For those who have been around Sacred Hearts Academy for some time, or have even seen the school logo, it’s likely that the Latin saying: “Orare Et Laborare” might’ve stood out. However, many people may not know what it means, nor the history behind it. This article will not only discuss the meaning of this motto but will also shine some light on its history.
“Orare Et Labore” translates to “To work and to pray” in Latin. This is a saying that comes from Saint Benedict of Nursia, who was a wealthy Christian devoted to God. He felt that the world was too worldly, lacking in God’s love and knowledge. Saint Benedict, renowned as the “Father of Western Monasticism,” had been a guide for monastic life. He emphasized the importance of work and prayer, thus leading to the creation of our school motto.
Though Catholicism and Christianity are widely accepted now, it wasn’t always a safe religion to identify with back in the late 1700s. Throughout the duration of the French Revolution, merely identifying as a Christian or Catholic could get you killed. Many feared this and hid their identity. Catholic schools were destroyed, and houses of those who identified as Christian or Catholic would be ransacked. In addition, those who identified as Christian or Catholic were executed. It was during this time that two of the founders, Pierre Coudrin and Henriette Aymer de la Chevalerie, would start their mission in 1827. Later, their congregation would spread to Hawaii and bring the belief of Catholicism.
Though it was a risky time being a Catholic, this did not stop Coudrin. During this time of persecution, Coudrin had felt God’s calling to become a priest–and even though being a priest would get him exiled or guillotined, he had set out to become a priest regardless. After he’d covertly been anointed a priest, he would live for some time ministering to people in disguise. One night while he was in hiding, he had a vision of many priests, Brothers, and Sisters. He took this event as a sign to devote his life to Jesus and inaugurate a religious institute which would become known as the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
It was during this time that Father Coudrin continued his ministry underground. He would meet Henriette Aymer de Chevalerie, a young woman who had been imprisoned along with her mother. Henriette and her mother, for a long time, had discreetly been helping underground priests by giving them a place to stay. During the time she spent in prison, Henriette had begun to devote herself to a religious life. While in prison, she built up a relationship with the daughter of the jailer. Because of this close relationship, she had escaped execution by having her name each day lowered to the bottom of the list. After nearly a year of being in prison, she was released from prison. From there, she’d meet Coudrin and together, they founded the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Years later, after their hard work on building up the Congregation, missionaries of the Congregation came to the Sandwich Islands to establish the Catholic Church. The Fathers and Brothers arrived in 1827 and began the work of evangelization, opening parishes and schools. In 1859, the Sisters arrived and established a Catholic School for girls at the Catholic Mission of Our Lady of Peace. The school was called Sacred Hearts Convent School. In 1909, Bishop Libert and Mother Judith saw the need for a secondary school for girls and opened Sacred Hearts Academy in Kaimuki. Since the founding of SHA, the motto has always been Orare et Laborare. To work and to pray may have different meanings to each student. However, at the end of the day, we’ve all done something for the greater good of people, whether it’s by participating in school events, going out to other countries to help, being a part of the LIFE team, or simply greeting a student or teacher.
