Do not be ‘slaves to work,’ Pope advises families
August 12, 2015
Continuing his Wednesday reflections on the family, Pope Francis began a series of audiences on August 12 devoted to “three facets of family life: celebration, work, and prayer.”
“Let us turn first to celebrations which, as we see from the story of creation, are the invention of God, who on the seventh day rested from his work,” he said to those gathered in the Paul VI Audience Hall, in the words of the official English-language synthesis of his remarks. “It is God himself who teaches us the importance of dedicating time to contemplating and enjoying the fruits of our labors, not only in our employment or profession, but through every action by which we as men and women cooperate in God’s creative work, even in times of difficulty.”
Emphasizing the importance of the Sunday Eucharist, Pope Francis continued:
True moments of celebration make us pause from our work, because they remind us that we are made in the image and likeness of God, who is not a slave to work, but the Lord of work! And so we must never be slaves to work but rather its master!
Yet we know that millions of men and women, even children, are slaves to work. The obsession with economic profit and technical efficiency puts the human rhythms of life at risk. Moments of rest, especially on Sunday, are sacred because in them we find God.
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Aug. 12, 2015 8:27 PM ET USA
Pope Francis is correct. Our families are suffering because the parents have very little time with their children. Everything in moderation---Eight hours of sleep, eight hours of work, and eight hours of free time each day, five days a week. Then enjoy the weekends with the children and give glory to God on Sundays by attending Mass. Too many children today hardly see their parents and aren't being taught Christian values by them.
