One of the customs coming from Mother Maddalena is something called “Blessing the Hour.” During work periods, when the clock strikes the quarter hour, and then again when it chimes the hour, we pause to recite certain prayers. Mother Maddalena wrote to thanks her brother and sister for sending her a clock for her new foundation in America: We have put your clock in place, and the first time it struck the hour—it was seven o’clock— we knelt down and said three Ave Maria's for your intention - for Decio’s too; and when we are working, we bless the hour, and there is always an intention for you. Are you glad, dearie?