an annual festival every year. My wife and I went to one this past year and it was amazing.
comunitacenacolo.org/

Just out of curiosity, I checked that Florida website. Maximum age allowed is 40, and I’m 63.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Many of the Poor Clare cloistered nuns rise in the middle of the night to pray. I know of one particular group, the Poor Clares of Roswell, New Mexico, whose late Abbess wrote a fascinating book about the daily life of the nuns, called *A Right to be Merry. *It is still in print, I found a copy on Amazon some weeks back…

A wonderful book indeed!..I did not know that she had passed away. Did she also write “Spring Comes Barefoot”? - I have read both although many years ago now…Blessings - Barb

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Just out of curiosity, I checked that Florida website. Maximum age allowed is 40, and I’m 63.

Most monastic orders have a 40 year old age limit. The idea is that after 40, you too set in your ways to change your life and live a monastic life style. There are some exceptions however. If you were a priest, they might allow you in.

Jim

 

[Conservative]

Most monastic orders have a 40 year old age limit. The idea is that after 40, you too set in your ways to change your life and live a monastic life style. There are some exceptions however. If you were a priest, they might allow you in.

Jim

And I believe some monastic orders go a bit higher in age than 40 - I know this after researching for a friend who was considering application to an order some months ago in hopes of their “bending” those rules a bit in light of special circumstances. I do believe the maximum age for some might be over 40 years. but under 55.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

And I believe some monastic orders go a bit higher in age than 40 - I know this after researching for a friend who was considering application to an order some months ago in hopes of their “bending” those rules a bit in light of special circumstances. I do believe the maximum age for some might be over 40 years. but under 55.

Like I said, there are exceptions.

A friend of mine who is a diocesan priest, entered the Trappist after age 40. However, he’s a priest and they made an exception for him. He dropped out after 2 years. He then re-entered 5 years later, but only lasted 1 year and will never try again. They do have good reasons for the age limit.

Suddenly going from a parish priest to a cloistered priest, doing physical labor, as novices must do, and living on a vegetarian diet, is a huge change for anyone, never mind those over 40.

Jim

 

[Beautiful]

I’d like to send my intentions to them and know that during the hours when I’m sleeping someone is still praying for serious needs.

• Do we accept prayer requests?

Yes, we accept prayer requests sent to us by fax or by email. Prayer requests are always taken to heart but because of our life of silence & solitude, we do not normally acknowledge them.

From the Charterhouse of the Transfiguration

Try contacting your nearest monastery to submit your prayer request. Perhaps visit for a day or for a retreat weekend.

 

[marty30]

Just out of curiosity, I checked that Florida website. Maximum age allowed is 40, and I’m 63.

Do you know many active drug addicts that are 63 and still alive? I think a lot of it has to do with helth issues but I’m sure there is more to it. It’s different from any community I’ve seen. And I was wrong about the time they get up and pray. It’s actually 2am and not 12 am that they get up and go to the chapel in the house and pray for suffering addicts who are still using.

 

[NMJenny]

A wonderful book indeed!..I did not know that she had passed away. Did she also write “Spring Comes Barefoot”? - I have read both although many years ago now…Blessings - Barb

Yes, Mother Mary Francis passed away about a year ago–she must have been well into her 80s, because she was one of the founding nuns of the Roswell cloister in 1948. She has written more books than I realized (I put her name in the search function at Amazon.com and got a whole page or more of books). The other book of hers that I have read, and heartily recommend is *Forth and Abroad *which tells of the foundations that her monastery has made over the last twenty years or so.

As for the age of entering a cloistered order, I think that depends a great deal on the individual monastery. I know a friend of mine wanted to become a cloistered nun in her late 50s–she first applied to the Poor Clares in Roswell because she grew up in that city, but they felt their life was too extreme for someone her age to adjust to. She was accepted by a Carmelite Monastery and just recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of her profession…