Oblate Sisters of Christ Priest: their lives

The life of the Oblate is completely consecrated to God; hence, each and every hour of the day and the night is devoted to divine praiseworthy. It is a modest life in a silence and joy atmosphere. Sometimes, we may think that these are two opposite words but, in the life of the Oblate, silence and joy sounds in unison

God has awarded her with a new day, the Oblate wakes up at her cell. The very first thing is to thank God for such an immense present and offer Him each and every hour of the day, every prayer, every work, every act, every word, every thought… She greets Virgin Mary with the “Angelus” and since now on, every thing in her day will be offered to God for the whole Church and, especially, for the priests: “Pro eis ego sanctifico meipsum”… this phrase will resound in her mind and heart the entire day.

Prayer… this is her life, an incessant prayer. The Oblate spends a long time in front of the tabernacle, accompanying Jesus. The mental prayer is indispensable for the personal meeting with the Husband, to be alone with Him. Nevertheless, there is also time for the communitarian prayer, when the Oblate addresses God, addressed “Mother” and pray for the Church. They live the Liturgy, it feeds their spirituality. They also pray the Litanies of our Lord Christ Priest, the Angelus, the Rosary, and the Liturgy of the Hours.

The central moment of the day arrives at 9am: central because it is the most important tome of the day. For this reason when she starts the day, she listen to the Word of God and receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Since now on, He will be in she. She is not herself anymore but Jesus who acts through her. Docile to God’s will, she will permit Jesus to live in she during the entire day.

Each Oblate has her owns tasks: the sacristy, the kitchen, sewing, gardening, the drill… every work in the convent…

Each one will give the best of herself in her duty during the time dedicated to these tasks.

Work is also part of her daily prayer, offered to God for the salvation of souls, for the sanctity of priests.

One of her tasks is sewing, mainly Sacred Vessels. The Oblate sews, embroider with love. Sometimes nuns are said to be who better sew, better cook, better sing…. The secret is the love they deposit in every act, that everything is a prayer that flies to Heaven and God is in all they do.

The Oblate also carry out any necessary work in the convent: carpentry, plumbing… whatever is needed. How? The Holy Spirit is her guide and God’s love makes her not to be afraid of anything and do whatever He asks to.

It is time for lunch and, same as breakfast and dinner, the Oblate goes to the refectory. There, together with all the Sisters she will have her meal on the wooden table and seating on the wooden pew. Lunch time is devoted to God as well and, she will listen a reading or saints’ biographies. On Sundays and festivities she will listen to Gregorian Chant.

In addition, she will dedicate some time to read but also to spare time. Nevertheless, every moment continues to be offered to God for you and for me, for the priests, for the whole Church.

In the evening, together with the Community, she will raise her voice to Heaven, addressing Mother, with the amorous prayer of Holy Rosary. Virgin Mary truly loves this prayer. The Holy Rosary is like a walk through the life of Christ hand in hand with Mary; it is a meditation of each mystery with the eyes and the heart of the Virgin.

Training is also important in the life of the Oblate, especially during the noviciate and juniorate. On weekly basis the novice and, every two weeks the professed, the Oblate is provided with training on the Congregation, their charisma, the mental prayer… The Oblate is always on lifelong learning: praying, Bible, Liturgy, Theology … And what is learnt in one of the houses will reach all the others.

Besides the leisure time on Thursday and Sunday, the festivities are an authentic party in the Monastery: The Community gathers around the Virgin in a familiar and joyful atmosphere; country lunches, colloquies… Just because the Oblate is happy with Christ and Mary on every Holy Day.

“He who sings, prays twice”. And this is what the Oblate does every night, after dinner: Gregorian Chant rehearse. The Oblate’s prayer flies again to Heaven as it flies every Sunday, when the Oblate, in the solemnity of the Holy Mass, sings to God with Gregorian Chant.

As the end of the day is coming, after a long praying day, works, sacrifice, offerings…. the Oblate prays “Completes” and she prepares for the night rest. At the end of the day, she will thank God for the day she has lived, she will apologise for her faults and, with the aim of becoming better and delighting God, she will make her purposes for the following day.

It is time to rest so that tomorrow, the new day finds her still more faithful and willing to love God. Nevertheless, also during the night, they will not leave God alone for any instant. As they have done during the day, at night they will shift in order to accompany and worship Jesus at the tabernacle.

And while the Oblate sleeps, her sleep will continue to be a prayer “pro eis” and for the whole Church, which incessant goes up to Heaven.