A monastic life rooted in . . .

Spirituality and Prayer

Visitation Sisters are spiritually fed by the prolific writings of our Founders, St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church, and St. Jane de Chantal, our foundress, which give us guidance in our daily lives. Our Founders’ charism is called Salesian Spirituality. (Visit our Visitation blog.)

St. Francis de Sales’ Spiritual Directory refines the movements of our soul throughout our daily tasks and spiritual exercises. His Conferences address every human situation and demonstrate to us how to respond spiritually, as do the Conferences of St. Jane. We are blessed with a Gospel-based spirituality that fosters gentleness, humility, patience and simplicity which can also be appropriately shared with people of all vocational calls. Traditionally, it has been our experience that our community engenders a deeply consistent, prayerful environment in which every Sister’s first priority is prayer.

We gather to chant or recite the Liturgy of the Hours five times a day in choir. The daily communal celebration of the Eucharist centers our community life in Christ. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and praying the Rosary together nourishes our inner lives.

An annual Novena of Masses to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, open to the lay faithful and preached by a different priest each evening, is one way we share our special devotion. In the U.S. our community is also the Head of the Archconfraternity of the Guard of Honor. Each Sister lives out her own reverence to the Heart and virtues of Jesus, helping the community to become a sanctuary of His Heart.