The priests, seminarians, and brothers rise at 5:30 each morning. The sacristan rings the bell and then knocks on each door, saying, “Benedicamus Domino.” This means “Let us bless the Lord.” Each seminarian responds, “Deo Gratias,” which means “Thanks be to God.”

At 6:00 a.m. the priests, seminarians, and brothers begin the day with the Angelus. This is followed by the chanting of Prime, which is a part of the Divine Office. The basic theme of Prime is the offering of the day’s labors to God.

Meditation, as St. Teresa of Avila explains, is “conversation with God.” After Prime, the priests, seminarians, and brothers meditate for half an hour by considering some event in the life of Our Lord, Our Lady, or one of the saints. At the end of each meditation, they resolve to imitate Our Lord more perfectly during that day. Meditation is an essential part of religious life and the source of many graces.

The center of the day is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The seminarians and brothers are privileged to serve several times a week at one of the seven seminary altars.

The seminarians and brothers are assigned daily tasks, such as helping to prepare the meals, keeping the seminary swept and clean, doing laundry, and working in the sacristy. These jobs play an important role in teaching them responsibility and diligence. All the members of the Congregation strive to imitate the Christ Child in His hidden life at Nazareth and in His public life of hardship and suffering. Whether they are teaching, cooking and cleaning, or traveling on the missions, the members strive to work with a generous, cheerful, and recollected spirit.

The seminarians and brothers devote a large portion of their day during the school year to academic studies. The clerical members must acquire proficiency in all the subjects necessary for the priesthood. Brothers study the principles of religious life, and the catechism. They learn various other subjects that will help them assist the priests in the works of the Congregation.

Before and after meals the members of the Congregation pray grace in Latin. During lunch and dinner one of the seminarians or brothers reads a passage from the New Testament and then some pages from a life of a saint.

Recreation, as our Constitutions explain, “contributes much to the health of mind and body and thus to an increase of God’s service.” Recreational activities at the seminary include various sports, such as basketball, baseball, hockey, and hiking, or certain indoor games.

The seminarians are carefully trained to make the most of their study periods, especially since they have heavy class schedules and very limited study time.

Every day the members read from some spiritual book for thirty minutes. Spiritual reading fills the mind with holy thoughts and provides matter for meditation

The first work of the members of the Congregation is to comfort the Sacred Heart of Jesus by making reparation for the ingratitude of men and by striving to satisfy His burning thirst to be honored in the Blessed Sacrament. This is fulfilled primarily by the daily Holy Hour and especially by the Holy Hour on Thursday night from eleven to midnight, which was requested by Our Lord of St. Margaret Mary.