I remember the day I hired young Billy to stock shelves at my old hardware store. The boy was bright-eyed and eager, full of ambition to “climb the ladder.” He saw his starting wage as a pit stop on the way to the corner office.
One afternoon, I found him staring at a jar of bolts with a look like he’d just been asked to count all the grains of sand in the world. “Mr. Harper,” he sighed, “is this really what my life’s gonna be about? Sorting nuts and bolts?”
I leaned on my counter – the one that’s seen more confessions than Father Michael’s office – and grinned. “Billy,” I said, “you’re not just sorting bolts. You’re building futures.”
That’s the truth folks get lost in these days. We chase promotions like they’re holy relics, but we forget to consecrate the work right under our noses.
This isn’t about turning your cubicle into a confessional booth – though that might be good for some of us! 😉 This is about discovering how your daily grind can become your spiritual path. St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, called this “sanctifying work.” Fancy words, but simple idea: Your job isn’t separate from your faith; it’s where your faith gets real.
So let’s roll up our sleeves and explore how to make your career a form of worship. Here’s the wisdom you’ve been looking for – delivered straight from the heart of Alabama with some holy help along the way.
Work as Worship: More Than Just a Paycheck
In my store, every sale was an opportunity. When Mrs. Gable needed advice on fixing her leaky faucet, I wasn’t just selling her a wrench and some plumber’s tape. I was sharing knowledge – using the gifts God gave me to help another soul.
That’s what St. Josemaria meant when he said, “You sanctify your work by doing it well.”
But how do you turn “work” into “worship”?
Intention: Start your day with a simple prayer. Not some fancy incantation – just ask God to help you see Him in your tasks.
Attention: Pay attention to the details. Do that report with excellence. Treat that customer with kindness. Your focus is a form of reverence.
Offering: See your labor as an offering to God. When you’re tired and frustrated, remember Christ on the Cross – He didn’t give up when things got hard.
Try this challenge: Keep a “sacrament journal.” Once a day, write down one way you saw God in your work.
Opus Dei Principles for Your Professional Life
Opus Dei means “Work of God” – but it’s not some secret society. It’s about seeing the divine in the daily grind.
1. Order is holy.
St. Josemaria said, “Order is a great help to prayer.” That applies to work too.
Your workspace: Is your desk a disaster zone or an altar?
Your schedule: Are you running around like your hair’s on fire, or do you have rhythm?
Try this: Spend 15 minutes each morning organizing your tasks. It’s not procrastination – it’s preparing the ground for God to work through you.
2. Time is a gift.
We all get the same 24 hours. But some people make their hours sing.
Multiply your time by focusing: Don’t try to do five things at once (that’s how you end up doing none of them well).
Say “no”: Every time you say yes to something that doesn’t matter, you’re saying no to God’s purpose for you.
St. Josemaria’s advice: “Lose your time, and you’ll lose yourself.”
Saints as Your Career Coaches
You don’t need MBA gurus when you’ve got a heavenly advisory board.
St. Joseph the Worker
The patron saint of laborers knew a thing or two about integrity.
His lesson: Do your job so well that people can’t help but notice.
Practical tip: When nobody’s watching, are you still doing quality work?
St. Therese of Lisieux
She called herself the “Little Flower,” not because she did big things, but because she did small things with great love.
Her lesson: The big opportunities will come if you’re faithful in the little ones.
Try this challenge: Today, find three ways to show kindness at work – even to that guy who steals your office supplies.
Just Wages and Humble Hearts
Remember that parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)? God’s generosity is beyond our understanding.
Just wages: You should be paid fairly for honest labor. But don’t let money become your idol.
Humility check: Do you deserve more than someone who works harder but gets less pay?
The truth: Your real value comes from God, not your salary.
A funny story: I once had a customer complain his hammer cost too much. I said, “Well, it’s only five bucks – but this one costs extra because it actually hits the nail.” Same goes for our work – quality has a price, and humility knows its value.
Balancing Ambition with Humility
Want to climb the ladder? Fine – but make sure you’re climbing toward heaven.
Good ambition: Wants to grow so you can better serve others.
Bad ambition: Just wants more status and money for yourself.
* Test it: Ask yourself: “Am I doing this for God’s glory, or just my own?”
St. Ignatius of Loyola’s wisdom: “To choose the best thing (God) is to be free.”
Bonus Section: Holy Time-Savers
Need more hours in your day? Try these spiritual hacks:
1. The 2-minute rule: Can you do it that quickly? Do it now.
2. Pray the rosary during your commute.
3. Turn waiting time into worship. (That line at the coffee maker is a great place to say a quick prayer.)
4. Delegate like St. Peter – he knew when to pass the mantle.
Your Work, Your Worship
Remember Billy from the hardware store? He eventually became manager. But his greatest success was realizing that whether he was stocking shelves or closing big deals, God was there.
Your career might not be in the saints’ biographies – but it can still be holy ground.
Here’s what to take home:
✔ Your work is a prayer if you offer it properly.
✔ Order and focus are spiritual disciplines.
✔ Saints make better career coaches than anyone on LinkedIn.
✔ Humility is the secret sauce of success.
✓ God can use your 9-to-5 to change the world.
Your challenge this week: Find one way to sanctify something mundane. The boring meeting, the frustrating deadline, the endless emails – turn them into opportunities for grace.
As St. Francis de Sales said, “Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential – except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.” Or something like that! Now get out there and make that work of yours holy! 😉