St. Benedict: "To work is to pray" (?)

[Northbrook]

My question is about St. Benedict. Now, since St. Benedict died in AD 547, that means he lived BEFORE the Great Schism between Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism, so he IS considered an Orthodox saint. But what I would like to know is your opinions on something he said: TO WORK IS TO PRAY. Do you believe that to work is to pray? I need to know, because my aged Aunt Diana has worked all her life, but has told me she "is not religious" and has recently told my sister to tell me not to visit her in the nursing home unless I promise not to bring up religion. She is 96 years old and could die at any time. Can St. Benedict's dictum, "To work is to pray," save her?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I think that Jesus says to pray for everything you want. This doesn't mean you have to bring up religion if you visit her, just pray (not religiously) . (maybe don't 'promise' not to bring up religion, just in case you do)

 

[TuxAme]

No. This phrase of St. Benedict's is the "motto" of the Benedictines, who are self-sustaining. I visit one of their monasteries with some frequency. They are obviously engaged in fervent prayer, but they also have jobs that provide the monastery with an income. Many of the brothers are nurses, and some are teachers. This is how they live out their call to work and pray.

 

[ArmyMatt]

My question is about St. Benedict. Now, since St. Benedict died in AD 547, that means he lived BEFORE the Great Schism between Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism, so he IS considered an Orthodox saint. But what I would like to know is your opinions on something he said: TO WORK IS TO PRAY. Do you believe that to work is to pray? I need to know, because my aged Aunt Diana has worked all her life, but has told me she "is not religious" and has recently told my sister to tell me not to visit her in the nursing home unless I promise not to bring up religion. She is 96 years old and could die at any time. Can St. Benedict's dictum, "To work is to pray," save her?

can it save? no, only God can save. however, holy labor opens us up to accept God's salvation, even if we don't know it at the time

 

[zippy2006]

"Ora et labora." "Pray and work." For the Benedictines, the two create a balance. It's not that work is itself prayer, although Benedictines tried to bring a prayerful attitude to their work. Today the practice of prayerful work is seen more in the reform movements of the Benedictines, such as the Trappists and the Cistercians.

 

[Northbrook]

I don't believe that "To work is to pray." I don't believe that, because a person can work without thinking about God. Now, when I was a young person, and extremely lazy and selfish, I resisted all work *smile*. When I did actually do some work, I would suffer so, that I was convinced, to work is to pray! But I don't think that anymore.

 

[~Anastasia~]

It might be more accurate to say that work - done properly oriented to God - can be like prayer. Everything we do can be like that.

Wasn't it Fr. Alexander Schmemman that talked about the possibility of all of life being sacramental?

 

[ArmyMatt]

Wasn't it Fr. Alexander Schmemman that talked about the possibility of all of life being sacramental?

yep, he actually said that's the goal. even something as mundane as orange juice is sacramental.

 

[Chrétien de Troyes]

According to the book of Genesis, God created the human being so that he submits the earth. I personally believe that he refers to this passage when he says that "work is a prayer".

 

[Northbrook]

Chrétien de Troyes wrote:

>> According to the book of Genesis, God created the human being so that he submits the earth

Hi, Christian, this is Lambrini. I think, when you say "submits" above, you are referring to Bible verses like these two:

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over [emphasis mine] the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue [emphasis mine] it: and have dominion over [emphasis mine] the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Do you see, in Gen 1:26, 28 above, I have put "have dominion over" and "subdue" in italics? Is that what you meant when you typed "submit?"

 

[Northbrook]

Chrétien de Troyes wrote:

>> I personally believe that he refers to this passage when he says that "work is a prayer"

So, Christian, are you saying that when St. Benedict says "To work is to pray," he is referring to what God said in Genesis to Adam and Eve, namely, to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it?

 

[Chrétien de Troyes]

In french, we really use the term «soumettre»

Genesis 1:26-28
Traduction Œcuménique de la Bible, édition 2010 commentée
Dieu dit: «faisons l'homme à notre image, selon notre ressemblance, et qu'il soumette les poissons de la mer, les oiseaux du ciel, les bestiaux, toute la terre et toutes les petites bêtes qui remuent sur la Terre!
Dieu les bénit et Dieu leur dit: «Soyez féconds et prolifiques, remplissez la terre et dominez-la. Soumettez* les poissons de la mer, les oiseaux du ciel et toute bête qui remue sur la terre !

*Note: Psalm 9:2 , Psalm 8:7-9 , Wisdom 9:2 , 10:2 , James 3:7

 

[Chrétien de Troyes]

So, Christian, are you saying that when St. Benedict says "To work is to pray," he is referring to what God said in Genesis to Adam and Eve, namely, to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it?

Absolutely