ORA ET LABORA

A story of faith, survival, and the survival of faith. With unprecedented access to a little seen world, ORA ET LABORA follows Abbot Mauritius at a key moment in Tholey Abbey’s history. To keep the institution alive he must bring in new money and new monks. But scandals in other monasteries have created a negative view of religious orders at a time when society as a whole is growing more secular. Channelling his skills as a former star chef, Mauritius has built a new guest house on site as an income stream – and two aspiring monks have recently arrived. But the abbot’s progressive ways are not universally supported within the community. Is this an environment in which faith can thrive? Or is the mix of commerce and religion an unholy alliance? The answer carries existential consequences.