'Pray and Work'

The Marians of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the renewal and reform of our Congregation led by Blessed George Matulaitis-Matulewicz. To mark the year of thanksgiving, which began Dec. 8, we offer you the following in a series of excerpts from Blessed George's Journal that he kept from 1910 to 1925.

Nov. 14, 1910

I am going to be careful not to neglect my work for prayer, nor to be lax in my prayer because of work. Ora et labora - Pray and work.

Unless constantly nourished by prayer, the soul wilts and withers. Our energy burns out, our spirit is dissipated, and our work turns incredibly sterile. On the other hand, let us not forget that we worship and serve God not only by praying, but also by working for His glory.

In our active life it is absolutely necessary to acquire the habit of living the interior life, of praying constantly. We must learn to keep close to Jesus in our heart, bringing ourselves and all we do into His presence.

It is important to get into the habit of devoting little intervals of free time to prayer; for example, as we pass from one task to another or even when we are out walking - continually turning our attention inward, away from the people we may be with and from the work we may be doing. Without constant prayer, without continually lifting up our minds to God, we will not persevere in the active life for very long.

But then again, work that is continually refreshed by prayer, sanctified by frequent short aspirations to God, lifts up our mind and heart to Him and is very effective in helping us reach perfection and a closer union with God.
SJBGC

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