Ora et Labora: September 7 - 13

Franciscan monastery in Killala, Ireland from the 16th century

Most people I know are way too busy. We are constantly going from texts to meetings, errands to appointments, social events to workouts, just trying to keep up with a never ending to-do list. It is rather exhausting.

St. Benedict came up with a solution to the challenges of life in the fifth century. Recognized as the father of Western monasticism, he wrote a rule of life that influenced society for the next thousand years. At the heart of the rule is Ora et Labora, or pray and work. Monastic life centered around an alternating cycle of prayer and work. Periods of individual reflection and communal prayer are followed by periods of manual labor and service. No matter how busy you were, when the bell rang in the morning, noon, evening, or night, you stopped and turned your attention to God.

As I mentioned last week, while living in religious community I cultivated the habit of honoring the hours of the day. While most of us will never become monks, we can all benefit from their example. A typical day for a monk is structured around communal prayer and silent work. Monks rise before dawn for morning prayer, which is followed by mass and breakfast. The day includes manual and intellectual work, spiritual reading, and further communal prayers at set intervals. Meals are taken in silence with table reading, and the day concludes with evening prayer, recreation, and nightly silence.

I encourage you to create your own daily rhythm where practices of quiet reflection, loving kindness, self-compassion, and gratitude are integrated throughout the day. Instead of working nonstop from 9:00 to 5:00, consider deliberately pausing throughout the day. Still attend to the demands of work and family, but be sure to schedule breaks to breathe, re-center, and settle within.

Practice

Last week I talked about developing a morning ritual, this week the focus is on stopping in the middle of the day. Think of it as an invitation for a daily siesta. Pause at noon to:

• Take a break and eat mindfully instead of eating lunch in front of a screen. Set the table, turn off the devices, and pay attention to the flavor of each forkful.

• Find an online meditation group, they come in all traditions and in all time zones. In my place of work, every Monday I facilitate a guided meditation at noon. This has become a great source of community and support.

• Take a 10 minute walk outside and allow the sun and wind to renew you. Paradoxically, taking time out for brief moments in nature makes the rest of the day more focused and enjoyable.

• Consider creating your own rule of life like St. Benedict. Here are two resources:

  • Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today by Joan Chittister

  • The Monk Within: Embracing a Sacred Way of Life by Beverly Lanzetta