The social teaching of the Church is aimed at building a just society and helping us live lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Over the next week, we will address many of the key elements of this social teaching.
The fifth pillar on which the social teaching of the Church rests is: preservation of the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers. The Church teaches that the economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected. Those include: the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.
Furthermore, work should be the setting for personal growth, where many aspects of life enter into play: creativity, planning for the future, developing our talents, living out our values, relating to others, and giving glory to God. It follows that, in the reality of today’s global society, it is essential that we continue to prioritize the goal of access to steady employment for everyone, no matter the limited interests of business and dubious economic reasoning. We were created with a vocation to work. The goal should not be that technological progress increasingly replace human work, for this would be detrimental to humanity. Work is a necessity, part of the meaning of life on this earth, a path to growth, human development and personal fulfillment.
“St. Joseph, by the work of your hands and the sweat of your brow, you supported Jesus and Mary. Teach us to work as you did, with patience and perseverance – for God and for those whom God has given us to support. Teach us to see in our fellow workers the Christ who desires to be in them, that we may always be charitable and forbearing towards all. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
