Ora et labora

Book Description

Throughout the centuries, Christian spirituality has been expressed through profound concepts like devotion, meditation, contemplation, and the imitation of Christ. Yet in our contemporary world, spirituality has become an expansive term encompassing everything from mysticism and New Age practices to wellness sessions and ritual workshops.

"Ora et labora" bridges this gap by presenting twelve remarkable individuals from the fourteenth through twentieth centuries who embodied authentic Christian spiritual practice in their daily lives. Author Jacobus van Amersfoort introduces readers to a diverse collection of men and women whose spiritual journeys demonstrate the rich variety of ways Christian devotion can manifest in real-world circumstances.

Rather than offering abstract theological concepts, this collection reveals how genuine spiritual life unfolds through the experiences of actual practitioners across different historical periods. Each profile illuminates a unique approach to Christian spirituality, showing how devotion, contemplation, and Christ-centered living took shape in the lives of these dedicated individuals.

For readers seeking to understand the depth and diversity of Christian spiritual tradition, this work provides concrete examples of how faith transforms ordinary lives into extraordinary testimonies of devotion. The book serves as both historical documentation and practical inspiration for those exploring their own spiritual path within the Christian tradition.

Through these twelve portraits, readers discover that authentic spirituality transcends trends and fads, rooted instead in timeless practices of prayer, work, and faithful living.