Creating a Catholic Workspace
“God gave us faculties for our use; each of them will receive its proper reward. Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher” (Saint Teresa of Avila).
Working at a secular organization, I sometimes struggle to find God in the hum-drum of daily tasks, answering emails, and submitting reports. However, with the proper posture in our heart, our work can bring us closer to Christ — we just need constant reminders!
I remember walking through the streets of Italy and seeing icons of Mary at every intersection. I now understand these icons served as reminders that even in the milieu of ordinary life, while commuting to work, picking up groceries, and running other errands, we can find God in the midst of our schedule.
In the age of teleworking, now is the time to create your own Catholic workspace! A usual workspace has common reminders that we are loved, with photos of our friends and family, and symbols of our achievements, like graduation diplomas and certificates. So, why not adorn our workspace to reflect our heavenly family and holy pursuits?
Here are four items that can make your workspace not only a place for productivity but also one for holy contemplation throughout the day!
1. Holy Image or Statue
A priest once explained that the same way we have picture frames on our desk to remind us of our loved ones, we should consider the saints as part of our family. Is there a saint you are close to? Why don’t you find a holy card or miniature figurine of him or her to place at your desk? Consider finding the patron saint of your professional field, like Saint Elizabeth Anne Seton for teachers or Saint Gianna Molla for doctors.
2. A Plant
Plants are a simple way to bring some fresh air and life to our work space. My fiance’s classroom looks like a greenhouse because his students know how much he loves succulents and orchids. Plants can also help us nurture a living thing each day, and we can make it part of a prayerful routine. Throughout the Bible, there are constant references to mustard seeds, fig trees, lilies of the field, vines, and fruit to show how God can help us grow, too.
3. An Essential Oil or Candle
Sometimes, during a busy day at work, you just need to take a deep breath and say, “Jesus, I trust in you.” Then, on busier days, maybe you need to rub a bit of lavender oil into your palms and take an ever deeper breath! In his book “Searching for and Maintaining Peace,” Father Jacques Phillippe talks about how interior peace allows God to work through our lives.
While adjusting to hectic work scenarios because of COVID-19, our lives might be even more stressful than before, which is why we need to anchor our careers to Christ for calm throughout the storm. Finding a calming essential oil to massage on our pressure points or a soothing candle to light are material methods to help us center ourselves and bring our anxieties back to the Lord.
4. A Quote or Other Text
Is there a passage from the Bible that resonates with you? For me, it’s Luke 10:41-42: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
The saints also have great quotes to fall back on, like Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s “Verso l’alto!”, which means, “To the heights!” We can turn to figures in the Bible or saints to understand that, they experienced similar challenges, even to those we face in 2020, and have left us words of wisdom we can lean on. Print out or jot down some holy text and stick it on your computer or even frame it nearby!
Bonus Tips
During your breaks, Blessed is She and Abiding Together are two great Catholic women’s podcasts to listen to. Plus, if you’re looking and for something calming and meditative to listen as you hammer out a project, Gregorian chant might be your jam! I recently discovered this Dominican friar duo who sings Gregorian chant in gorgeous chapels in Switzerland.
After earning her Ed.M. in International Education Policy from Harvard in 2018, Sagra Alvarado is now a young professional in Washington, DC. In her personal time, Sagra enjoys writing and has published articles as a freelance writer. Sagra is also a Beautycounter consultant, and seeks to advocate clean beauty for women, so women can feel beautiful both inside and out. She seeks to grow deeper her Catholic faith through fellowship and enjoys leading the Women’s Group at her local parish. Ask her any question about Tolkien literature, and you’ll get an hour-long lecture.