Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore S.R.L

We Benedictines of S. Maria di Monte Oliveto follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, summed up succinctly in the famous traditional motto "Ora et Labora". The Abbey was founded in 1319 and, as historical sources attest, the monks immediately dedicated themselves to agricultural activity, in particular to the cultivation of vines, olive trees, saffron and cereals. Our day passes with a wise distribution of time between Opus Dei (choral prayer), Lectio Divina (confronting the word of God) and Labora or manual work. These are the three great cornerstones of Benedictine monastic life. Suitably alternating work and prayer are, for Saint Benedict, a help to man of all times to recognize himself as a creature who cooperates with the creative action of God in a harmonious and sustainable balance because it respects man and creation whose meaning last, for both man and created, originates and leads to Him "who moves the sun and the other stars".