One day within your courts is better than is better than a thousand elsewhere!
—Psalm 84

Regular Observance

Regular observance, adopted by St. Dominic from tradition or newly created by him, fosters the way of life of the nuns by helping them in their determination to follow Christ more closely and enabling them to live more effectively their contemplative life in the Order of Preachers.

To regular observance belong all the elements that constitute our Dominican life and order it through a common discipline. Outstanding among these elements are common life, the celebration of the liturgy and private prayer, the observance of the vows and the study of sacred truth. To fulfill these faithfully, we are helped by enclosure, silence, the habit, work and penitential practices.

  • Common Life

    The first reason for which we are gathered together in community is to live in harmony, having one heart and mind in God.

  • Liturgy

    Appointed for the work of divine praise, the nuns, in union with Christ, glorify God for the eternal purpose of his will and the marvelous dispensation of grace.

  • Private Prayer

    The whole life of the nuns is harmonously ordered to preserving the continual remembrance of God.

  • The Vows

    By our profession we dedicate ourselves to God, following Christ and leading a gospel life in the Order, so that our baptismal consecration may achieve its effect more completely.

  • Study & Lectio

    The methodical study of sacred truth, according to the capacity of the individual, is a fruitful preparation for lectio divina and an aid to human maturity.

  • Enclosure

    The purpose of all regular observance, especially enclosure and silence, is that the word of God may dwell abundantly in the monastery.

  • Silence

    The nuns should make of their house, and especially of their hearts, a place of silence.

  • The Habit

    The habit, our “wedding dress”, is a sign of consecration and a witness to poverty.

  • Work & Penance

    Work is demanded by religious poverty and serves the common good by building up charity through cooperation. It is one of the common forms of asceticism.

In silence and stillness them earnestly seek the face of the Lord and never cease making intercession with the God of our salvation that all men and women might be saved. They should give thanks to God the Father who has called them out of darkness into his wonderful light. Let Christ, who was fastened to the cross for all, be fast knit to their hearts. In fulfilling all these things, they are truly nuns of the Order of Preachers.

— Constitutions of the Nuns of the Order of Preachers