"Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit, are marvellously called and prepared so that even richer fruits of the Spirit maybe produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit - indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born - all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (CCC 901).

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LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on her method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary.

L - Listen (Receive the Word.)

O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan – As an image-bearer of God, how does your work reflect some aspect of God’s work? Do you work with justice and charity?

I | Ignatian –  As you read John the Baptist's exchange with those who ask about work and calling, what are your thoughts? Can you imagine yourself in this scenario? What does God want you to do?

A | Augustinian – In Genesis 2.15, the Hebrew word for work is ‘abad, which is also the same word used to describe the work of the priests in the temple when they lead the people in worship of God. What does this mean for you? How does it apply to your work? 

T | Thomistic – Thomist personality types often have the hardest time balancing their priorities properly because they are so goal-driven and not as relationship-driven. What has God said to you about the level of balance or imbalance in your life through this series? 

V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

Glorious St. Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my many sins; to work with thankfulness and joy, considering it an honor to employ and develop, by means of labor, the gifts received from God; to work with order, peace, prudence and patience, never surrendering to weariness or difficulties; to work, above all, with purity of intention, and with detachment from self, having always death before my eyes and the account which I must render of time lost, of talents wasted, of good omitted, of vain complacency in success so fatal to the work of God. Amen.+

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*Find out your prayer temperament with this quiz! LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

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Read the Transcript

You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.