Saints and Scripture Ora et Labora

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." --Colossians 3:23,24

Ora et Labora in today's world.

St Benedict in the rule he wrote for his monks over 1,000 years ago, (It is still used by religious orders to this day) emphasize "ora et labora"; in English "prayer and work". He understood that work can be prayer and he exhorted his monks, as do many abbots today, to make their work into prayer. Its often joked amongst Benedictines and Trappists that the motto of St Benedict is "Ora et labora and some mora labora". The daily prayers of the monks are even described as "opus Dei" or the work of God.
Talents were originally a coin. We have taken that word and used it as a metaphor for those abilities and other blessings from the Lord. Clearly from the Parable of the Talents and the passage above we are to invest these talents in such a way to glorify the Lord God.

Please stop in to the host of Saints and Scripture, The Kennedy Adventure
h/t to Andrew Cusack for the photo

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Adopt A Catholic Blog

I was reading Rachel's post about how the Devil used fear in Thomas Merton's life and I remember another great passage from Seven Storey Mountain appropriate for the 4th of July.

The eloquence of this liturgy was even more tremendous: and what it said was one, simple, cogent, tremendous truth: this church, the court of the Queen of Heaven, is the real capital of the country in which we are living. This is the center of all the vitality that is in America. This is the cause and reason why the nation is holding together. These men, hidden in the anonymity of their choir and their white cowls, are doing for their land what no army, no congress, no president could ever do as such: they are winning for it the grace and the protection and the friendship of God.

Catholic Jokes

From Fisheaters
A Jesuit, a Dominican, and a Trappist were marooned on a desert island. They found a magic lamp, and after some discussion decided to rub it. Lo and behold, a genie appeared and offered them three wishes. They decided it was only fair that they could each have one wish. The Jesuit said he wanted to teach at the world's most famous university, and poof, he was gone! The Dominican wished to preach in the world's largest church, and poof, he was gone! Then the Trappist said, "Gee, I already got my wish!"

****

A little boy became anxious in church during an especially long homily. After a time, he spotted the red candle by the tabernacle. He turned to his dad and asked, "When the light turns green can we go home."

Saint Ignatius of Loyola

I was reading on Jimmy Akin's site and a post caught my attention.
Today (July 31) is the feast day of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. I only know just a few things about him. He was a soldier. Hoo-ah! He was wounded in battle against the enemies of Spain (the French I think). While laid up from this wound he experienced a profound conversion. He founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
Ignatian spirituality is solid, hardcore stuff, Catholicism at its best. Unfortunately, Jesuits more often than not have a reputation for being just the opposite. I'm sure that's not (entirely) deserved.
Even orders like the Benedictines, who have a good rep, have members with off the wall theology and ideas. For instance, I once prayed the Liturgy of the Hours with a community of Benedictine women. They started the Lord's Prayer: "Our Mother/Our Father who art in heaven..." NO FOOLIN'!
Back to Jimmy's Post...
The post was about today being Saint Ignatius's feast day and the Jesuits have a site where they are gonna have an Internet video series about Ignatian spirituality. The site is www.companionofjesus.com
I look forward to seeing the videos.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

order of the week

This week is the Society of the Divine Word (Societas Verbi Divinus, aka SVD). SVD is an order founded in Germany during the Bismark era. It survived and even grew despite the Kulturkampf. It is now spread throughout the world and is dedicated to preaching the Gospel to the world.

Another week, another order

This week: The Clerics of Saint Viator

It is clerical order in countries around the world dedicated to catechism, education and evangelization.

Order of the week II

This weeks order is the Oblates of St Joseph. The order was founded by St Joseph Marello. Their charism is mostly mission work (priests to areas lacking and foreign missions) and catechism.

order of the week

Ok, so I am going to try something new and see how long I can keep it up before I start spacing it. I am going to have small posts about a different religious order each week.
This week is the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit. This order was founded in Mexico by a priest, Fr. Felix Rougier, based on the mystical visions and insight of their co-foundress Conchita (I can't remember her given name). Christ the Priest Province is their US province. So far, their presence in the US is only on the west coast.