Where is the line between trusting in God and not being lazy?

[SHoJjhmou]

Where is the line? For instance, it is Sunday night, and you always say a rosary on Sunday night. However, you have an interview for a job on Monday morning and it would be good if you would put some finishing touches on your note card, etc.

Would you be trusting in God by praying the rosary instead of preparing for the interview, or would you be sinning?

Thank you for your answers.

 

[DavidFilmer]

For instance, it is Sunday night, and you always say a rosary on Sunday night. However, you have an interview for a job on Monday morning and it would be good if you would put some finishing touches on your note card, etc.

I’ve interviewed a lot of people, and none have ever showed up with note cards. I get a little annoyed when someone wants to have his own resume in front of him (he doesn’t know it by heart?) But I get your question.

Would you be trusting in God by praying the rosary instead of preparing for the interview, or would you be sinning?

There would be no sin, because no Catholic is under any obligation to pray the Rosary (unless they have made a solemn promise to do so).

Catholics are expected to adhere to the five precepts of the Church, and to nothing more. Catholics do not sin by neglecting religious practices other than those in the precepts.

 

[Inquiringperson]

I’ve interviewed a lot of people, and none have ever showed up with note cards. I get a little annoyed when someone wants to have his own resume in front of him (he doesn’t know it by heart?) But I get your question.

There would be no sin, because no Catholic is under any obligation to pray the Rosary (unless they have made a solemn promise to do so).

Catholics are expected to adhere to the five precepts of the Church, and to nothing more. Catholics do not sin by neglecting religious practices other than those in the precepts.

Well, there’s also Canon Law, 10 commandments, moral laws, maybe more stuff that I can’t think of on the top of my head. Sorry for nit picking.

 

[DavidFilmer]

Well, there’s also Canon Law, 10 commandments, moral laws, maybe more stuff that I can’t think of on the top of my head. Sorry for nit picking.

I said practices. Canon Law enjoins exactly five practices on the laity (the five precepts of the Church).

The Ten Commandments are things that we ought NOT do. That’s not a practice. A practice is an activity we DO. A sin is something we ought NOT do.

 

[Hans_W]

Good question!

There is the saying “God helps those who help themselves”

I suppose one needs to pray to find this fine dividing line in all the difficult situations one finds oneself.

 

[SHoJjhmou]

There would be no sin, because no Catholic is under any obligation to pray the Rosary (unless they have made a solemn promise to do so).

No, I was wondering if it would be sinful not to prepare for the interview, which could affect your family.

 

[moonlight87]

If I would find myself in that situation, I would probably choose to prepare the job interview.
Especially if I really needed that job in order to support my own family.
Your duties come first.

 

[moonlight87]

No, I was wondering if it would be sinful not to prepare for the interview, which could affect your family.

A few years ago I was attending mass in a Cathedral and the Homily of the Father was about St. Aloysius Gonzaga.
St. Aloysius was a seminarian and he was talking with his fellow seminarians about what they would do if they had only one hour left to live. The first one would visit his Family, the other one would start praying and asking God to be merciful, and so on.
However St. Aloysius said: If I was time to play, I would continue playing, if it was time to sleep, I would continue sleeping and if it was time to pray I would continue praying.
This is food for thought. It is about doing the will of God, about fullfilling the duties imposed on us.

 

[Sarcelle]

No, I was wondering if it would be sinful not to prepare for the interview, which could affect your family.

Why not pray while preparing for the interview. Prayer may not involve saying the rosary but any spontaneous conversation with God. Involve God in anything you do. Imagine Him as walking beside you or being with you like a friend would. I am sure He would love to be involved in the smallest details of your life.

It does not have to be either/or.

 

[goodguy2342]

A few years ago I was attending mass in a Cathedral and the Homily of the Father was about St. Aloysius Gonzaga.
St. Aloysius was a seminarian and he was talking with his fellow seminarians about what they would do if they had only one hour left to live. The first one would visit his Family, the other one would start praying and asking God to be merciful, and so on.
However St. Aloysius said: If I was time to play, I would continue playing, if it was time to sleep, I would continue sleeping and if it was time to pray I would continue praying.
This is food for thought. It is about doing the will of God, about fullfilling the duties imposed on us.

This is interesting to me… can you eloborate on the intended message?

 

[moonlight87]

Goodguy I just figured out that today the 21fst of June is actually the Feast day of St. Aloysius Gonzaga! I didn’t know that when I wrote about him a few hours ago.

I am trying if I can find the particular quote on the internet.
I don’t know if my own interpretation is correct but I see it this way:
He entered the society of Jesus and he wanted to explain that His superior in a sense replaced God and by being obedient to his superior, He knew he was always doing the will of God, whether he was sleeping, working or even playing.(this is also one of the reasons why religious life is being looked on as more maritorious: by being obedient to the superior, one is every minute doing Gods will for Him as God speaks directly through him/her).
However I as a lay felt very much attracted to this way of thinking as well. I mean, isn’t the royal way to sainthood, not about doing the will of God and being obedient to God, about being loyal in performing the duties that are assigned to us. In our work, family, or people who are in need of our care.

 

[ichabode]

Good question!

There is the saying “God helps those who help themselves”

I think Bobbie Bouchet from Water Boy said that. My momma says.

Well my momma always told me the same thing as well, and aint all mommas the same.