Daily prayer

The community at Holy Wisdom gathers for prayer five times most days. We begin and end our day with communal centering prayer. Also in the morning, midday and evening we gather for communal prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours. The heart of this monastic prayer is the sung and recited psalms.

In addition to psalms, the Liturgy of the Hours includes hymns, readings from scripture and other writings, and intercessory prayer for all those who have asked for our prayers. Woven throughout are times of silence, space for God’s presence to be experienced.

We invite you to join us for prayer, share your prayer requests with us and to read a variety of blog posts on prayer & worship at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Midday prayer is livestreamed (audio only) here.

Liturgy of the Hours schedule

Morning Prayer – Tues.-Sun. – 8:00 am
Midday Prayer – Tues.-Fri. – 11:45 am
Evening Prayer – Tues.-Sun. – 4:30 pm

Centering prayer ~ resting in God

Centering prayer is the practice of holding an open, invitational posture towards God. This practice is designed to withdraw our attention from the ordinary flow of thought and open our awareness to the spiritual level of our being.

Centering prayer is a prayer of intention, an intention to surrender ourselves to God’s presence and God’s healing or transforming purpose.

Read more about centering prayer.

Centering Prayer schedule

Morning – Tues.-Sat. – 7:35 am
Evening – Tues.-Fri. – 4:55 pm

For more information about prayer at the monastery, contact Bill Frederick at bfrederick@holywisdommonastery.org, 608-836-1631, x138.

Centering prayer groups

Two centering prayer groups meet on alternating Wednesdays. Both incorporate a short reading and time for silent prayer or meditation.

• 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 7:00-8:00 pm, RGH room 10: includes a short walking meditation in between periods of seated meditation
• 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 2:30-3:30 pm, MON oratory: two, 20-minute periods of seated meditation with a 5-minute break

Attendance varies from 4 to 14 and all are welcome in both groups. Participants share these affirmations for this opportunity of engaging in centering prayer with others:

We feel the presence of the Holy One even more strongly than when we center by ourselves. … Our prayer has less outward distractions for that hour than if we center at home. … Having the group supports us in our prayer life. 

For more information about centering prayer groups, contact Barb Abbott, 608-284-7424 (evening group) or Carole Kretschman, 608-233-7390 (afternoon group).