As Catholics, we must be mindful of our own attitudes towards work, and strive to promote the dignity of work in our own lives and in our communities. This means valuing all types of work, whether it be manual labor or intellectual work, and recognizing the contributions of all workers to our society. By doing so, we can help to create a more just and equitable world, where the dignity of every human person is respected, and the rights of workers are protected. In the following paragraphs we will reflect on the basic principles that contribute to a healthy understanding of work.
The Dignity of Work:
Pope Francis writes in his Apostolic Letter “Patris Corde”, “Those who work are cooperating with God, and in some way become creators of the world around us”. He encourages everyone “to rediscover the value, the importance and the necessity of work for bringing about a new “normal” from which no one is excluded. Also Catholic social teaching and women religious share a common understanding of the dignity of work, which holds that all work, has inherent value and the workers should be treated with respect and justice.
Sr. Elizabeth Rani OP
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