We conclude this first part of the series on Formation Questions and Answers , with St. Jane’s teachings on the prayer life of a Visitation Sister.
Often when a candidate is considering a monastic vocation, friends and family will inquire, “but what do you do all day in a Monastery?” Sometimes one will try to “justify “the life by expounding on other elements of the vocation, claiming we don’t pray all day. But actually, according to St Jane, we should! even as we engage in all the other many duties of the monastic life. How is that possible? St. Jane de Chantal explains in her response to a Sister’s question:
A Visitandine asked: Can you say something to us about prayer?
St. Jane replied: What will you have me say to you 
about prayer? The true and good preparation for performing it well, is to mortify oneself, and to keep oneself very recollected in Our Lord all day long.
I think simplicity is altogether requisite for this exercise. He who walks simply, walks securely. We must therefore seek God in the simplicity of our hearts, by a pure intention, and familiar conversation with His Divine goodness, accompanied by a great and holy reverence.
For I must now say simply what I had withheld for good reasons, but what the necessity of souls constrains me now to say frankly; it is, that the more I go on, the more I clearly recognize that our Lord leads nearly all the Daughters of the Visitation to the prayer of simple unity, and simple abiding in the presence of God, by an entire abandonment of themselves to His holy will, and to the care of Divine Providence.
Our Blessed Father (St Francis de Sales) used to call it the prayer of simple surrender to God; which he said was very holy and salutary, and that it contained all that could be desired for serving God. For St Francis de Sales used to say, that while others are eating various meats at the table of the Savior, we may repose our souls and all our affections, by a simple confidence on His loving breast.
To go to God and to attain to Him, we must leave ourselves to the guidance of His Spirit. What He chooses is always the best for us.
Therefore a distinguishing mark of a Visitation nun is the form of prayer that she may eventually, if not from the first day, be called to: that prayer of simple surrender to God, that repose on the Lord. All day long, that is possible, when the Holy Spirit brings us to it. So yes, we do pray all day!
(Excerpted from Answers of Our Holy Mother Jane Frances Fremiot, pages 397-403)