The Benedictines have a saying
“ora et labora” (pray and work). How is doing work a holy activity?
The story of Martha and Mary often gives us the impression that doing work is
bad. How does this reflection help shed light on that?
When can work (and even prayer) become unhelpful for our spiritual lives?
How can we sanctify our work so it does not just become “something we
do”?
From the example given above, how can we keep up our prayer life if we are
constantly being interrupted?
Feb 2, 2:30 PM
VisitationSiste: Sun chat 730pm feb 2 eastern standard time
Feb 2, 7:21 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): hello viewers
Feb 2, 7:28 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Happy Feast of the Presentation and Consecrated Life Day
Feb 2, 7:33 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Sign in if you’d like to begin the chat
Feb 2, 7:34 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Hi Brian!
Feb 2, 7:35 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): I’m glad to be back- I missed a few weeks
Feb 2, 7:35 PM
Brian (Guest): Hi Sister Susan ! God Bless You !
Feb 2, 7:35 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Did your parish mention Consecrated Life today?
Feb 2, 7:36 PM
Brian (Guest): I visited the Dominican Monastery this morning and yes they did !
Feb 2, 7:37 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Wonderful that you could get to a Monastery
Feb 2, 7:37 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): Hi, Mother and Brain
Feb 2, 7:38 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Hello Sr Jennifer
Feb 2, 7:38 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): Brian
Feb 2, 7:39 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): I think the phrase “pray and work” is not limited to Benedictines. Hopefully we all have a balance of this in our lives
Feb 2, 7:39 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): And anything we do for God’s glory brings a kernal of holiness, or even greater than a kernal!
Feb 2, 7:40 PM
Brian (Guest): Such a privilege too be able too share Mass with the Sisters !!! Mighty Prayer Warriors and their singing and the readings it’s like being in Heaven !!!
Feb 2, 7:40 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): But people often complain about “work”
Feb 2, 7:42 PM
Brian (Guest): Hi Sister Jennifer ! God Bless You !
Feb 2, 7:42 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): “ora et labora” is part of the Rule of St Benedict
Feb 2, 7:42 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): God bless you too
Feb 2, 7:42 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): How do they live it?
Feb 2, 7:44 PM
Brian (Guest): Our work gives us such a Great Opportunity to Serve God and Others and too build relationships with people in the community !
Feb 2, 7:45 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): Benedict viewed prayer and work as partners, and believed in combining contemplation with action. 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.
Feb 2, 7:46 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): It can be expanded to lay life too?
Feb 2, 7:47 PM
Brian (Guest): Sometimes the trials and tribulations we go through at our jobs are the Greatest encouragement to others to seek God ! When we walk through trials with Jesus people see the difference ! This is what helped me when I was lost !
Feb 2, 7:48 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): The danger in spiritual life is overwork and not putting prayer first.
Feb 2, 7:50 PM
Brian (Guest): I have been blessed too be able too attend daily Mass before work . Two Churches nearby share early morning Mass . About 50 people attend . Best way too start Day with God !!!
Feb 2, 7:50 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): That is agreat blessing and commitment too
Feb 2, 7:51 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): According to St James, prayers without work is dead.
Feb 2, 7:51 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): have you found that in your own experience too?
Feb 2, 7:51 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): Yes, Brian. That’s the best way to start your day
Feb 2, 7:53 PM
Brian (Guest): Soo True Sister , life can get too busy and it chokes our Spiritual Life ! Somebody said you can be too busy doing the Lords work to do the Lords work ! Breaks are also important !
Feb 2, 7:54 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): One can get burn out
Feb 2, 7:55 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): Hi viewers
Feb 2, 7:56 PM
Brian (Guest): Yes Sister Jennifer !!! Soo many people are getting burned out !
Feb 2, 7:56 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): In that sense work would be harming our spiritual life
Feb 2, 7:56 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): A retreat might be good
Feb 2, 7:56 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): The point I guess is to make our work a part of our spiritual life
Feb 2, 7:56 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Yes a retreat is a great idea too!
Feb 2, 7:56 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): Over work could be harmful
Feb 2, 7:57 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): How to make work part of one’s spiritual life
Feb 2, 7:57 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): I believe our intention in our work can keep us focused- doing all for God
Feb 2, 7:57 PM
Carol Ann: hi everyone!
Feb 2, 7:58 PM
Brian (Guest): Sunday used too be a day of rest and time for Family too be together . It’s becoming the busiest day of the week for Soo many !
Feb 2, 7:58 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Hi Carol Anne!
Feb 2, 7:58 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): Hi Carol Anne
Feb 2, 7:58 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Yes Sunday’s are sports days, work days, shopping, anything but rest and worship
Feb 2, 7:59 PM
Brian (Guest): Amen Sister Susan !
Feb 2, 7:59 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Doing all “with Jesus” can sanctify our work
Feb 2, 7:59 PM
Carol Ann: Thats true, Brian. I am shocked by children’s sports leagues that schedule tournaments and things on Sunday mornings
Feb 2, 8:00 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): and on Sunday do not feel guilty if you “waste time” with God- with Him- nothing is wasted!
Feb 2, 8:00 PM
Brian (Guest): Amen Sister Susan !
