Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States.

Just a few random views on the blessing of ‘labor’ with integrity.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord, and not for yourselves. Remember that the Lord will reward you; you will receive what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real master you serve.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

“We must sanctify our work with prayer. The Benedictines have practiced throughout the centuries, their celebrated motto, “Ora et Labora:” Pray and Work. They preached the Gospel to the people and bound them together, in the brotherhood of Christian charity. “Ora et Labora.” It produces holiness in the individual and, through him, in human society.” (Antonio Cardinal Bacci). To note: With the calling of “Ora et Labora” in the Rule of Benedict, further within the instructions (chapter 42) the monks were to end their day with “Grand Silence,” a time when talking ends and the day comes to a close quietly. At home this could be timely implemented in the evening by turning off the television and computer, silencing the phone, and offering up a silent prayer to God.

“He who works with his hands is a laborer.

He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.

He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”

(Saint Francis of Assisi)

A short story about work from the perspective of three laborers at the beginning phase of construction that would eventually be a cathedral, illustrating how differently each perceived his work. A visitor walked past a construction site and saw three men digging in a ditch. To the first man who was digging a trench, the visitor asked, “What are you doing?” The man grumbled, “I’m digging a ditch.” The visitor then asked the second man, "What are you doing?" He replied, "I'm digging a ditch to lay the water pipes for the building going up over there."  Finally, the visitor asked the third man, "What are you doing?" This man looked up with a gleam in his eye and said, "I'm building a cathedral. It will be a big, beautiful cathedral with five tall spires and stained-glass windows, and it will seat 500 people. It will be the most beautiful church in the city."  The visitor realized the three men were doing the same job, but their understanding and appreciation for their work were vastly different. 

Joseph, by the work of your hands and the sweat of your brow,

you supported Jesus and Mary, and had the Son of God as your fellow worker.

 Teach me to work as you did, with patience and perseverance, 

for God and for those whom God has given me to support.

Teach me to see in my fellow workers the Christ who desires to be in them,

that I may always be charitable and forbearing towards all.

 Grant me to look upon work with the eyes of faith,

so that I shall recognize in it my share in God’s own creative activity and in Christ’s work of our redemption, and so take pride in it.

 When it is pleasant and productive, remind me to give thanks to God for it.

And when it is burdensome, teach me to offer it to God. Amen.

God Bless, Fr. Tim

FYI: “September days have the warmth of summer in their briefer hours, but in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of autumn.” (Rowland E. Robinson)