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Carole Mikita Reporting As the end of summer and beginning of the school year approach, Pope Benedict XVI is warning about the dangers of excessive work.
Catholics in Utah agree, but say that advice can often be challenging.
We call it 'the rat race'. People have become work- obsessed.
Many take time each week to find peace, but should the two be separate?
This weekend, Pope Benedict XVI warned against excessive work. He quoted St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who said this, 800 years ago.
"See where these accursed occupations can lead you, if you continue to lose yourself in them."
The Pope said: "Numerous occupations often lead to 'hardness of heart.' They are no more than suffering for the spirit, loss of intelligence and dispersion of grace."
Once again Pope Benedict continues a message from Pope John Paul, who said, "People were created for work. Work was not created for people."
Father David Bittmenn/ St. Patrick's Parish: "The role of work is just to kind of help the person realize the capacities they have and in the process you help in the whole process of creation."
Susan Northway believes the Pope's message follows one about the importance of vacations and how much his own time off renewed him.
Susan Cook Northway/ Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City: "He took his name from Benedict, and that's Benedict's great gift to us... the idea that a life should be balanced between prayer and work."
At the Newman Center the faithful say it's possible, but a challenge.
Walter Arabasz: "The bottom line, balance. And if one immerses oneself in work, separating oneself from the divine, then a problem."
Teresa Mixco: "It's very difficult to do. I try to come to daily mass to center myself, to try to remind myself what is more important."
Work, they say, can go two ways... drudgery, or part of your daily inspiration.
The Pope's message also included the single word 'priorities.'
