Prayer & Work

As Benedictines, we commonly hear the phrase “Ora et Labora,” which translates to “Prayer and Work” in English.

Benedictines are called to prayer and manual labor. One is not better than the other, and St. Benedict calls us to balance between the two. Our work influences our prayer, and our prayer influences our work. We also have to work to sustain our community life, so we minister.

We would not be able to do our ministries if we didn’t take the time to pray the Liturgy of the Hours with the community, , which is the backbone of our lives. Just like being missed when we are not at work, we are also missed when we don’t attend prayer. We come together three times a day to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.

“Prayer is not for its own sake and the world of manual work in not a lesser world than chapel. We are all meant both to pray and work, each of them influencing and fulfilling the other.”