In the next two weeks we will bring to a close the discussion on “Human Work”. 

The very first discussion point regarding the issue of work, was its importance in promoting the growth of the person, the family, society and entire human family. This must be the context in which we discuss, analyse and address issues related to work. This is now especially more important since the world of work has indeed evolved over time.

The Compendium tells us: “Given these impressive ‘new things’ in the world of work, the Church’s social doctrine recommends first of all to avoid the error of insisting that the current changes take place in a deterministic manner.

The decisive factor and ‘referee’ of this complex phase of change is once more the human person, who must remain the true protagonist of his work. He can and must take on in a creative and responsible fashion the present innovations and re-organisations, so that they lead to the growth of the person, the family, society and the entire human family.”

 This simply tells us that the human being is the centre of the world of work – something we must never forget. “Enlightenment for all can be found in the appeal of the subjective dimension of work, which according to the teaching of the Church’s social doctrine must be given due priority, because human work ‘proceeds directly from persons created in the image of God and called to prolong the work of creation by subduing the earth’.”

What is becoming more apparent is that the spirit, creativity and freedom associated with work are of higher importance than the technical and mechanical aspects. This is not to deny the importance of the technical and mechanical aspects.

Work, as was explained in earlier articles, is a way for the person to express himself and fulfill his vocation. We all must feel a sense of purpose in the work that we do, it is only minimally about what activities we engage in; it is about how these activities make us feel as individuals.

“Mechanisms and economistic interpretations of the activity of production, however prevalent and influential they may be, have been outdated by scientific analysis of the problems connected with work. More today than in the past, these conceptions are seen to be completely inadequate for interpreting the facts, which every day demonstrate more and more the meaning of work as a free and creative activity of the human person.

“The Church is well aware and has always taught that men and women, unlike every other living being, have certain needs that are not restricted merely to ‘having’, because their nature and vocation are inextricably linked with the Transcendent One.

The human person faces the adventure of the transformation of things through work in order to satisfy requirements and needs that are first of all material, but he does so in obedience to an impulse that pushes him even further beyond the results obtained, to the quest of what will correspond most intimately to his vital inner needs.”

Next week we discuss preserving the fundamental rights of the working person. 

Persons interested in purchasing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, should contact the Catholic Commission for Social Justice, Archbishop’s House – 622-6680.