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I have found the model of medieval abbesses (the women who ran early Christian monasteries) to be instructive and comforting. For example, Hildegard of Bingen is as famous for her creative pursuits as she is for the religious orders she founded. She was an inexhaustible musical composer, with one of the largest collections of music compositions of any medieval composer, male or female. She is also famous for both her theological and scientific writing.
How did she accomplish so much while also running an abbey? We can find answers in the structure of monastic life. Monastics stop at specified periods of the day to pray.
We may think we live chaotic lives, but there is an order to them, and we can use that order to call us to prayer. As I sign letters to be mailed to students, I offer a prayer. When students head to class, I pray silently that everyone has a productive time. When I get home, I pray as I cook dinner. I try to start each day with prayer. My day goes more smoothly when I ask God to help and guide me.
This message is excerpted from “Praying with medieval mystics” by Kristin Berkey-Abbott in the November 2018 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen, 1179.