We have just celebrated Labor Day — an occasion some consider the last celebration of summer and an opening of the fall season. The observance calls to mind the recent contest in Wisconsin between the legitimately-elected governor who wanted to balance the state’s budget and the necessity of reigning in excessive demands of the state’s workforce and he was successful. Later, the labor unions and others tried to oust him from office, and he was victorious over them.

We as Catholics have to be careful how to read that whole situation. The labor movement and labor unions have been a tremendous advantage to working people in securing for themselves, over time, legitimate wages, decent working conditions and forms of health insurance when they are injured or become ill as a result of their work. These benefits should not and cannot be denied. On the other hand we have to bear in mind the axiom that should be carved in stone on every government building — power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Over time, some labor unions have come to abuse the power that they have. Workers are not free to join or not join a union, so they are not free to contribute or not contribute funds to the support of labor leaders who very often lead lavish lives at the expense of their membership. We as Catholics have to be careful that we do not approve that kind of conduct.

It would be wrong to regard situations in which the forces of labor are vanquished as unmixed goods. It is true that some labor unions have gone to excess, but we cannot deny the good they have done over time. Work, after all, is the contribution that we make to the betterment of the universe and of our community and of our society. People who do honest work are to be honestly compensated and well-treated and anything else is contrary to the Catholic faith.

 We have a calling from God and that calling involves for all of us some form of what we know as work. Some do work in the intellectual area. Some do physical labor. Some do a combination of both, and that is part of our life. People say, “but, Father, it can be boring.” 

Yes, all repetitive activity can be boring, however that does not mean it is useless. That does not mean it is not fruitful. Sometimes the very monotony of work leads us to appreciate the fact that God has made us as such that we don’t have to do it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Therefore, no matter what our work is or how long we do it, or for what reward, we should be thankful for the ability God gave us and remember Him in all we do.