Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy reflects on Pope Francis’ May Prayer intention “that through work, each person might find fulfillment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.”
As our weather gets warmer and we may be beckoned to venture out and work in the beauty of creation, Pope Francis calls us to pray about work. His intention reads: Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfillment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.
Reflections on the dignity of work and workers can begin with placing ourselves in the Garden with Adam and Eve who are tasked with tilling the earth and earning their bread, and can move through the Scriptures to the Gospel of Matthew where we find the parable about the workers who are hired at all the hours of the day (Mt. 20:1-14).
John Paul II, in The Hundredth Year (Centesimus Annus), no. 43 reflects on that mandate given in the Garden and how it plays out in the arena of work today. He writes: The obligation to earn one’s bread by the sweat of one’s brow also presumes the right to do so. A society in which this right is systematically denied, in which economic policies do not allow workers to reach satisfactory levels of employment, cannot be justified from an ethical point of view, nor can that society attain social peace.
Seeing the issue of the dignity of the worker from another viewpoint is the Catechism of Catholic Social Teaching, an online resource compiled by the Fraternitas Trium Cordium. In short, their purpose is to apply authentic Church teaching and Tradition to social, political and economic problems in today’s world so as to restore a living faith to the modern world. Their site is full of information, but you may wish to take a closer look at this part of the site: Catechism of Catholic Social Teaching – On Just Wages (google.com) Not only will you find a short but informative article on the topic of just wages, but there is also a list of common questions along with the answers on what the Church says about justice in the area of wages. These are very easy to read and understand. They make a good resource to share with others who want a quick read on the topic.
One more place to go for succinct information on just wages is CST 101 | The Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers (youtube.com) Here you will find a short video presentation done by Catholic Relief Services.
Why all the emphasis on just wages? This is a big part of the dignity of the worker. Workers make a covenant of sorts with their employers. They promise to give their best effort to provide quality work for the set number of hours. The employer should promise to not only pay for the work done, but pay justly so that the worker can adequately provide for his/her needs and those of the family.
Such a just and dignified atmosphere for work surely relates to the virtue of hope. A conscientious worker and a fair employer can both hope in and help to form a future in which both can thrive. Again, the Letter from Taize tells us: Hoping, means discovering in the depths of the present a Life that leads forward and that nothing is able to stop. It also means welcoming this Life by a yes spoken by our whole being. As we embark on this Life, we are lead to create signs of a different future here and now, in the midst of the difficulties of the world, seeds of renewal that will bear fruit when the time comes.
Finally, St. Francis lends his thought to the area of dignity of work. In his Canticle of
the Creatures we can find a personified version of the Earth as a worker. He sings, Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs. Mother Earth is at work sustaining, governing and producing all kinds of goods for us to use and enjoy. She is not a bad model for our own work ethic! This part of the prayer also is a good reminder to remember the dignity of work in the area of ecology. Adam and Eve were entrusted with the stewardship of Earth’s own work and so are we.
Let us make our own a prayer originating from the work and thought of Catholic Relief Service: O Just God, help us use our power as consumers and voters to ensure that the dignity of workers is respected. May we urge business owners and policymakers to place the dignity of the human person at the center of economic decisions. Amen.
