Ora et Labora

We’ve heard the motto of monks, which is ‘Ora et Labora,’ To pray is to work. And of course it works also the other way round, to work is to pray. With the consistent hard work,  look what the monks from various monasteries were able to invent. Dom Perignon was able to transform wine into champagne, and they named one of the brands for him. Monks also invented clocks, as the mechanical clock was devised in a monastery, so that their bells will ring whenever there is a call for prayer, or for lunch, and specific times of prayer. They were also able to invent distilled Alcohol.  They were able to mix spices and alcohol to create medicine and liqueurs for the sick monks. As time went by, many of them became well known drinks. The Pretzel was also invented in a monastery as one of the monks wanted to give a gift to the children, and so he created the pretzel in the shape of praying hands, and encouraged children to always pray and go to church. When children crossed their arms on their chest, the idea of the pretzel was created. The pretzel is a symbol of nourishment for the body and the soul.