Man Up!

Why Do Men Work? Prayer, Purpose and Evangelizing Your Workplace, Part 2 — Sam Halligan

Episode Summary

How do Catholic men turn an ordinary job into prayer, purpose, and evangelization? Joe Stopulos and Sam Halligan of FORGE wrap up their two-part series on men and work, looking at the purposelessness many men face, the Benedictine model of ora et labora, and St. Josemaría Escrivá’s vision of everyday work as a path to holiness. They also share practical ways to pray through the workday and to be a missionary to your coworkers.

Episode Notes

Is the job you have today the one God is calling you to? In Part 2 of this two-part series, Joe Stopulos and Sam Halligan of FORGE go beyond the question of why we work. They look at how a man’s daily work can become prayer, give him purpose, and become a mission field for evangelization. Joe notes up front that this is a philosophical conversation, not official Church teaching.

In this episode:

• The unexamined life: Joe opens with Socrates and asks whether you are using your God-given talents in the job you have now.
• John Adams and the generations: In a letter to Abigail, Adams wrote that he studied politics and war so his grandchildren could study painting and poetry. Joe asks what happens when a society, or an AI-driven economy, loses the habit of real work.
• The crisis of purposelessness: Sam explains how closely a man’s sense of purpose is tied to making a difference. When men feel replaceable, they lose their footing. Fatherhood, lived as a vocation, gives a man a reason to get up every morning.
• Can you retire at 40? Not working a traditional job isn’t wrong, but stewardship is. Spending every day at the country club is a wasted life, and your kids are watching. Sam also explains why a lottery jackpot often leaves people with no aim.
• Even spreadsheets can be worship: Following St. Paul (Romans 12:1), any task, even a dull one, can be offered to God as spiritual worship.
• Ora et labora: The Benedictine rhythm of prayer and work puts prayer first. Anchor your day in prayer, then let your work and your prayer feed each other.
• Praying always at work: Set reminders on your phone or watch through the day. Pray the Angelus at noon (under three minutes) and the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m. (under ten minutes).
• St. Josemaría Escrivá and Opus Dei: Lay work is a real path to holiness. You may be the only Catholic some of your coworkers ever meet.
• Your workplace is your mission field: Men are stirred by movies like Braveheart, but modern work can feel like a grind until Friday. What would change if you saw your office as a mission? Be the light at work, give exceptional service, and leave people better off than you found them.
• Joe’s closing reflection: Pray first and then work. See your vocation as a path to holiness and your workplace as your mission field. Use a men’s group to sharpen the sword.

Missed Part 1? Go back to last week’s episode on the theology of work, Genesis, and whether you need to enjoy your job.

Join a FORGE small group and explore the Men and Work course (click the Courses tab):
https://myforge.org/

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