In his encyclical, Laborem Exercens, Blessed John Paul II states,

“And yet, in spite of all this toil-perhaps, in a sense, because of it-work is a good thing for man…It is not only good in the sense that it is useful or something to enjoy; it is also good as being something worthy, that is to say, something that corresponds to man’s dignity, that expresses this dignity and increases it. If one wishes to define more clearly the ethical meaning of work, it is this truth that one must particularly keep in mind. Work is a good thing for man-a good thing for his humanity-because through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes “more a human being.” (Section II, Paragraph 9)

The phrase “more a human being” really stands out for me today, because at this point in my life I find myself again without meaningful full-time work. For an individual who enjoys to work, these past 10 weeks without having a full-time job have been very difficult. I thrive in the work environment, especially when it has to do with teaching the faith to either high school students or adults. As a man, I find my purpose in work and when I am not working, I feel less than a man, and less than a human.

Through prayer, I have been asking why this is happening again for the second year in a row, but I am not getting any answers. I have prayed a few novenas for work, but still waiting. I have been praying the Holy Rosary and offering my Mass intentions for work. Today, I began 33 Days of Morning Glory, the do-it-yourself retreat and consecration to Mary through Jesus, hoping to find some humility and answers in this retreat.

Am I am in despair? Pretty close! Overall, I have been turned away from at least 10-15 positions. Some of these didn’t even interview me or even call me. Maybe 10-15 positions is not a lot in the long run, but when you are looking for something specified as I am, it seems like a lot. If I don’t work for the Church, I really don’t know what I want to do. There are a couple of positions I am still waiting on at this time.

Being a Christian and carrying a cross each day will bring sufferings, this I know!  I know there are individuals in the world, many across the globe, that have it worse than I. It’s just so daunting to endure this again when you know you are qualified for positions and you are told you have great credentials, but people with less experience and less education get a position before you do. Please don’t take this as the “O woe is me” agenda. I am just very frustrated right now. Many people, not only myself, are enduring this specific problem these days.

With all that being said, what is the point of today’s blog post?

I would ask you to please PRAY for me. Please add me to your prayer list and share my struggles with others, so they may pray for me. Just in case you think this is all about me, please pray for all of us they are unemployed in this country and across the world. We all need your PRAYERS. Ask for the intercession of St. Cajetan, Patron Saint of Job Seekers. Looking for a job has to be one of the hardest things to do. It’s right up with moving your home from one place to another, and nobody likes doing that! 🙂

Furthermore, I have found it very difficult to pay my bills. I know these are hard times for many people, but if you enjoy what you read on my blog, would like to thank me for my blog posts, and want to see more posts faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church, please prayerfully consider making a donation. I wish I could write and speak full-time, but that doesn’t pay the bills!

You can find the PayPal button on the Homepage of this blog and make your donation there. I will personally thank you and offer you and your prayers up the next time I attend Eucharistic Adoration. Again, I know these are difficult times economically for many people, so I thank you in advance for making a donation.

Praise Be Jesus Christ!