In the last issue of The Observer (July 8), we published an article, photos and messages of congratulations celebrating the Poor Clare nuns.

The cloistered sisters have been present in the Rockford Diocese now for 100 years. For those who enjoy the numbers, that’s about 36,525 days of prayer. However, if you count the many times in each of those days that the good sisters stop to focus on prayer, it would add up to a century filled with more than 250,000 conversations with God in one little corner of the world located on South Main Street in Rockford.

And the remarkable part about those years and days filled with prayer and petition is that most people don’t even know it.

As most of us are either fast asleep after a day’s work or activity, the Poor Clares are waking up to begin the first prayers of the day at 12:30 a.m. with the Office of Readings and meditation. And before most of us wake up for the day, the nuns are at it again with morning prayer and meditation followed by the rosary and the celebration of Mass. While we all trek off to work or school, the Poor Clares have the Abbess’ blessing and morning prayer at 9:30 a.m. Midday prayer begins at 11:45 a.m. followed by the Angelus and Examen. Mid-afternoon prayer begins at 2 p.m. and then at 4:30 p.m. the nuns gather for evening prayer and scripture reading. At 5:30 the Angelus is repeated. Night prayers are at 7:30 p.m.

The good nuns then retire at 9 p.m. to prepare their souls to do it all again.

Now of course, in between prayer, the nuns take part in meals, work, recreation and some free time which I have no doubt, is done in an atmosphere of joy and more prayer. (If you want to see the schedule for yourself and read more about the life in the cloister you can visit cloisteredlife.com.)

Personally, I like knowing the routine that takes place behind the walls. When the day gets hectic and I am wishing there were just a few more minutes to get something done, I find great comfort in knowing that somewhere someone is taking the time to pray. When I fall asleep before my prayers are finished I know that someone has said yes to God and dedicated her life to picking up the slack for me.

Think about it … our world goes through a lot of turmoil every day. Somewhere in the world each and every day there is armed violence coupled with ongoing tension and hatred. Somewhere there are people of all ages suffering from illness, neglect and hunger. Somewhere someone is agonizing over a decision to do what’s right or to find their way, while still others choose an immoral path and turn their backs on God and their neighbors for personal gain.

And all the while this goes on day in and day out, the Poor Clares, and all those who faithfully live out their cloistered vocation, are busy taking the world under their prayerful wings and asking God to lend His merciful hand to all those in need. As messed up as we think the world is at times, I shudder to think what our global landscape would be without this concentrated schedule of prayer.

So this is why the Poor Clares deserve some thanks. But most importantly, they too can use our prayers. While it was nice to run some photos, publish some congratulatory ads and messages, I would like to ask that our thanksgiving for the Poor Clares not be a century in the making.

Here’s some homework for all of us who benefit from all the prayers said in the wee dark hours while we are sleeping: add the Poor Clares to your daily prayer list. Visit cloisteredlife.com and pray for them in the hours when they work and rest. And if you really want to offer up a little thanks to God, join the sisters for Mass once in a while. Whatever you decide to do, just remember to pause and give thanks for those who pray for us.