The Grace of Working

In a world where everything is geared toward convenience, speed, instant communication and timesaving devices, one might look twice at the title of this article, but St. Clare didn’t hesitate to call work a grace.  In her thirteenth century Rule, she wrote, “Let the sisters to whom the Lord has given the grace of working work faithfully and devotedly…at work which pertains to a virtuous life and the common good.”  

In order to do our work more intentionally, Poor Clares include a special work blessing at the beginning of our daily routine.  As we gather in the refectory for breakfast, we kneel, and Mother Abbess blesses us with the sign of the cross, saying:  “Dear Sisters, begin your work with the blessing of God.” Thus we go to our work with the assurance that what we are about to do is part of God’s Will for us that day.  

On most days a Poor Clare finds herself occupied with the ordinary tasks of monastic life, such as cooking, cleaning, baking altar breads, or hanging laundry. She may also be outside planting flowers, pulling weeds or harvesting vegetables.  Sometimes a task calls for a “general work day,” when all the sisters pitch in to accomplish a larger job, such as painting a storage shed or canning fresh fruits and vegetables.  Whatever the task, a Poor Clare finds joy in it because she seeks to do all things in order to show her love for Christ her Bridegroom and unite herself to His life of humble human labor in Nazareth.  

In speaking of work St. Clare directed us, “[Let the Sisters do this] in such a way that, while they banish idleness…they do not extinguish the Spirit of holy prayer and devotion to which all other things of our earthly existence must contribute.”  Our work is done in silence and recollection, so that we can maintain an atmosphere of prayerfulness in God’s presence. This way, our work and our prayer complement one another, so that our prayer makes our work fruitful, and our generous way of working gives new energy to our prayer.

Whether we’re living in the cloister or “out in the world,” work is an opportunity to use own strengths and abilities to give honor and glory to God.  We can all examine ourselves on our attitude toward work.  Do I consider work a true grace from God, or do I simply try to “get the job done” as quickly as possible?  Can I work peacefully in a spirit of prayer?  Do I offer my work to God by making His honor and glory my highest priority?  Do I always seek the fastest or easiest way of accomplishing a task, regardless of the quality of my work?  As we strive to offer everything to God as an act of love and praise, let us lift up our hearts to Him at every moment and in all things!