No, it's not a mistake. I really mean "ora EST labora"! This came to me this past week when I was given so many things to "read and pray over" between the class I am taking ("Theology and Practice of Prayer") and community stuff and the backlog of things I have lined up to "read and pray over" (for example, the Catechism, the new National Directory for Catechesis, the book from last year's symposium on religious life, von Speyr's book on Colossians, St. Ignatius' letters...). It can get really hard to fit in all that and still actually pray. And not neglect Scripture, either, let us remember.
But the real "labora" of it is that when things are "assigned" for reflection and prayer, then the prayer becomes subordinated to the other outcome (whatever the expected outcome is: "be prepared to share something on thus and so" or "bring the suggestions or decisions you have come to..."). That is what makes it less "ora" and more "labora" for me, and as someone who is very outcome oriented, the risk of turning prayer time into productive time (in the practical, here and now sense) is very real.
One of my many challenges!
1 comment:
Because of a lively dialouge within a group of soem 100 or so former priests and religious (former Mariansits), on the topic of "ora est labora," I presuemd to give that group a link to your excellent blog page on the topic. So you might see a spike in traffic today. The query arose because of the item in ZENIT news today in which a commentator made an effort to distinguish prayer from what the pope did in Turkey at the tomb of a Isalmic [sunni?] prophet/hero. I would glady post to our group your comment on that specific example. Thanks for sharing.
Don Wigal
donaldwigal@ix.netcom.com
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