Living Catholicism: Living Catholicism at Work

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October 14, 2004

Living Catholicism at Work

As an employee, I think I’ve worked in most types of environments. I’ve been in the corporate world, the small business world, and I’ve even worked in a very Catholic family business (virtually everyone working there was Catholic, including the owner). I think work presents one of the biggest hurdles most of us have in living out our faith, but it also presents one of our biggest opportunities.

In a normal work environment, foul language and questionable motives are accepted as normal. Faith is something alien, especially in a corporate environment, and the notion of corporate or even individual morality is unheard of. This is the secular world, after all, and we’ve all heard that good guys finish last. Is it okay to work in these environments? Absolutely, we are all called to function within “the world” and support our families – of course, we can’t commit crimes or do something wholly unethical (it’s a serious sin for a Catholic to perform abortions, for example). And there are times we must say no when asked to perform immoral acts.

In this world we have our greatest opportunity to be a walking example of faith. The simple act of being courteous, honest, and refusing to use foul language is enough to set you apart as an example. If you have the opportunity to show yourself as a committed father and morally responsible being, you’ve opened the door to others. It does not require much for others to notice that you are different or that you really believe what you profess. If someone asks, I’m quick to inform them that I am Catholic and happy about it. These are the little opportunities that the Holy Spirit can use to pull others towards God.

I believe young people entering the workforce often expect to compromise their morality during work environments (not all, but enough). By being a successful and wholly moral person in your work environment, you help them to understand that it is possible to do well without compromising your ideals. We are a light in the darkness; a candle shining Truth for the world.

As Catholics, we should be careful to avoid scandal and help others understand our Church and our world. In work we have the opportunity to live out our faith among others. This is no easy task, but start each day with a prayer that God would use you to draw others to him. He will always be faithful. And if you must suffer because of your faith, so be it. Your reward is in heaven.

Posted by HolyFamily at October 14, 2004 12:35 PM