CHRISTAN LIFE EDUCATION

WORK
Job vs. Work
 Job: paid work
 Work: labor (paid or unpaid)

Definitions of Work
 Physics: Displacement
 Business: Mental or physical effort in order to achieve a purpose
 Church:
o “A sustained human activity done for a purpose. Work can be
manual or intellectual, paid or not paid, light or heavy.”
- Laborem Exercens (Through Work). St. JPII, 1981
o “tilling the soil” – Genesis 2:5
(meaning to prepare soil for planting/ creating opportunities for
people to work)
o Human work therefore, is more than an activity or a commodity,
but an essential part of our human nature. It’s a fulfillment of our
being human. It’s a spiritual participation in God’s creative work.
o “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…”
 Work is a sacred duty, which fulfills the ff:
o Earning a living and providing for material needs
o Expressing and developing ourselves as unique creatures of God
o Serving our community
 Work vs Slavery
o Work is a free act

Dimensions of Work
 Objective Dimension: refers to the output or product of human work
 Subjective Dimension: the primary basis for determining the value of
human work is not the kind of work done but the agents who are working
are human persons (workers); disputes the importance of capital over
labor and workers
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 In the hierarchy of commodities, products are less important than
services.

Expressions of the Subjective Dimension of Work

1. Human persons are the purpose of work.
2. Work is for the common good.
3. Labor is more important than capital.

Relation of Work with Jesus

 Jesus was a carpenter
 Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
o At mass, we unite the fruit of our human work with the sacrificial
work of Jesus Christ

Rights of Workers
 Right to Work
1. Employment
- companies that hire PWDs, contractualization
2. Environment
- Having ergonomic chairs and desks in the workplace
- Healthcare benefits (Philhealth)
3. Work hours
- night differential
 Right to a Just Share in the Fruits of the Work
1. Right to a Just Wage
- 13th month pay; overtime pay; pay during pregnancy leave
- Minimum wage in PH: Php 512
2. Social Benefits
- government assistance
- SSS (private pension), GSIS (public pension), Pag-Ibig (housing),
PhilHealth
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 Right to Organize
1. Right to form associations
- Labor unions
2. Right to strike or work stoppage

Virtue of Munificence
 lavish generosity (which is bad)
 e.g. parents spoiling their children to the point that they don’t teach them
to work anymore
 Teach a person how to fish, NOT keep on providing the fish for that
person (munificence)

Solidarity with the Worker

1. Direct Employer: employee and employer enter directly into a work
contract
2. Indirect Employer: actions affect or influence other workers (e.g.
preference for local products)

Spirituality of Human Work

 “…we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither
should that one eat.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:10
 What is work?
o Sustained Activity
o With a Purpose
o Exercise of Social Responsibility
o For Survival

LAUDATO SI – On Care for Our Common Home

Biophilia
 Instinctive connection w/ nature
 Edward O. Wilson (1984)
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Caring For Our Common Home
- ‘Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis
- “Be Praise to You, My Lord” (direct translation of ‘Laudato Si’)

Laudato Si’
 2015
 Discusses crises concerning the environment
 Spirituality of Creation
 Universal invitation to a dialogue on solving the environmental crises
 Reference to Pope John XXIII’s ‘Pacem in Terris’ on nuclear war

Humans & Nature

- “We need to see…with the eyes of faith…the beauty of God’s saving
plan…” – Pope Francis
- “Our insistence that each human being is an image of God should not
make us overlook the fact that each creature has its own purpose…The
entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for
us.” (Laudato Si’ 84)

Spirituality of Creation
- Creation is a holy and precious gift from God
- Creation is not a mere resource but an instrument for sanctification

First Principle & Foundation of St. Ignatius

 “God created human beings to praise, reverence, and serve God and by
doing this, save their souls…; God created all other things on the face of
the earth to fulfill this purpose.”
Biblical Take on Stewardship
 “keeping and tilling” (Gn 2:15)
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Spirituality of Human Work in Creation
1. Participation in God’s creative work
o God’s creative power is reflected in our work”
 Unique: our work expresses our individuality
 Universal: our work has a part in the grand scheme of things
2. Collaborative with Christ’s redemptive mission
o Just as Christ carried his cross, so do we carry ours in and through
our work
3. Cooperation w/ the work of the Holy Spirit
o Our work is an instrument of the Holy Spirit in renewing the face
of the earth
o “ora et labora” (pray and work)

Universal Destination of Goods

- The earth and all of its fruits are for all people

Does the Church prohibit private property?

 No. It’s ok as long as it is for the common good and it follows the
Universal Destination of All Goods
 Key Term: Common Good

Environmental Problems Raised by Laudato Si’

1. Pollution and Climate Change
2. Issue of Water
3. Loss of Biodiversity

Laudato Si on the Poor and the Environment

 “Both everyday experience and scientific research show that the gravest
effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest.” (LS
48)
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LENT
Lent is about
 Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving
 40-day preparation for the celebration of the core of our faith – the
resurrection of Jesus
 This season leads us to be ready for the celebration of Easter Sunday

Misconceptions About Lent

MISCONCEPTION
1. Lent is preparation for Good
Friday
2. The word “Lent” means 40 days
3. Ash Wednesday is a Holy Day
of Obligation and we are
required to have ash imposed
upon our foreheads.
4. All Catholics must fast and
abstain.
DEBUNKING
It’s preparation for Easter Sunday (His
resurrection)
“Lent” means ‘spring time.’
It’s not required, but it’s more
meaningful if we start Lent w/ this.
Ash is a reminder for us to “turn away
from sin and believe in the Good
News”
Abstinence: required for 14 years old
and above (from meat)
Fasting: required for 18-59 years old
only

Abstinence: every Friday of Lent,

Good Friday, Ash Wednesday
Fasting: Ash Wed, Good Fri
5. Fasting and abstinence are Fasting and abstinence are practices
practices focused towards the that makes us in solidarity with the
self. poor
6. When I fail to fast and abstain, I Those who can’t fast or abstain may
have already sinned. perform other forms of penance
7. The Gloria and Hallelujah are This is not done because Lent is a sad
not sung during Lent for this is a season, rather, it is because this is for
sad season. the anticipation of the “great Gloria
and Hallelujah” of Easter
8. Violet is the liturgical color for Violet: majority of Lenten days (for
the whole season of Lent. penance, contrition, preparation of the
soul)

Rose: Laetare Sunday or 4th Sunday of

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Lent (for joy of Easter approaching)

White: Feasts of Saint Joseph and the

Annunciation (for purity)

VOCATION
Vocation
- “Vocare” (Latin) meaning ‘to summon, to call someone over’
- One may not have a job or a career, but one will always have a vocation
- We are called to love in whatever career
- In response to the needs of the world
- Types
1. The Lay State (Married or Celibate)
2. The Religious State (nuns, brothers)
3. The Clerical State (priests, bishops)

What is discernment?
- It is not choosing between bad or good, rather it is choosing between two
goods, which is more difficult
- To find one’s place in the greater scheme of things
- Entails listening to yourself and to God in His Word, in prayer, in silence
- One may seek a spiritual director to aid in discerning

~Good luck :)~