Ora Et Labora

The phrase, "Ora et Labora" is often associated with the Rule of St Benedict (Regula Benedicti). It is a general sum of the Rule implying that, in Benedictine Monastic life, one should centre their life around prayer and balance that with "work". "Ora" is Latin for pray, and "Labora" is the Latin for "work". What many people do not actually realise is that the phrase itself does not appear in the Rule of St Benedict itself, but rather it came into use, it is said around the 18th or 19th Centuries.

As some of you who may know Latin know, one must be careful in the use of Latin as there are a number of words that are very similar and could completely change the interpretations in translations completely, even to mean a very different thing.  Some people have suggested that it could have been "Ora EST Labora" as opposed to the original version we are used to seeing, so in this translation, it would read "prayer=work", which may, to some pose a problem with what the Rule was saying, however, if you read the article below (On Prayer Requests…), you may find that either version will still work.