Catholic Teachings on Work
Last week we referred to the Church's social teachings. It's time to start discussing these in more detail. First, some background.
In 1981, Pope John Paul II issued his encyclical Laborem Exercens, translated as "On Human Work." Ninety years before that Leo XIII issued Rerum Novarum. Leo wrote his encyclical at a time when capitalism appeared to promote a world of a few rich and many workers subjected to various forms of injustice. It was also a time when socialism was presented as the alternative to this "exploitative" capitalism. Pope Leo wanted to critique what we might call naked, untempered capitalism, but he also wanted to point out that Catholics could not opt instead to follow the tenets of socialism.
While Rerum Novarum was the first papal encyclical to specifically focus on what we refer to as the Church's "social teachings," the Church has always had something to say about the nature of work and what comprises a just society, although ever since 1891 and Rerum Novarum there seems to be special emphasis on this area. And Pope John Paul II certainly had a lot to say about what comprised a just economy, society as well as the true nature of work.
To start our own exploration of this rich area of teaching, I want to bring to your attention the writings of Polish Cardinal Stefan Wyszynsky, a mentor to John Paul II. Wyszynsky taught and wrote about work and influenced JP II's thoughts. Wyszynsky published All You Who Work in 1946, which was later revised and republished by Sophia Press. We'll refer to this work from time to time, in addition to the social encyclicals and other Catholic sources.
One of the first things Wyszynsky teaches us is that our work is a means of spiritual progress. We've talked a lot about this in this blog, so there's nothing new here. But let's expand our understanding of "spiritual progress" from our personal spiritual progress to include social progress. While we should certainly go out and do our best in our own work, let's not forget that we are in the midst of a social revolution that has - probably since the Enlightenment - pushed our culture and society away from its fundamental religious roots. We've turned away from God and created an idol of Man. At this point, God and our religious beliefs have been consigned to the realm of "personal choice." God and our Holy Faith have no public standing anymore.
We Catholic men can't abide this. We can't just go about our work as this secular trend tightens its grip and squeezes Our Father, Our Blessed Lord, the Holy Spirit and Our Blessed Mother out of the world and pushes them into some private corner of our minds and hearts. Certainly our primary responsibility is the salvation of our own souls, but we can't just ignore what's going on around us.
Another reason we need to familiarize ourselves with authentic Church teaching about work and our society and culture is that some of our bishops and priests (maybe more than some) spout what sounds like Church teaching, but which is more warmed over socialism, even Marxism - exactly what Leo XIII was trying to warn us against back in 1891. So, really, it's important for us to understand what the Church really teaches and to be able to distinguish between the Church's teachings and this warmed-over socialism and Marxism.
Well, for all these reasons, we should make it our business to get straight in our minds the role of work not only in our personal lives, but in our culture and society. I don't think I'm telling you anything you already don't know when I say that our culture and society, in turning away from God, has become more and more degenerate. I suggest we work hard not only raise our families and help others with whom we come in contact, but that we take an active interest in reviving our culture.
Our personal spiritual progress will certainly be enhanced by living in a world that recognizes Jesus Christ. And, who knows, maybe we'll live to see God restored to His rightful place in not just our personal life, but our public life. It's certainly worth the effort, don't you think?
In 1981, Pope John Paul II issued his encyclical Laborem Exercens, translated as "On Human Work." Ninety years before that Leo XIII issued Rerum Novarum. Leo wrote his encyclical at a time when capitalism appeared to promote a world of a few rich and many workers subjected to various forms of injustice. It was also a time when socialism was presented as the alternative to this "exploitative" capitalism. Pope Leo wanted to critique what we might call naked, untempered capitalism, but he also wanted to point out that Catholics could not opt instead to follow the tenets of socialism.
While Rerum Novarum was the first papal encyclical to specifically focus on what we refer to as the Church's "social teachings," the Church has always had something to say about the nature of work and what comprises a just society, although ever since 1891 and Rerum Novarum there seems to be special emphasis on this area. And Pope John Paul II certainly had a lot to say about what comprised a just economy, society as well as the true nature of work.
To start our own exploration of this rich area of teaching, I want to bring to your attention the writings of Polish Cardinal Stefan Wyszynsky, a mentor to John Paul II. Wyszynsky taught and wrote about work and influenced JP II's thoughts. Wyszynsky published All You Who Work in 1946, which was later revised and republished by Sophia Press. We'll refer to this work from time to time, in addition to the social encyclicals and other Catholic sources.
One of the first things Wyszynsky teaches us is that our work is a means of spiritual progress. We've talked a lot about this in this blog, so there's nothing new here. But let's expand our understanding of "spiritual progress" from our personal spiritual progress to include social progress. While we should certainly go out and do our best in our own work, let's not forget that we are in the midst of a social revolution that has - probably since the Enlightenment - pushed our culture and society away from its fundamental religious roots. We've turned away from God and created an idol of Man. At this point, God and our religious beliefs have been consigned to the realm of "personal choice." God and our Holy Faith have no public standing anymore.
We Catholic men can't abide this. We can't just go about our work as this secular trend tightens its grip and squeezes Our Father, Our Blessed Lord, the Holy Spirit and Our Blessed Mother out of the world and pushes them into some private corner of our minds and hearts. Certainly our primary responsibility is the salvation of our own souls, but we can't just ignore what's going on around us.
Another reason we need to familiarize ourselves with authentic Church teaching about work and our society and culture is that some of our bishops and priests (maybe more than some) spout what sounds like Church teaching, but which is more warmed over socialism, even Marxism - exactly what Leo XIII was trying to warn us against back in 1891. So, really, it's important for us to understand what the Church really teaches and to be able to distinguish between the Church's teachings and this warmed-over socialism and Marxism.
Well, for all these reasons, we should make it our business to get straight in our minds the role of work not only in our personal lives, but in our culture and society. I don't think I'm telling you anything you already don't know when I say that our culture and society, in turning away from God, has become more and more degenerate. I suggest we work hard not only raise our families and help others with whom we come in contact, but that we take an active interest in reviving our culture.
Our personal spiritual progress will certainly be enhanced by living in a world that recognizes Jesus Christ. And, who knows, maybe we'll live to see God restored to His rightful place in not just our personal life, but our public life. It's certainly worth the effort, don't you think?
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