Macrina Wiederkehr - Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day

Time is money, and money is scarce. All who are driven by this double misconception get squeezed into a frantic rat race. Macrina Wiederkehr shows you a way out: the ancient art of returning again and again to the great Now that is beyond time. Speaking from experienceher own and that of centuries of Benedictine lifeshe can lead you out of the time trap into a joy no money can buy.

David Steindl-Rast, O.S.B.

Author of The Music of Silence

This terrific book brings the ancient prayer of the Church into modern focus as the author invites the readers to mark the moments of the day with prayer. She offers inspiration galore to feed the soul in simple, yet profound everydayhourlyways.

Religion Teachers Journal

... [A] wonderful resource for those who routinely pray the hours, whether communally or privately. It offers an effective antidote to the monotony and distraction that can imperceptibly drain daily prayer of life and meaning. Reading this book, one will awaken to the deeper symbolic dimensions of each hour and thereby be able to redirect ones energy towards a fuller, faith-filled, cosmic participation.

Cistercian Studies Quarterly

This inspiring devotional resource will serve as a catalyst to spur your own practice of being present and paying attention to the sacred rhythms of the day.

Spirituality & Practice

A mini-retreat for the soul, this book will inspire, challenge, and delight its readers.

Spirit & Life

Seven Sacred Pauses is an invitation into the wisdom, archetypal images, and unique mood of each of the traditional seven hours. Each hour offers a unique and intimate conversation with God.

St. Placid Priory

macrina wiederkehr

Author of A Tree Full of Angels

SORIN BOOKS Notre Dame, Indiana

Copyright acknowledgements

Every effort has been made to properly acknowledge all copyrighted material used in this book. The Publisher regrets any oversights and will correct any errors in future printings.

All prayers not attributed to an author are the work of Macrina Wiederkehr and are protected under the copyright of this work.

Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1993 and 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Heron, copyright 1958 by John Ciardi from I marry you; a sheaf of love Poems. Used by permission of the Ciardi Family Trust.

Rise Early is from Circle of Life, copyright 2005 by Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr. Used by permission of Sorin Books, P.O. Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556. All rights reserved.

Keeping Watch is from I Heard God Laughing, by Hafiz, copyright 1996 and 2002 by Daniel Ladinsky and used with his permission.

The chants by Velma Fry are reprinted with her permission from the CD, Seven Sacred Pauses: Singing Mindfully Dawn Through Day. All rights reserved.

The Visit is used by permission of Patricia Lunetta. All rights reserved.

Incorrigible Exuberance Shared is used by permission of Lee Self. All rights reserved.

A thousand colors is your Face originally appeared in Seasons of Your Heart as part of A Vespers Sunset Prayer.

Copyright 1991 by Macrina Wiederkehr. Used by permission of HarperCollins Publishing. All rights reserved.

Let Evening Come Upon Us is used by permission of Judith Brower, O.S.B. All rights reserved.

Love Made Visible and O Impermanence! are used by permission of Beth Fritsch. All rights reserved.

Illumination Please and The Old One are used by permission of Karen Ewan. All rights reserved.

Night Rain is excerpted from Weaving the Wind, copyright 2006 by Antoinette Vote Roeder and used by permission of Apocryphile Press, Berkeley, CA.

__________________________

2008 by Macrina Wiederkehr

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews, without written permission from Sorin Books, P.O. Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 465560428.

www.sorinbooks.com

Hardcover ISBN-10 1-933495-10-3 ISBN-13 978-1-933495-10-1

Paperback ISBN-10 1-933495-24-3 ISBN-13 978-1-933495-24-8

eBook ISBN-10 1-933495-45-6 ISBN-13 978-1-933495-45-3

Cover and text design by John Carson.

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wiederkehr, Macrina.

Seven sacred pauses : living mindfully through the hours of the day / Macrina Wiederkehr ; foreword by Paula DArcy.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (pp. 195203)

ISBN-13: 978-1-933495-10-1

ISBN-10: 1-933495-10-3

1. Prayers. 2. Prayer books. 3. Meditations. 4. Divine office. 5. Devotional literature. I. Title.

BV245.W483 2008

242--dc22

2007048756

For Sister Norbert Hoelting, O.S.B.,
cherished mentor, woman of wisdom,
original inspiration for my monastic journey.

Gratitude is the hearts memory, an old proverb acknowledges. As this book comes to print, I am aware how true these words are. Here you will find a list of my hearts memories.

Velma Frye, for her gift of music and her willingness to collaborate with me on these seven sacred pauses through the creation of a companion CD. My hearts memories include our retreat at Dog Island in Florida where we met for several days, along with Mary Beth McBride, to honor the hours through prayerful reflection.

Ron and Tami Danielak, Paula DArcy, Mary Dowe, Julie Palmer, Rosann Vaughn, Rosanne Wood, the Sisters of the Cenacle Retreat House in Houston, and the Sisters of Hesychia House of Prayer in Arkansas, who provided me with the sacred space and solitude that is so essential for the creative process.

My monastic community of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, Arkansas, who lovingly tolerates my creative distractions and varying moods as we prayerfully move through the hours together. You are central to my hearts memories.

My readers and retreatants who in so many ways continue to stir up my creative spirit as they encircle me with their support and encouragement.

Kaye Bernard, Margaret Burns, Elise Forst, Karen Hahn, John King, Elaine Magruder, Jay McDaniel, Annabelle Clinton Imber, Becky Oates, Heather Roques, Joyce Rupp, Magdalen Stanton, Christie Stephens, and Bernice Grabber Tintis, who read parts of my manuscript and offered me valuable suggestions, observations, and support.

Sr. Ginger deGravelle, Sr. Mary Dennison, Karen Ewan, Beth Fritsch, Velma Frye, and Joanne Simsick, who have been exceptionally significant in the shaping of this book.

And of course, my hearts memories include the wonderful people at Ave Maria and Sorin Books who have portrayed such enthusiasm during the process of creating Seven Sacred Pauses: for my editor Bob Hammas dedication and guidance, publisher Tom Gradys openness to this project, publicist Keri Suarez and all those in marketing, especially Mary Andrews and Julie Cinninger. To all who work behind the scenes, I am grateful for you.