Pray and work

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The motto ORA ET LABORA on the emblem of Billimoria High School in Panchgani, India Motto of Billimoria High School, Panchgani.jpg
The motto ORA ET LABORA on the emblem of Billimoria High School in Panchgani, India

The phrase pray and work (or 'pray and labor'; Latin: ora et labora) refers to the Catholic monastic practice of working and praying, generally associated with its use in the Rule of Saint Benedict. [1]

Contents

History

"Ora et labora" (pray and work) is the traditional motto of the Benedictines. Benedict ..."was renowned for handing on to his monks a balanced way of life – particularly with respect to contemplative prayer and active work, "ora et labora". He recognized the danger of letting one dominate, and the benefit of having both side-by-side." [2] St. Benedict's Rule prescribes periods of work for the monks for "Idleness is the enemy of the soul" (RB 48.1). [3] Benedict viewed prayer and work as partners, and believed in combining contemplation with action.

Some orders applied the concept directly to farm work and became an element in the movement towards land reclamation from rot and agricultural development in Western Europe. Other orders such as the Humiliati applied the concept to the production of woolen cloth using wheels in the period prior to the Industrial Revolution.

Present day examples

The phrase expresses the need to balance prayer and work in monastic settings and has been used in many religious communities from the Middle Ages onwards.

In addition to praying the Liturgy of the Hours, the Benedictine monks of St. Andrew Abbey teach at Benedictine High School and staff a retreat house. [4] Ora et Labora is a publication of Benedictine High School and St. Andrew Abbey. [5]

The Anglican sisters of the Community of St. Mary in Greenwich, New York pray the Divine Office five times each day and raise Cashmere goats for wool. [6]

Uses

In 1818, Dalhousie University was established in Nova Scotia, adopting the motto of Ora et Labora in 1870. This is also the motto of Clan Ramsay, of which the Earl of Dalhousie is the leader. [7]

In 1874, Wesley College, Colombo, a high school in Sri Lanka, was founded by Methodist missionaries. It has been using "Ora Et Labora" as the motto since its inception.

It is also the motto of Sacred Heart Anglo Indian Girls Higher Secondary School in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, India, which was founded in 1894 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny.

Ora et labora is the motto of Melbourne Grammar School in Australia.

It is also the current motto of St. Joseph's Institution, an independent school in Singapore.

It is also carved into the entry of The King's School Chapel, Parramatta, Australia.

It is also the motto of Infant Jesus Anglo Indian High School (IJHS), Tangasseri, Kollam, Kerala, India.

It is also the motto of the Chapel of St Olav in Sandefjord in Norway.

It is also the motto of the St. Michael's Secondary School in Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia.

See also

Notes

  1. Anselm Grün, Linda M. Maloney (2006). Benedict of Nursia 2006 ISBN   0-8146-2910-5 page 30
  2. Reese O.P., Philip Neri. "Ora/Labora", Dominicana, July 11, 2014
  3. "Ora and Labora" The Monastery of Christ in the Desert
  4. "Our Work", St. Andrew Abbey, Cleveland, Ohio
  5. Ora et Labora, Benedictine
  6. "Ora et Labora", St. Mary's on-the-Hill, Greenwich, NY
  7. Waite, P. (1997). Lives of Dalhousie University: 1925–1980, The Old College Transformed. McGill-Queen's Press. ISBN   0-7735-1644-1. page 98.

Bibliography

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