In one sense, as the term is used in Church legislation, Norbertine canonesses are in fact nuns (moniales) and rejoice in this gift. Like other nuns, we profess solemn vows and live the cloistered contemplative life in a monastery with the obligation of praying the Divine Office in choir. But in another sense, from the point of view of our particular tradition, orientation, and vocation within the Church, there is an important distinction between nuns and canonesses, just as there is between monks and canons. The two ways of life may look very similar externally, but while the nun's life in the monastery is especially focused on prayer and sanctification within her own community, the vocation of the canoness is an essentially ecclesial and liturgical one. Canons and canonesses are given the special charge to dedicate themselves to the solemn and public celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, to this end offering themselves at solemn profession to a specific church in which they will be consecrated for divine worship. As cloistered canonesses regular, we see the monastic observances and the enclosure, which foster sanctity and purity of heart, especially as a means to enable us to more worthily celebrate the Sacred Liturgy. “Holiness is fitting to your house, O LORD, until the end of time.” (Ps. 93:5).