Pope Benedict XVI once commemorated the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, he spoke of the fruitful tension (the generativity) that emerges for the Christian meaning of work:
“Work is of fundamental importance to the fulfillment of the human being and to the development of society. Thus, it must always be organized and carried out with full respect for human dignity and must always serve the common good.
At the same time, it is indispensable that people not allow themselves to been slaved by work or idolize it, claiming to find in it the ultimate and definitive meaning of life…”
The Pope continues:
“Work must serve the true good of humanity, permitting “men as individuals and as members of society to pursue and fulfill their total vocation” (Gaudium et Spes, n. 35). For this to happen, technical and professional qualifications, although necessary, do not suffice; nor does the creation of a just social order, attentive to the common good.
It is necessary to live a spirituality that helps believers to sanctify themselves through their work, imitating St Joseph, who had to provide with his own hands for the daily needs of the Holy Family and whom, consequently, the Church holds up as Patron of workers.”
Thus, as Catholics we don’t see meaningful work as trivial, a drudgery, a four lettered word –something to be avoided. We understand work as contributing to our sanctification and it demonstrates our ability to collaborate with God in building up the Kingdom of God. Following the example of St. Benedict who points to Joseph quietly, as one example, our goal is to integrate work and prayer, by pursuing the model of holiness as a beautiful work.