Labor Day Messages
Via Catholic Analysis:
Labor Day messages from St. Josemaría Escrivá's book Furrow:
For those who think their work is too humble and not prestigious enough:
"Before God, no occupation is in itself great or small. Everything gains the value of the Love with which it is done" (Furrow, 487).
For those working in the home:
"You are writing to me in the kitchen, by the stove. . . . By your side, your younger sister--the last one to discover the divine folly of living her Christian vocation to the full--is peeling potatoes. To all appearances--you think--her work is the same as before. And yet, what a difference there is! It is true: before she only peeled potatoes, now, she is sanctifying herself peeling potatoes" (498; original italics).
For those who need a push:
"Obstacles? Sometimes they may be present, but at times you just invent them out of cowardice or love of comfort. How cleverly the devil makes those excuses for not working look plausible! He knows full well that sloth is the mother of all vices" (505)."You are put off by difficulties, and you shrink back. Do you know what characterizes your behavior? Nothing but comfort, comfort, and more comfort. You had said that you were ready to wear yourself out, unstintingly, yet you still seem to be at the level of an apprentice to heroism. It is time to act with more maturity" (521).
For those of us taking time off this weekend:
"Rest means recuperation: to gain strength, form ideals, and make plans. In other words it means a change of occupation, so that you can come back later with a new impetus to your daily job" (514, in part).
For students:
"It is easier to bustle about than to study, but it is also less effective" (524)."If you know that study is apostolate, but limit yourself to studying just enough to get by, it is clear that your interior life is going badly" (525)."One has to study--to gain the world and conquer it for God. Then we can raise the level of our efforts: we can try to turn the work we do into an encounter with the Lord and the foundation to support those who will follow our way in the future. In this way, study will become prayer" (526, in part).
You can obtain the book from Scepter Publishers.
Labor Day messages from St. Josemaría Escrivá's book Furrow:
For those who think their work is too humble and not prestigious enough:
"Before God, no occupation is in itself great or small. Everything gains the value of the Love with which it is done" (Furrow, 487).
For those working in the home:
"You are writing to me in the kitchen, by the stove. . . . By your side, your younger sister--the last one to discover the divine folly of living her Christian vocation to the full--is peeling potatoes. To all appearances--you think--her work is the same as before. And yet, what a difference there is! It is true: before she only peeled potatoes, now, she is sanctifying herself peeling potatoes" (498; original italics).
For those who need a push:
"Obstacles? Sometimes they may be present, but at times you just invent them out of cowardice or love of comfort. How cleverly the devil makes those excuses for not working look plausible! He knows full well that sloth is the mother of all vices" (505)."You are put off by difficulties, and you shrink back. Do you know what characterizes your behavior? Nothing but comfort, comfort, and more comfort. You had said that you were ready to wear yourself out, unstintingly, yet you still seem to be at the level of an apprentice to heroism. It is time to act with more maturity" (521).
For those of us taking time off this weekend:
"Rest means recuperation: to gain strength, form ideals, and make plans. In other words it means a change of occupation, so that you can come back later with a new impetus to your daily job" (514, in part).
For students:
"It is easier to bustle about than to study, but it is also less effective" (524)."If you know that study is apostolate, but limit yourself to studying just enough to get by, it is clear that your interior life is going badly" (525)."One has to study--to gain the world and conquer it for God. Then we can raise the level of our efforts: we can try to turn the work we do into an encounter with the Lord and the foundation to support those who will follow our way in the future. In this way, study will become prayer" (526, in part).
You can obtain the book from Scepter Publishers.
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