Feb 2, 8:00 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Yes and kids don’t go to church- and I understand even parishes have scheduled stuff on Sun- I was shocked too!
Feb 2, 8:01 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): how can we keep up our prayer life if we are constantly being interrupted?
Feb 2, 8:02 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): We were told one “leaves God”9 in prayer FOR God (in the person interrupting you
Feb 2, 8:02 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): That helps put it in perspective
Feb 2, 8:02 PM
Brian (Guest): Hi Carol Ann ! Yes it’s soo true how they are scheduling soo much on Sunday !
Feb 2, 8:02 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Is that true in your parishes?
Feb 2, 8:03 PM
Carol Ann: We have had things like educational workshops or concerts on Sunday, but not until late afternoon
Feb 2, 8:04 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): Internet is another form of interruption
Feb 2, 8:04 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Cultural improvement is part of a possible “Sunday rest”- at least the concert
Feb 2, 8:05 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Very true S Jennifer!
Feb 2, 8:05 PM
Brian (Guest): Our jobs give us such an opportunity too share Jesus through our actions at work ! Real missionary work no matter what the job is !
Feb 2, 8:06 PM
Carol Ann: For me my job is very difficult as I visit people in their homes during the day and complete the paperwork when I get home, however late that might be
Feb 2, 8:09 PM
Brian (Guest): People see Gods Love in your service too others Carol Ann . This is a very hypervigilant world . People know when you truly have Christ in your Life !
Feb 2, 8:09 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): The meeting with the people is a good opportunity to practice virtues
Feb 2, 8:09 PM
Carol Ann: Like patience
Feb 2, 8:10 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): especially I would imagine- with all that paperwork
Feb 2, 8:10 PM
Carol Ann: Thats the worst part. Things can be rejected for the tiniest of flaws and then you have to start over
Feb 2, 8:12 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): How do you fit this in with your formation? or have you finished formation now?
Feb 2, 8:13 PM
Brian (Guest): Soo difficult Carol Ann ! It is a Cross that is soo difficult too carry sometimes . Things they do don’t make sense but we persevere and Trust God no matter what we have too do !
Feb 2, 8:14 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): We need always to remain pointed to Christ- even while we suffer
Feb 2, 8:14 PM
Brian (Guest): Remember you are helping God to win souls for Christ in all we do !
Feb 2, 8:14 PM
Carol Ann: I am in the temporary profession phase and am studying more. I have one book for formation, one for the cell group, and an online course our founder is teaching. I just finished my licensing courses for the year for my job. Thank goodness. There are just not enough hours in my day
Feb 2, 8:15 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Do you still write?
Feb 2, 8:15 PM
Carol Ann: Yes, but not as much
Feb 2, 8:16 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Sounds interesting- the online course-
Feb 2, 8:16 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): I am so glad you found this community!
Feb 2, 8:17 PM
Brian (Guest): We will pray for you Carol Ann !!!
Feb 2, 8:18 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): and turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus- many graces- especially this year
Feb 2, 8:18 PM
Brian (Guest): Amen Sister Susan !!!
Feb 2, 8:18 PM
Carol Ann: It is inner-room-school.org. Please pray for me as I often find myself very tired
Feb 2, 8:19 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Reading all you have to do- I can see why. Yes I pray for you.
Feb 2, 8:19 PM
Carol Ann: Or it might be easier to find as John Michael Talbot school of Spirituslity
Feb 2, 8:21 PM
Brian (Guest): You are an inspiration too many people Carol Ann ! I will pray for you ! God will strengthen and guide you through every storm ! You are in Jesus’s Ship Forever !!!
Feb 2, 8:22 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Thank you! Would you recommend for anyone in formation- or for your spirituality only?
Feb 2, 8:22 PM
Carol Ann: Thank you Brian. It is hard to think of myself that way!
Feb 2, 8:23 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Yes- you are dedicated- and you too Brian!
Feb 2, 8:24 PM
Brian (Guest): There are soo many who live on the fence Carol Ann ! You are helping them to get off the fence and take next step towards God !
Feb 2, 8:24 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Gratitude always for these graces!
Feb 2, 8:24 PM
Carol Ann: Sometimes they don’t know it. But sometimes they see my cross and start to talk
Feb 2, 8:25 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Witnessing!
Feb 2, 8:26 PM
Brian (Guest): You will never see the entire impact you are having on others in this life but God will show you in Heaven all the people you have encouraged !!!
Feb 2, 8:26 PM
Carol Ann: I can listen to their hurts and invite them back to Church. I rarely get to know how it all turns out
Feb 2, 8:27 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): God’s Hands holds all.
Feb 2, 8:27 PM
Sister Susan Marie (Moderator): Thank you all for being here tonight! Rest and pray! Blessings!
Feb 2, 8:28 PM
Carol Ann: God bless you Sisters! And Brian too!
Feb 2, 8:28 PM
Brian (Guest): Keep Planting those seeds Carol Ann ! God just wants us to do the part he is calling us to do !
Feb 2, 8:30 PM
Brian (Guest): Thank You Sisters and Carol Ann for Your Service to God and Others !!! Keep Shining for Jesus !!! God Bless You All !!!
Feb 2, 8:30 PM
Sr Jennifer (Guest): Good night Brian and Carol