School, grades, and more

[PraiseChrist]

Dear Catholics,

Where it considered immoral for a student to place a lot of his effort in schoolwork? Where is the boundary between this and sinning against putting God first?

Thank you

 

[MichaelHowling]

It doesn’t have to get in between you and God. Make sure you reserve some time each day for communication with God. He knows we have things we have to complete in life …He shouldn’t have to be in competition with anything. If you believe that your school work is becoming a problem, like I said…at least reserve some time for prayer each day. Before doing your school work, say a little prayer asking God to bless you in your work and intend to do your school work and go towards your career in the hopes of being able to serve Him in a very special way by doing it. That way, you make the time you’re doing school work…a sacrifice of love to God and you refocus a part of your day…your school work … to being yet another way you bring yourself closer to God.

 

[1ke]

Where it considered immoral for a student to place a lot of his effort in schoolwork?

No.

Where is the boundary between this and sinning against putting God first?

Way out in outer space, past Pluto.

Even the great saints who studied at university to get their doctorates, taught at university, and were professional theologians were not guilty of what you propose.

What makes you think putting effort into schoolwork is immoral?

 

[MomaMary8]

Dear Catholics,

Where it considered immoral for a student to place a lot of his effort in schoolwork? Where is the boundary between this and sinning against putting God first?

Thank you

If the school work is done for God there is nothing between the work and God.

One has to study… to gain the world and conquer it for God. Then we can raise the level of our efforts: we can try to turn the work we do into an encounter with the Lord and the foundation to support those who will follow our way in the future.

In this way, study will become prayer. ~St. JoseMaria, The Furrow #526

 

[RPRPsych]

Dear Catholics,

Where it considered immoral for a student to place a lot of his effort in schoolwork?

I think you’ll find it in Genesis 3: 25.

Where is the boundary between this and sinning against putting God first?

According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, all knowledge and learning is mere straw compared to a direct encounter and revelation from God. So it’s a very, very thin line.

(what, can’t we joke about these things from time to time? )

 

[gardenswithkids]

Skipping Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation in order to study is one example of putting grades before God.

 

[kptrs]

I went to college to be a special education teacher. I treated becoming a teacher as a mission and calling from God. All my class work and internship work was done for God and with the purpose of fulfilling His call. Essentially, all the work I did was for God’s glory, to serve Him by teaching His children and helping them reach the full potential He wanted them to reach.

 

[EasterJoy]

According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, all knowledge and learning is mere straw compared to a direct encounter and revelation from God. So it’s a very, very thin line.

(what, can’t we joke about these things from time to time? )

C’mon, the OP is being serious (although quoting the saint who took the time to write Summa Theologica would have been a hint that your tongue was in your cheek).

 

[EasterJoy]

I went to college to be a special education teacher. I treated becoming a teacher as a mission and calling from God. All my class work and internship work was done for God and with the purpose of fulfilling His call. Essentially, all the work I did was for God’s glory, to serve Him by teaching His children and helping them reach the full potential He wanted them to reach.

This is praiseworthy. The only caveat is to not use the “my work is my prayer” excuse to avoid religious duties in favor of academic ones, but I don’t think you’re saying that.

 

[RPRPsych]

I went to college to be a special education teacher. I treated becoming a teacher as a mission and calling from God. All my class work and internship work was done for God and with the purpose of fulfilling His call. Essentially, all the work I did was for God’s glory, to serve Him by teaching His children and helping them reach the full potential He wanted them to reach.

 

[kptrs]

This is praiseworthy. The only caveat is to not use the “my work is my prayer” excuse to avoid religious duties in favor of academic ones, but I don’t think you’re saying that.

Right.

I went to Mass on every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. I attended daily Mass when possible and often stopped by the church on campus in between classes to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. I never missed Mass or neglected my prayers in order to fulfill school obligations.

 

[PraiseChrist]

Thank you, but I’m not talking about religious work, like the Summa, or philosophy based in Catholic teaching that young saints (Dominic Savio, Aloysius, ect.) studied.

I’m talking about modern books, modern textbooks–purely secular work that only talks about religion to criticize it.

 

[1ke]

Thank you, but I’m not talking about religious work, like the Summa, or philosophy based in Catholic teaching that young saints (Dominic Savio, Aloysius, ect.) studied.

I’m talking about modern books, modern textbooks–purely secular work that only talks about religion to criticize it.

Yes we know that. If you truly believe studying and doing well in school is somehow immoral, it is time to talk to your pastor and seek counsel because your compass needle is not pointing north. You are off course, spiritually.