I now do many things more often and more regularly than ever before. For example, changing clothes. Before my clothing ceremony, I used to change from pajamas to day clothes in the morning and back again at night. Now, I put on my habit in the morning, then after breakfast, I change into my work apron. For midday prayer and lunch, I switch back to my habit, then after, it's the apron again for working in the garden. In the afternoon, I change for classes, and for the evening program (which includes Vespers, dinner, recreation, and Compline), I wear the habit again. Finally, at the end of the day, I change back into my pajamas. And every time I do it, I do it with devotion and joy. Honestly, I’ve never enjoyed changing clothes this much. Being able to wear these garments truly feels like something special.
Another thing I do more now than before is singing. Today, I probably sang more than ever before. Aside from what we regularly sing together during the Liturgy of the Hours, we had a singing lesson for the novitiate this morning. Then I had my first individual lesson in preparation for my upcoming choir duties, and in the evening, we had choir practice, which I’ll now be attending regularly. Slowly, I’m becoming more familiar with these black squares (the Gregorian chant notation), which seemed so foreign to me at first. And as beautiful as modern songs may be, I no longer want to give up choral singing. It has something mysterious and uplifting, something solemn and peaceful. It doesn’t take you “out of yourself” but rather draws you deeper within and opens the doors of the heart to God.:
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