The place of encounter with God is not found outside of ordinary reality, but precisely within the living fabric of our daily activities. Drawing on the teachings of the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes, recalled at the General Audience this Wednesday, September 23, the Church invites us to rediscover a comforting truth: “To encounter God, human beings do not have to abandon their earthly occupations, but can live their vocation fully by doing their daily work well and sanctifying it . ”

This universal call to holiness permeates professional work, family life, and social relationships, transforming the daily struggles into authentic paths of closeness and communion with the Creator.

The Eucharist and the hardworking hands of man

This daily, quiet effort does not float in a vacuum, but finds its source and its culmination in the liturgy. Thus, this natural union between the human and the divine finds its highest expression in the Mass, where “the fruit of human labor, represented by the bread and wine, is placed each day on the altar to be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ . “

Nothing human is left out: daily work is not annulled or set aside by the encounter with God, “but rather assumed in its entirety; and it remains, in Christ, free and laborious: indeed, in Him it finds full truth and freedom . “

God wanted to place in the hands of man and woman a creation “still in statu viae —that is, on the way, in growth— so that they may bring it to a successful conclusion through their wise activity . “

Far from being an offense to the Creator, human achievements are viewed differently: “Christians, far from thinking that the conquests achieved by man are opposed to the power of God and that the rational creature intends to rival the Creator, are, on the contrary, persuaded that the victories of man are a sign of the greatness of God and a consequence of his ineffable design . “

Debunking myths: faith, science, and progress are not enemies

This divine mandate to cultivate the world stands in stark contrast to the cultural prejudices that have marked our contemporary era. Throughout history, certain schools of thought have attempted to pit faith against reason. Under this misguided notion, “human beings and God are wrongly presented as rivals: to assert their knowledge, freedom, and progress, humanity must emancipate itself from God .” The price of this error is extremely high: by denying the relationship with God, the possibility of affirming the transcendent value of the human person is ultimately lost as well.

In response to this false idea of ​​confrontation, the Second Vatican Council clearly states that “human activity, both individual and collective, or the vast sum of efforts made by man throughout the centuries to achieve better living conditions, considered in itself, corresponds to the will of God . “

The Church has never been opposed to the development of peoples, nor to the advances of science or technology.

On the contrary, temporal progress, “insofar as it can contribute to better ordering human society, is of great interest to the kingdom of God ,” so that “all the excellent fruits of nature and of our effort, after having propagated them throughout the earth in the Spirit of the Lord and in accordance with his command, we will find them again cleansed of all stain, illuminated and transfigured . “

A lively and charity-driven progress

For this deployment of technology and knowledge to be a true advance—that is, progress “for the whole person and for all people” —the Pope emphasizes that it “must be animated and guided by charity .” Only in this way will human ingenuity be used “always to defend the dignity of man and promote the living conditions of all, especially the most disadvantaged . “

This orientation of progress towards charity cannot remain an abstract theory; it inevitably demands putting a face to the most vulnerable and looking squarely at the real wounds of our world.

It was precisely within the context of his teachings that the Holy Father wished to draw attention to the plight of children forced to flee their homeland. Migrant children and adolescents are the most vulnerable: they often face unspeakable suffering, violence, exploitation, and tragic journeys where many lose their lives.

Faced with this harsh reality, the appeal challenges us all: we cannot remain indifferent. It is everyone’s responsibility to join forces, social intelligence, and compassion to find imaginative and realistic solutions that ensure each of these young people is always cared for, supported, and protected in their dignity.

In short, the teachings of the Council extend a vibrant invitation to “share the bread of knowledge and know-how, so that all men and all peoples can develop their potential, so that together, with God’s help, we can build a better future . “