Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer—but for Catholics, it’s also a timely reminder of something deeper: work is holy.
Not just priestly work. Not just mission work. All work—when offered with love and intention—can become a path to sainthood.
The saints understood this well. And through the writings of spiritual masters like St. Josemaría Escrivá, we’re reminded that God is not found only in the extraordinary, but in the ordinary duties of daily life.
Here’s what the Church, the saints, and our favorite Scepter authors have to say about the beauty and dignity of work.
1. Work Is Part of Your Vocation
Before sin entered the world, Adam was given a job: to tend the garden. Work is not a punishment—it’s part of God’s plan for our flourishing. When we work with virtue and love, we participate in His creative act.
“Work is part and parcel of man's life on earth. It is a manifestation of his dignity; it is an opportunity to develop his personality.”
—St. Josemaría Escrivá, Friends of God, no. 57
Whether you're raising kids, writing code, answering phones, or teaching a classroom—your work matters. Not just to your boss or your family, but to God.
2. Work Can Be Prayer
Prayer and work aren’t opposites—they belong together. That’s the essence of the Benedictine motto: ora et labora (pray and work). When we unite our tasks with Christ’s mission, our daily duties become a living prayer.
“You must understand now more clearly that God is calling you to serve Him in and from the ordinary, material, and secular activities of human life.”
—St. Josemaría Escrivá, Christ Is Passing By, no. 20
You don't need to quit your job to serve God. You need to bring Him into your job—with attention, love, and humility.
3. Work Forms Us—Interiorly
Every email, every diaper change, every team meeting, every spreadsheet is an opportunity to grow in virtue:
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Patience when a task takes longer than expected
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Fortitude when things get difficult
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Charity when you serve others without being seen
Our work isn’t just something we do—it’s part of how God forms who we are.
“Perseverance in our daily work is the real test of our love.”
—Fr. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom
4. Rest Matters, Too
Post-Labor Day life can become a whirlwind. But rest is not laziness—it’s obedience to God’s design. He Himself rested on the seventh day, and the Church upholds Sunday as a day of rest and worship.
Let your rest restore you. Let it point you back to your purpose. Let it remind you that your identity is not in productivity—but in your dignity as a child of God.
Books That Bring Meaning to Your Work
Looking to integrate your faith and work more intentionally? These titles from Scepter Publishers can help:
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The Way by St. Josemaría Escrivá – A pocket-sized guide to sanctifying everyday life
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Friends of God – Insightful homilies on work, prayer, and the call to holiness
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Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacques Philippe – A powerful read on finding peace and purpose in every season and task
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Christ Is Passing By – Reflections on the meaning of Christian life in the world
Final Thought: Your Desk, Kitchen, Office, or Jobsite Is Holy Ground
After Labor Day, the world returns to hustle. But you don’t have to.
Return to your work with holiness, not just hustle.
Return with offering, not just output.
Return with the saints beside you, cheering you on in every task, no matter how small.
Because when you work with love and for the glory of God, your labor isn’t just necessary—it’s sacred.
