A spirituality of work
Mass in honour of St Josemaria Escriva
St Josemaria Escriva has made a considerable contribution not only to the spirituality of lay people but also to the teaching of the Church in what we could call a “theology of work”, if I could use that phrase. It may be better to express it as a “spirituality of work”. For example, he taught:
By doing your daily work well and responsibly, not only will you be supporting yourselves financially, but you will be contributing directly to the development of society.
This evening as we honour St Josemaria Escriva in this Mass I would like to reflect a little upon his contribution not only to those associated with Opus Dei, but more broadly to all in Church, to an understanding of the place of work in human life and in human society.
Work is not only a necessity for survival but, from a Christian perspective, offers a way of living as a Christian within the world.
The first reading this evening which takes us back to God’s own work – the work of creation. It reminds us that human beings have been entrusted with the cultivation of the earth. Human work is integral to human life. It is not just a necessity to be endured nor an imposition that prevents our freedom. It can and should be, in fact, a means for human flourishing and a source of spiritual growth.
St Josemarie continues to have a considerable influence in our time not just through his writings, but through those involved with the movement of Opus Dei. Tonight we can consider his spiritual and pastoral insight into the question of a Christian understanding of work.
In recent decades, especially due to the advances in digital technology, we have witnessed the extraordinary expansion of some companies which now have a worldwide influence. Here I am thinking of Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon. These companies have been a global force shaping people’s lives in so many ways. I am also conscious of the global influence of what is now called “Big Pharma”, the giant pharmaceutical companies whose reach especially during the recent pandemic has had a profound influence worldwide.
These vast companies touch and influence the lives of billions of people across the globe and are making astronomical profits, much of which finds its way to the founders. These gifted entrepreneurs have become extraordinarily wealthy and very powerful figures on the world stage. In recent times these corporations and their founders are coming under closer scrutiny in their business practices and in their treatment of their workers. This is a good thing as there has been evidence of abuses of power.
Such scrutiny raises the question as to the interrelationship between the objective economic project and the subjective ethical value of the enterprise, especially as it affects the life and wellbeing of workers. Work, as St John Paul II taught in his encyclical, Laborem Exercens (1981), should nourish the lives of workers and aid in their personal flourishing. Work is not just an exercise of production but has a human dimension as well.
Businesses must find the via media between radical autonomous individualism and collective totalitarianism. Radical individualism places the individual at the centre of the economic enterprise. In the great new enterprises the achievement of the individual founder can dominate, and a cutthroat environment for personal advancement can lead to the ruthless domination of fellow workers.
While, on the other hand, the collectivism which is often found in socialist societies but is also found in capitalist enterprises, treats the individual as a mere instrument of economic production. In a free market economy the pressure from shareholders for good results can lead a company to exploit its workers, especially if they are based in a third world country.
If business succumbs to being driven by individuals motivated by self-centred desires for success or financial gain alone, then they will use others to advance their interests often disregarding their dignity. Similarly, a business which is profit driven to satisfy shareholders can treat employees as simply “human resources” to achieve results.
Neither of these are the Christian way. St John Paul II recognised that the human person must be treated with dignity and that business should ensure that individuals are not only able to gain a livelihood but are able to find meaning and purpose in their labour.
St Josemaria encouraged people to find worth in their work. He spoke about the sanctification of daily work. He never tired of encouraging people to see value in their daily responsibilities. For St Josemaria all work can be approached in a spirit whereby ordinary things are done extraordinarily well. Such an approach can help foster a spirit of holiness.
Holiness, to the mind of St Josemaria, is not the prerogative only of priests and religious but all the baptised. In this he anticipated the teaching of the Second Vatican Council and its teaching on the universal call to holiness.
In his encyclical Laborem Exercens Pope St John Paul II gives great importance to the value of work. He taught: “Work is a good thing for man—a good thing for his humanity—because through work, man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being, and indeed in a sense becomes ‘more a human being.’ (LE 9)
Work should provide people with an environment that nurtures their personal growth and development and can be a path to holiness. It is for this reason that the work environment should become person-oriented and foster the wellbeing of workers.
As we honour St Josemaria Escriva in our Mass tonight, let us consider our understanding of the value of work in our lives. Let us see that, necessary as it is for human life, it is also a means to grow in personal holiness as well as the exercise of our gifts and talents which can be turned to the common good and the advancement of society.
Also, through the inspiration of St Josemaria, the Catholic community can witness to the need for human work to be person-oriented and not just profit-driven.
Archbishop Julian Porteous
Friday, 23 June 2023