Virtues
Industriousness
quick ideas about industriousness. What is industriousness? Human reasons for working. Supernatural reasons for industriousness.
EspañolA. What is industriousness?
1. What is industriousness?
It is the virtue proper to a hardworking person. Industriousness is the habit of working abundantly, with intensity and constancy.
2. How to practice industriousness?
As is logical, industriousness is practiced by working, and its first consequence is work well done. Examples:
- Fulfilling work duties. This is proper to justice and loyalty, and also an exercise of industriousness. It includes attention to detail and finishing things well, to achieve a job well done.
- Order in work and schedule. This is proper to the virtue of order but also a practice of industriousness.
- Constancy in work. An exercise of constancy and industriousness.
- Putting work before entertainment is proper to order in ideals, but also a sign of industriousness.
- Having abundance of work most favors the growth of industriousness — provided one is responsible.
3. Is industriousness good?
Yes, certainly, because it makes it possible to accomplish many good things. The doubt may arise when fatigue appears. Then industriousness would be seen as good if work has meaning. For this reason, lazy students are sometimes excused by saying: they are not motivated. That is, they do not see a reason that drives their actions.
4. How to find reasons for working?
The basic reason for industriousness is that this virtue makes it possible to accomplish abundant and valuable tasks, so that reasons for working are found by observing the value of what is done. One works to achieve something; if what is achieved is worthwhile, work and industriousness will also be interesting. But this value is not always seen at first glance. Let us therefore look for the reasons that invite us to be hardworking.
B. Human reasons for working
1. Somewhat selfish reasons
- The idea would be to work to obtain money, fame, success, etc.; to buy jewelry, a motorcycle, or spend vacations in luxury hotels... With these reasons, the ideal would be to earn a lot of money while working little, achieve success without effort, etc. The value of work in itself and of industriousness is not appreciated. And there is no joy, since money, success, and fame are scarce.
2. Reasons of service
- These reasons for industriousness are better. One would work to support the family or society, to contribute to the good of others, etc. For example, a nurse, a plumber, a homemaker perform a task that directly benefits other people.
3. Is there always the possibility of service?
Sometimes the reason of service is less visible, but it always has a place in any occupation and elevates the value of industriousness and work.
4. And students?
Students have difficulty finding the reason of service, since it only appears in the future: they study now to serve later, developing a profession. For this reason, their usual reasons are of lower standing: passing, doing well, avoiding scoldings, enjoying summer, or simply, fulfilling their duty. These are valid reasons.
4. Reasons of personal improvement
- Through work, a series of qualities are acquired that make the one who works better. For example, constancy is developed, punctuality, order, responsibility, intelligence, willpower, industriousness itself... These reasons are also found in all professions, and improve man from within. For example, students are receiving the knowledge acquired by humanity.
C. Supernatural reasons for industriousness
1. Collaborating in Creation
- God Our Lord created a good world but not completely perfect. And He entrusted man to improve it. In this way the Lord elevates the dignity of man by making him his collaborator in the creative task. Thus human work takes on a new meaning, becoming man's and woman's collaboration with God in the perfection of Creation, participation in God's creative work. This is something of great worth and valid for any labor.
2. Does this only happen in important works?
It seems that perfecting the world is only within reach of some important works, but it is not so, because any service to man improves creation in a central aspect. For example, the occupations of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Nazareth were not dazzling works, but there have been no labors of greater worth, since with their efforts they rendered services to the Son of God, the Mother of God, the family of God on earth.
3. Union with God the Son
- Work is a means of union and identification with Christ, who spent most of his life working. This notably changes the meaning of work, since whoever performs it is becoming like Christ the worker. And even one who is occupied with a routine and colorless task can assure that with that labor they are imitating Christ, becoming like the Son of God. Even the discomforts and fatigue have new meaning, since He also went through them. Our work — exhaustion included — makes us imitators of Christ and co-redeemers with Him.
4. Sanctifying work?
Work forms part of God's plans for man, so that whoever works — with a certain condition we will soon see — fulfills the divine will and therefore loves God, grows in holiness. The Holy Spirit uses our tasks to sanctify us. And thus work and industriousness take on a third and revaluing meaning: they are a means of sanctification, and therefore of happiness.
5. A clarification
- The Lord wants us to work, but it is not the only thing He desires. We must also pray, attend to family obligations, etc. Work must be made compatible with the other tasks.
6. Does work always unite with God and sanctify?
Not always. For work to contribute to union with God, certain conditions are required that can be grouped into one: rectitude of intention. To perform actions for noble reasons, and to renew those desires frequently, correcting the intention if necessary.
7. Is any good end sufficient?
For work and industriousness to sanctify, a simply good end is not enough. It must be supernatural: the love of God, apostolate... It is a matter of offering one's labors to God by performing them out of love for Him, for the Virgin, for souls.
8. Is the idea to think of God at all times?
The idea is not to think of God at all times, since to work well — as He desires — one must put one's mind on what one is doing. Rather, the secret consists in performing tasks in an atmosphere of piety that is like the air enveloping one's actions. That piety should have clear and concrete manifestations from time to time.
9. Then?
If one keeps one's gaze directed toward these ends, activities acquire a new meaning: they are directed to the Lord and become prayer. A prayer that is neither vocal nor mental, and that could be called manual since what is raised to God is not words or thoughts, but the works that one's hands accomplish.