Fulton Sheen at Work - 5

Continuing with Fulton Sheen's thoughts on work, we find comments that align with themes we have pursued in these posts over the years.

For one, we know our work today is not a mere practical matter. Fulton Sheen calls it a moral duty. He quotes St. Paul to drive this point home. The benefits of work understood in this light will be explained.

And, as we have so often noted, our work can - should really - be a form of prayer. This doesn't take the slightest bit away from our desire to do the "best job" we can in order to accomplish the goals and objectives of our particular work. 

Now for Bishop Sheen (emphasis added):

"No task should be undertaken in a spirit which ignores either of these two primary aspects of work. To link together the two things...the joy of making a table well with the purpose of making it at all, which is to earn a living...the following principles should be kept in mind.

(1) Work is a moral duty and not, as many men imagine, a mere physical necessity. St. Paul said, "The man who refuses to work must be left to starve." When work as seen as a moral duty, it is apparent that it not only contributes to the social good, but also performs further services to the worker himself: it prevents the idleness from which many evils can arise and it also keeps his body in subjection to the reasoned will.

We note especially here the benefits of work both to the common good and to us. Even if we are typically industrious, rather than lazy, in approaching our work, we should neverthless be on guard for any tendency to slack off for any reason. Keeping our body under the rule of our reason should be our normal course every day.

(2) "To Work is to pray." The well-regulated life does not defer prayer until work has been accomplished; it turns the work itself into a prayer. We accomplish this when we turn to God at the beginning and completion of each task and mentally offer it up for love of Him. Then, whether we are nursing a child or making carburetors, turning a lathe or running an elevator, the task is sanctified. No amount of piety in leisure hours can compensate for slipshod labor on the job. But any honest work, well done, can be turned into a prayer.

Take the time to understand the subtle distinctions here. The first point can be a serious challenge - at least it has always been thus on this end. Pausing before and after every task to offer it up for love of God can easily be swept away in the course of a busy day. On the other hand, it is always possible, not matter how busy we are. Indeed, much "busy" can turn out to be the working of our own emotions or lack of organization during the work day. If we take the time and trouble to organize our tasks each day, we're on our way to being able to recollect ourselves before and after each. As for our emotions, well, as we've noted many times (taught by solid spiritual writers), the emotions don't really matter, or at least ought not deter us from either our prayer or from the diligent pursuit of the duties of our state of life.

Another help here (from personal experience) might be to develop a serious, intimate relationship with our Guardian Angel and with the patron saint or saints of our work. (We've talked about patron saints of our work a number of times in the past. You can find a good summary HERE and HERE.) If we get in the habit of soliciting their intercession to bolster our spiritual lives as well as seeking their practical help throughout the day, we stand a good chance of being more recollected. They then assist us in offering up each task to God. This has been a particularly good assist on this end.

Here a couple of "bonuses" to reinforce the importance of setting aside how we feel and simply getting on with our prayer and work.

From Father Willie:

Do not give up prayer on any account, no matter how dry or rotten you feel; every moment, especially before Him in the Tabernacle, is a certain, positive gain; the effect will be there though you may not feel it.

And from St. Francis de Sales:

...do not be disturbed at your dryness, however great it be, but continue striving after a devout attitude in God’s Sight...If it pleases God’s Divine Majesty to speak to us, and discourse in our hearts by His Holy Inspirations and inward consolations, it is doubtless a great honour, and very sweet to our soul; but if He does not vouchsafe such favours, but makes as though He saw us not,–as though we were not in His Presence,–nevertheless we must not quit it, but on the contrary we must remain calmly and devoutly before Him, and He is certain to accept our patient waiting, and give heed to our assiduity and perseverance..." 

We'll finish up Fulton Sheen's thoughts about work next time...