Routledge Faithful Careers: Integrating the Catholic Faith and Work

In Faithful Careers Peter M. Smudde contends that God calls us to live an "integrated life" that unifies both the spiritual and the secular aspects of life. As an introduction to integrating the Catholic faith with one’s work, this book answers, in the Catholic context, basic questions of what work is, why work is important, who we are as workers, how may we have fruitful careers, where may we find help about faith-work integration, and when we should take next steps toward better integrating our work and the Catholic faith. Smudde demonstrates how the Catholic faith truly does apply to our labor, and that our lives depend on that labor, by putting forth particular matters of the faith that pertain to faithful careers. He then puts into real-world context, pertinent teachings, concepts, principles, practices, and other means the Catholic Church provides for us, so that those lessons can be practically applied on a daily basis. Sources such as the Bible and writings of the saints, popes, contemporary Catholic spiritual writers, apologists, and scholars are applied to strengthen the support made about the book’s content. Catholic professionals at all stages of their careers will welcome this insightful book, which explores the call to put spirituality in the foreground―to obtain ever-deeper faith and, thereby, greater integration of faith in everyday life and career. Review "In this fine work, Prof. Smudde fills an important niche within the broad dialogue surrounding the integration of faith into one’s vocational career path. Faithful Careers will serve as a powerful discernment tool to help anyone interested in the Catholic faith to first become well informed about the rich spirituality and theology of human labor and then to apply that experience in making wise and holy career choices. The practical points for prayer and suggested plans for action that are included with each chapter will systematically direct readers along a vocational journey that renders daily life more meaningful as the workplace becomes more faith full." Fr. John Kartje, Rector, Mundelein Seminary "In Faithful Careers Pete Smudde shares his Catholic journey in a poignant and thoughtful narrative .He clearly lays out a foundational truth about the Catholic faith: To be a faithful worker is to work at one's own faith .In sharing his own reflections on the integration of work and faith, Smudde encourages every Catholic to find their faith in their work and to see it not simply as a job, but as a vocation we are called to by God .He carefully and cogently wields scripture and Catholic teachings not for a theological argument, but for an exercise in deep personal introspection .This is a must read for any Catholic, and any person seeking to find meaning in their daily efforts." Joseph M. Valenzano III, Ph.D., Professor, University of Dayton "Dr. Smudde has shown a spotlight on the importance of understanding God’s will from a holistic vantage point and integrating that knowledge in all aspects of our lives especially our work world. Our Catholic faith can’t be siloed, but rather, it needs to be a part of the very blood and sinew of our everyday lives. Dr. Smudde highlights the significance of utilizing the gifts and talents that God has given us while staying connected to God through daily prayer will not only yield amazing results for us individually, but more importantly, working together as a Catholic community will reveal God’s designs beyond anything we could ever fathom." Dan Wagner, Government Relations Professional "In 2020, the world of work turned upside down with many going remote full time. Removed from the day-to-day in my office with my team, I had a lot more quiet time. Questions of, ‘What is my purpose?’, ‘What do I *really* do?’, ‘Do I have the right focus in life?’, ‘Do my career goals align with the teachings of my Catholic faith or do they hinder my spiritual growth?’, became louder when the hustle and bustle of do