It’s not always easy to see the dignity of our work. In fact, most of the time we are busy working so that we don’t have to work. We have our sights set on 5:00 and are rushing out when our time is up.
The saints don’t see it that way. They see work as an essential part of life and a way that we can be further sanctified.
Here are five quotes from different saints about the value of work and how it can actually help us, not hinder us, in our quest for holiness.
“What use is it telling me that so and so is a good son of mine — a good Christian — but a bad shoemaker? If he doesn’t try to learn his trade well, or doesn’t give his full attention to it, he won’t be able to sanctify it or offer it to Our Lord. The sanctification of ordinary work is, as it were, the hinge of true spirituality for people who, like us, have decided to come close to God while being at the same time fully involved in temporal affairs.” – St. Josemaria Escriva“We are at Jesus’ disposal. If he wants you to be sick in bed, if he wants you to proclaim His work in the street, if he wants you to clean the toilets all day, that’s all right, everything is all right. We must say, ‘I belong to you. You can do whatever you like.’ And this is our strength. This is the joy of the Lord.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta“[B]y their competence in secular fields and by their personal activity, elevated from within by the grace of Christ, let them work vigorously so that by human labor, technical skill and civil culture, created goods may be perfected according to the design of the Creator and the light of his word.” – St. John Paul II“Always try to have success in your work but remember God is often glorified in your failure.” – St. Mary MacKillop“Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading.” – St. Benedict
And today we celebrate...