The observance of Labor Day this weekend reminds us of the “dignity of work,” one of the major themes of Catholic social teaching. Far from being a “necessary evil,’” human labor is sacred. We live most fully in God’s image when we answer the call to be “Co-Creators” with God through our work. It is in and through our work that we best contribute to the common good. Catholic Social Teaching sees our labor as subjective: we become most fully ourselves through our labor. It is often through our work that we form connections with others. (Just think of how many people whose labor went into the car you drive, the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the buildings you live, work, and worship in!)
The Church advocates for the rights of workers. All workers have a right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, and to safe working conditions. They have a right to working conditions which honor their dignity as human beings. We are aware that many workers, especially those in underdeveloped countries, work in conditions and for wages which are not in keeping with their human dignity. Each of us must be aware of how our buying habits may contribute to this injustice. We must also work to improve the working conditions and pay of those in our own country who may be working under poor conditions and for insufficient pay, such as some farmworkers and some in service industries.
Please join us for Mass on Monday morning at 9:00 as we pray for “God’s Blessing On the Work of Our Hands,” for the unemployed and underemployed, and that the human dignity of every working person is respected and safeguarded.
For Catholics, Church is all about community! None of us loves, worships, or serves God on our own. We do so as the “Body of Christ” and the “Community of Saints.” We look to each other for support in living Gospel values. One of the ways we connect with saints is through the veneration of their relics. There will be a display of over 150 Sacred Relics here at St. Isidore next Sunday, September 8, at 3:00 PM. We encourage you to join us for a presentation by Father Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross on these “Treasures of the Church.” We thank the Evangelization Committee for sponsoring this event.
Blessings,
Fr. Ron