Life in the Community

Carmel of Espoo

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View of the Chapel

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The Refectory

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The Carmelite's main work is prayer. All other activities are done in a spirit of prayer and are secondary to the most important goal, which is union with God and which gives meaning to all work. The Carmelite nun carries the whole world in her heart. Her withdrawal from the everyday tasks of the world unites her in a deeper way to all of Christ's members when she brings them and all their needs to Him in prayer. The Carmelite Monastery in Finland is especially dedicated to praying for the people of Finland.

View of the Chapel

“The ceaseless quest for God in solitude is like an exodus in the desert. God draws and guides us there in order to speak to our heart. (cf. Hos. 2,16) Under the impulse of the Holy Spirit, many responded to Christ's invitation to his disciples(Mk. 6:31) and have retired to solitude where they adore the Father and listen to His word.” (Carmelite Constitutions 6:105).

The Mass is the source of all grace and the central event of the day. It is celebrated daily in the monastery.

The Sisters come to the choir seven times a day to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, consisiting of hymns, psalms, reading from Scripture and intercessory prayer.

The Sisters also have two hours of silent prayer daily.

Prayer

The Mass

The Refectory

Solemn Salve

Daily Schedule

5:40 Rising
6:10 Silent Prayer
7:10 Laudes (Morning prayer)
7:20 Terce (Midmorning prayer)
8:00 Mass (time varies)
8:45 Breakfast
9:00 Work time
11:30 Sext and None (Midday and Midafternoon prayer)
12:00 Dinner
12:30 Recreation
13:00 Silent free time (rest, work, reading, etc.)
14:00 One hour of spiritual reading
15:00 Prayers for the dying
15:00 Work time
16:30 Vespers (Evening prayer)
16:45 Silent prayer
17:45 Matins (Office of readings)
18:00 Evening meal
19:00 Recreation
20:00 Compline (Night prayer)

Recreation

“In the celebration of the Eucharist, Christ renews his covenant with the Church and makes his paschal sacrifice sacramentally present. The eucharistic banquet is a sign of unity and bond of charity. Through its participation in the one bread and one cup (cf. 1 Cor. 10, 17) the community is united as one body and one spirit.” (Const. Ch.3 # 66)

“At the heart of community life is the abiding eucharistic presence of Christ, whom Holy Mother Teresa calls, ‘our Companion in the Most Holy Sacrament’. It fosters union with him and sustains Teresian prayer for the Church.” (Const. Ch.3 # 67)

“Each community represents, in a special way, the Church at prayer and exercises its ministry of prayer on behalf of both the entire Mystical Body of Christ and the local Churches. Mindful of this, every community will celebrate in common every day all the hours of the Liturgy of the Hours.” (Const.Ch.4 #69)

“St. Teresa taught a community lifestyle which is that of a small family in which all are evangelically equal, relations are openly sincere, joys and sorrows are shared, and the members are committed to one another as sisters for their entire lives. ‘All must be friends, all must love one another, all must be cherished, and all must help one another’ (cf. Way 4,7) to create a joyful atmosphere that sets everyone at ease, an atmosphere that accords with the sisterly style of life and recreation that they have in common.” (Chap.5 , 88)

Life in the Community

Daily Schedule

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