Fifteen years ago I went on a retreat at Worth Abbey. I found there a spirituality that was unlike anything I had experienced before. I found silence and a unique sense of peace.
Since then I have visited many other monasteries and at each one I have found that same sense of stillness. When I returned home, however, that peace could soon be crowded out by the busyness of life, so I began to look for opportunities to bring monastic spiritual practices into my everyday. The results of that search is the Ora et Labora liturgical journal.
Explore some of the features below.
Holy Days
The Ora et Labora journal follows the general usage of the Church of England, providing a thoughtful and practical way to keep track of the key holy days and seasons throughout the Christian year. All of the principal holy days are presented in a clear, easy-to-read monthly overview format, allowing you to see the month ahead at a glance and quickly identify important dates.
These simple overview pages are perfect for those who wish to become more familiar with the pattern and observances of the Church year.
Monthly Overviews
Alongside the monthly listing of holy days, the Ora et Labora journal also includes dedicated monthly overview pages. Each monthly overview includes key liturgical dates and observances, helping you to follow the rhythm of the Anglican year whilst also planning ahead.
There is also generous space for you to add your own important dates and personal occasions, whether that be birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, family gatherings, or other special events.
Rule of Life
The Ora et Labora journal also includes a step-by-step guide to help you create your own personal Rule of Life. Rooted in the Benedictine tradition of Ora et Labora — this section invites you to consider how your prayer and work can be woven together into a sustainable pattern of Christian living.
Through a series of thoughtful questions, prompts, and reflections, the guide encourages you to pause and consider what matters most to you, where you would like to grow, and how you might create rhythms and practices that support your life of faith. Dedicated journaling space gives you room to reflect, explore your ideas, and gradually shape your own Rule of Life.
The Examen
At the end of each week, the journal provides a dedicated opportunity to step back and reflect more broadly on the different areas of your life using the prayer examen.
These reflections invite you to consider your spiritual, physical, and mental health, as well as your relationships, work, and home life. To help you make the most of these moments, the journal also includes a clear, step-by-step guide to praying the Prayer of Examen.
Whether this practice is new to you or already part of your prayer life, the guide provides a gentle framework for slowing down, paying attention, and reflecting honestly in the presence of God.
Seasonal Introductions
At the beginning of each liturgical season, the journal includes a thoughtful introduction to help you understand the significance and character of the season within the life of the Church.
Each seasonal introduction also includes a QR code, giving you easy access to further resources to accompany you through the season. These include additional materials for prayer and reflection, as well as carefully selected seasonal playlists to help create space for contemplation and worship in your home.
Daily Pages
Each daily page brings together Scripture, prayer, and reflection in one simple and intentional space. The daily readings from the Revised Common Lectionary are included, providing a regular pattern of engagement with Scripture and helping you to remain connected to the wider rhythm of the Church as you move through the liturgical year.
Alongside the readings, there is dedicated space for journaling, giving you the freedom to record thoughts, prayers, questions, insights, or anything else that you would like to bring before God. Each day also includes an end-of-day Examen prompt, offering an opportunity to pause and look back over the day in the presence of God.
Two beautiful editions
• One page for every day of the liturgical year
29th Nov 2026 – 27th Nov 2027
• Daily and weekly examen prompts
• The daily readings from the ‘Revised Common Lectionary’
• A guide to help you compose your own ‘Rule of Life’
• Monthly overview pages including Saints and Holy Days
• Extensive ‘how to’ guides
• Introductions to each liturgical season
• A ribbon place holder
• Durable hardback, cloth bound in ‘Eden Green’ with gold foil date on the spine.
• Designed and printed here in the UK
• One page for every day of the liturgical year
29th Nov 2026 – 27th Nov 2027
• Daily and weekly examen prompts
• The daily readings from the ‘Revised Common Lectionary’
• A guide to help you compose your own ‘Rule of Life’
• Monthly overview pages including Saints and Holy Days
• Extensive ‘how to’ guides
• Introductions to each liturgical season
• Hardback ‘Stained Glass’ cover design
• Available internationally