53. On Abstinence from Servile Works

Tullius, a preacher, about to hold a conference concerning the observance of feast days, says that, in order to discern servile works from non-servile, one must chiefly attend to these things: whether a work is done gratuitously or for pay; whether it is ordered to gain or for the sake of recreation; whether, finally, it brings with it great or light bodily fatigue. Hence he infers that a work cannot be considered servile if, for example, it is done with no hope of gain and by way of recreation, or so that idleness may be avoided, or if it can be exercised with light bodily fatigue: such as knitting stockings by hand, making rosaries and scapulars, painting images with a needle, setting type, photography, and other such things.

Q. What as to these things?

R. To the first. Cf. I. M. 652 seqq.

To the second. 1. A servile work is that which is exercised directly and immediately through the powers of the body, and by its intrinsic nature tends directly and immediately to the utility of the body, and which is usually done by servants. Wherefore the criterion of a servile work is partly intrinsic, namely from the nature of the work itself; and partly extrinsic, namely from common custom and from the common estimation of men. It is false, therefore, that one must chiefly attend to gratuity, intention, and bodily fatigue. For gratuity, and intention or end, since they are merely extrinsic circumstances, do not change the intrinsic nature of the work. Bodily fatigue, moreover, is also had both in liberal works and in common works. Therefore the work of plowing another's field, even gratis and only from charity, is certainly a servile work. But to play the organ, to dance, to walk, is not a servile work, even if this is done for a long time and with much fatigue. Nor, again, is transcription, though long and laborious, a servile work, even if it is done for gain. Therefore Tullius errs in the criterion assigned.

2. To knit stockings by hand, considered in itself, is a servile work, and such also by the common estimation of men. But the light fatigue can make it licit for a longer time, from a just cause; yet it does not make it simply licit.

3. To make rosaries and scapulars is also a servile work, if considered in itself, and there is little matter whether rosaries and scapulars are made, or chains for watches and handkerchiefs; for the distinction is material. Yet an extrinsic element can enter which excuses, namely piety, or which altogether permits, namely legitimate custom, as happens in certain places, provided that these things are done merely to foster piety; for then, by common opinion and estimation, such work is regarded as a work of piety proper to nuns or to other pious persons, and not as servile work. A case, for example, would be if, during the sacred time of a mission, such things had to be distributed to the faithful.

4. To paint images with a needle cannot be regarded as servile work. For this does not agree with the definition given, and it is chiefly a work of ingenuity, which is also exercised by noble women.

5. The composition of type is not in itself a servile work. For it is equivalent to writing, and is exercised chiefly through the powers of the mind. And although, indeed, an illiterate person can materially arrange the letters, nevertheless he can never in this way form coherent words and sentences. Yet if it is done in a public workshop, then it is servile by the common estimation of men and by custom; because the faithful abhor that apparatus and manner of mercenary and artisan work. Hence all condemn typographers working on feast days.

6. Finally, photography is not servile work. For it is a work of ingenuity and science, and by professors of the natural sciences it is reckoned among the works by which natural science is advanced. Besides, it is equivalent to painting, which pertains to the liberal arts, and it is exercised by nobles themselves. And finally, neither by common opinion and estimation, nor by custom, has it been prohibited on feast days. At most it could be regarded as servile work if it were done with base apparatus and in a gross manner. Cf. Scav., 12th ed., Milan, 1784, l. 2, n. 260.