PRAY
ORA: Praying according to the Rule of SAINT Benedict
A pillar of the monastic community is the common prayer of the hours (ora). In the liturgy chapters, the founder of the order, Benedict, gives precise instructions on how this is to proceed, when which psalms are to be sung, and with what inner attitude the brothers are to come to prayer. Thus, it is not a matter of speaking many pious words, but rather demands “purity of heart” (RB 20:3) and the right measure in prayer: “let prayer in community be short” (RB 20:5).
Not the voice, but the heart speaks
The silent prayer of each individual should also be cultivated. “If anyone wishes to pray silently by himself, let him simply enter and pray, not with a loud voice, but with the fervor of his heart” (RB 52:4). Benedict also emphasizes the importance of prayer in one of the so-called punishment chapters: “Nothing is to be preferred to the divine office” (RB 43:3). The monk must interrupt any work, no matter how important, when it is time for divine service.
Ora, labora et lege
In addition to communal prayer, silent individual prayer, and the celebration of Mass, Saint Benedict also mentions lectio divina as part of divine service. “Therefore, the brothers should occupy themselves at certain times with sacred reading” (RB 48:1), which means not only reading Holy Scripture and the texts of the Church Fathers, but also meditation and reflection on them.
This is the reason why many extend the short version of the monastic rule of Saint Benedict “ORA et LABORA” by “et LEGE”: Pray and work and read!