MONASTERY ENTERS THE ATOMIC AGE!

Sr. Denise Marie points out our new
ATOMIC CHOIR CLOCK

Yes! We have finally entered the ATOMIC AGE with our purchase of a La Crosse, Ltd. Radio-Controlled Analog Clock. According to its instructions, this clock receives radio transmissions from the Atomic Clock of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is maintained by a team of atomic physicists who continually measure every second of every day to an accuracy of ten billionths of a second per day. Pretty impressive, huh?

Clocks take on a particular importance in the monastery, with our scheduled hours of prayer keeping all of us aware (more or less) of the time. Unfortunately, for several years, our choir clock has kept imperfect time, either gaining or losing minutes, and leading to no little confusion and frustration. Now, all of that has changed, and every sister may confidently synchronize her wristwatch to "Atomic Choir Time" !

A closer view of the clock

Sr. Denise Marie and Sr. Mary Catharine experienced firsthand the clock's marvels last night when they put in the battery and, behold(!), the hands of the clock sprang into action to set the time. Then, this morning at her Rosary, Sr. Mary Catharine experienced yet another moment of awe when she noticed the minute hand on the clock spinning about in a momentary spasm of adjustment until it righted itself to the correct time. And, best of all, it will automatically adjust itself to Daylight Savings Time. All thanks to those radio waves from Boulder, Colorado! Still, we should report that a few of us unscientific types suspect that there may be little men (or women!) inside the clock who are responsible for maintaining it.