Caput XV. De exercitiis a Pascha ad calendas novembris.
The Daily Order of Prayer and Work
A structured rhythm of vigils, prayers, reading, manual labor, and rest is laid out from sunrise to evening.
From Easter right up to the aforementioned calends, then, she should rise for vigils in this way: once the nighttime hymns and prayers are finished, let her begin the morning prayers after a very brief interval. Once these are completed, let her be free for prayers and psalms right up to the full rising of the sun, and then let her begin the first sacrifice of daily work, up to the third hour: in reading and prayer let her occupy her spirit until the sixth hour. After the sixth hour, once she has taken food, let her rest on her own bed until the ninth hour, and then let her work with her hands right up to evening. After evening, then, let her be free for prayers and psalms, arranging the hour of collation so that the bed receives her limbs before the sun goes down.
Guarding the Light of the Day
A warning that the recluse must take care lest night overtake the day's work and sleep replace the vigilance required of her.
For at every time of day you must guard against this: that night, before going to sleep, covers the whole light of day with its own darkness and forces her to sleep when she ought to be keeping watch.
Read the original Latin
A Pascha vero usque ac praedictas calendas sic surgat ad vigilias, ut finitis nocturnis hymnis et orationibus, parvissimo intervallo praemisso, matutinas incipiat. Quibus expletis usque ad plenum solis ortum orationibus vacet et psalmis, et tunc dicta prima sacrificium diurni operis inchoet, usque ad horam tertiam: in lectione et oratione usque ad sextam spiritum occupet. Post sextam sumpto cibo, pauset in lectulo suo usque ad nonam: et sic usque ad vesperam manibus operetur. Post vesperam vero orationibus vacet et psalmis, horam collationis ita temperans, ut ante solis occasum lectulus membra recipiat. Cavendum enim est omni tempore ne totam diei lucem nox, antequam dormitum eat, suis obducat tenebris, et dormire cogatur cum vigilare debet.
De institutione inclusarum (A Rule of Life for a Recluse) companion
A rule only lives if you keep it daily
Chosen Portion gives your new rule its anchor: one free devotional portion every day.
Aelred built his sister's day around fixed times of prayer and meditation; Chosen Portion supplies the fixed daily portion that makes a modern rule of life keepable.
- Anchor your rule with a fixed 10-minute daily portion
- Practice Aelred's threefold meditation with guided daily prompts
- Review and adjust your one-page rule after 30 days of tracked practice