Chapter XLVI: How to Regard One’s Employers

WHERE both parties to the agreement are good Catholics, filled heart and soul with a desire to do the will of God, and working out their salvation with all the earnestness it deserves, the relation between them becomes a most beautiful one.

The workman endeavors to please his employer, doing all that has to be done, not because he is compelled to do it, but of a good will, remembering the Scripture: “With a good will doing service, as unto the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatsoever good every one shall do the same he shall receive of the Lord, whether bond or free” (Eph. vi. 7).

He obeys his employer in the simplicity of his heart, as he would obey Jesus Christ — that is, with the utmost respect and affection. Such a one will say to himself: “We are brothers in Jesus Christ, both redeemed by His precious blood, both equal in all Christian privileges, both equal in God’s sight, with whom there is no respect of persons; and which of us shall be highest in heaven will depend on who has been the most faithful in our station on earth. But I must remember that we have been placed by God’s will in different positions. My dignity and honor, in God’s sight, will depend on my not forgetting for a moment the position He has placed me in, and in behaving accordingly.

Such a one will not feel degraded or lowered one bit by obeying any just demands. He will feel a noble pride and honor in performing them. No matter what it is he has to do, whether it is cleaning out sewers, or feeding pigs, or blacking boots, or washing dirty clothes; it makes no difference. All these things are quite indifferent in themselves, and when it comes in the line of duty to do them, it is a glory and honor for us to do them.

Take a doctor, for example; let him come to visit his sick patient; suppose he wears a gold watch and has on white kid gloves, he must dress loathsome sores, and he must perform oftentimes the most disagreeable offices, and if he does not do it, it is a shame and disgrace to him, both in the eyes of God and of men.

So, a good Catholic will throw overboard all foolish and hateful pride, and accept from the heart his position and all that it brings along with it, and simply look to do its duties, cheerfully, to the best of his power. He will love his employer at the same time that he serves him. His employer’s interest will be his own. The children of the family will be dear to him; in short, the house will be truly his home, and his employers will be like second father and mother to him.

And the good employer will entertain corresponding sentiments towards his dependents. He will remember the words of the Holy Ghost, who, after telling those who serve what their conduct ought to be, says: “And you, masters, do the same thing to them, forbearing threatenings; knowing that the Lord both of them and you is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with Him” (Eph. vi. 9).

Such a master will never forget that all in his employ are his brethren in Jesus Christ, and he will feel a deep interest in their welfare, both of soul and body.

A good mistress will be anxious that her domestics should attend Mass every Sunday, and regulate the household accordingly. She will endeavor to have them attend to Confession and Communion; warn them against extravagance, light behavior, and bad company. We have an example of this in the Prince de Condé, who would have his servants attend Mass every day. He used to notice ever if the smallest boy was absent, and watched over their conduct as if he felt a responsibility for their souls.

To a good man his dependents will be in many respects like his own children. Of course, then, he will “forbear threatenings,” that is, harsh, conduct, when it is uncalled for. Children must be threatened sometimes for their own good, so must those who work carelessly, but it will not be done in an unfeeling and domineering way. He will never look down upon and despise those under him, but respect them as brethren in the Lord. And for one who has served him faithfully he will feel the deepest respect as well as affection.