Ora et labora

ST. BENEDICT of Nursia wrote a book titled ‘Rule of Saint Benedict’.

Spreading its message to the Western Christianity, it guides the monastic living in community. Researching further in the Internet, I dug up these details: “The spirit of St. Benedict's Rule is summed up in the motto of the Benedictine Confederation: pax ("peace") and the traditional ora et labora ("pray and work").

Compared to other precepts, the Rule provides a moderate path between individual zeal and formulaic institutionalism; because of this middle ground it has been widely popular. Benedict's concerns were the needs of monks in a community environment: namely, to establish due order, to foster an understanding of the relational nature of human beings, and to provide a spiritual father to support and strengthen the individual's ascetic effort and the spiritual growth that is required for the fulfillment of the human vocation, thesis.

The Rule of Saint Benedict has been used by Benedictines for fifteen centuries, and thus St. Benedict is sometimes regarded as the founder of Western monasticism. There is, however, no evidence to suggest that Benedict intended to found a religious order in the modern sense and it was not until the later Middle Ages that mention was made of an "Order of Saint Benedict". His Rule is written as a guide for individual, autonomous communities, and to this day all Benedictine Houses (and the Congregations in which they have grouped themselves) remain self-governing. The Rule enlightens the Benedictine Confederation and The Cistercian Orders of the Common and the Ancient Observance. “

Holy Family Academy

Celebrating the launching of an extraordinary book – the Holy Family.
Academy Centennial souvenir book, together with my fellow alumnae, we soar high on the wings of education.

Covering 100 years of Benedictine presence in the Philippines and, particularly, 90 years of benevolent administration in Angeles City, this book is our gift to our alma mater. Inspiring us is the Benedictine motto – Ora et Labora meaning “Pray and Work”.

Today, we present the 2,000-paged book to our beloved school. Kudos to Ms. Chuck T. Gueco, for being the guiding light in its completion. Our heartwarming gratitude to MS. INA T. ROMAN. She is the icon of excellent printing work. We salute you, INA.

We also offer the HFA Centennial Souvenir Book to our beloved maker as we say - To God be the glory!

--oo0oo--

Reach me at malutgueco@yahoo.com