MEET THE SISTERS

 

Thank you for your request for information about the Visitation way of life; we are happy to send this brief description of our community. We are very pleased to have a chance to tell you about our vocation.

The Visitation Order was founded almost 400 years ago in Annecy, France, by Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane de Chantal. It is a cloistered order, committed to an apostolate of prayer and characterized by a spirit of humility and gentleness. There are no severe corporal penances such as fasts, long periods of prayer at night, sleeping on boards, and so forth. Because of the lack of external austerities, a greater emphasis is placed upon purity of intention, charity, patience, and control of one's inclinations, self-will, and feelings. It is a life "hidden with Christ in God" and quite ordinary in the eyes of men.

We pray the Divine Office, observe papal enclosure, wear the traditional habit, and live the common life which consists of praying, working, recreating and eating together.

The first community in this country was founded in 1799 in Georgetown, Washington, D. C. At present, throughout the United States, there are monasteries engaged in various apostolic works which are compatible with the monastic life, including spiritual direction, providing altar breads, and maintaining spiritual centers for the diocese. Here in Mobile we supply altar breads to parishes in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi, and operate a retreat house whose facilities are used by men, women, and young people for retreats, workshops, meetings, and days of recollection.

Requirements for admission into the order are basically the same as those of any religious congregation.

AGE - 18 - 60 years of age

EDUCATION - At least completion of high school, and preferably a couple of years of college or work experience.

HEALTH - Reasonably good physical, mental, and emotional health; sufficient stamina to bear the burdens and carry out the duties of the religious state. 

SPIRITUAL - Practicing Catholic, baptized and confirmed; frequent reception of the Sacraments; an attraction for prayer and spiritual reading; a desire to serve God and others, an appreciation of the value of self-sacrifice, humility, and gentleness; and a desire to sanctify one's life through the practice of poverty, chastity, and obedience lived in community.

 
 
Here is an outline of our daily schedule
 
5:15 am Rise
6:00   Meditation
6:30   Divine Office
7:00   Mass
7:50   Breakfast
8:45   Divine Office
9:00   Work
11:00   Dinner
12:00 pm Recreation
12:30   Divine Office
1:30   Work or Study
3:00   Spiritual Reading
3:30   Rosary
4:00   Community Time
5:00   Divine Office
5:15   Mental Prayer
5:45   Free Time
6:00   Supper
6:30   Recreation
8:15   Divine Office
10:00   Lights Out
Work includes household chores, laundry, cooking, sewing, gardening, caring for the infirm, clerical work, etc.

Study concentrates on the meaning of the religious life, the vows, common life, history and spirit of the order, scripture, theology, spirituality, and the writings of the founders.

We hope this information will answer some of your questions about the Visitation vocation. If there is anything else you would like to know, call and ask, and we will do our best to reply. We will be looking forward to hearing from you again. Until then, may God love and keep you.

VISITATION MONASTERY, 2300 Spring Hill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36607-3202, FAX (251) 476-9761

 

 Click here to see Sister Michele Marie Hauser's perpetual vows.

Click here to see the Novitiate

 

 

 
 
Welcome | Honour Guard | History | Life in the Monastery | Desert Experience | Activities | Sacred Heart Chapel | Retreat House | Saints | Visitation Gift Shop | Meet the Sisters | Map to Monastery | Web Design