This morning, as I was ironing one of my shirts, I glanced at the label just inside the collar. I noticed that the shirt was made in Thailand. At that moment, I felt that I needed to pray for the people who created my shirt and got it to me so that I can wear it.
One of the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching is Solidarity. As Catholics, we believe that all persons are part of "one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in our shrinking world." (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, http://usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml)
One way we can promote solidarity is by praying our clothing labels. Clothing is made all over the world. Some clothing is made legitimately, utilizing a system that recognizes human dignity and pays a fair wage to all workers involved in the clothing creation and distribution process. Some clothing, however, is still created in sweatshops where human, many who are young females, are exploited by being made to work very long hours with poor compensation.
Praying our clothing labels involves looking at clothing labels when we buy items - whether we buy them new at department stores or used as thrift or consignment shops - and then praying for the persons who had a role in creating the item or getting it to the store at which we are buying it. We can also pray our clothing labels every time we get dressed by looking at the label and praying for the persons involved in its creation. We pray for the people who create and distribute the clothing we wear that they may be safe, that they may be recognized as humans who have an inherent dignity because of their creation in the image and likeness of The Creator, that they may be paid a just wage so that they can provide for their families, and that they may feel God's comfort and love in all areas of their lives.
So the next time you get dressed or get your children dressed, look at the label and pray for the persons who had a role in creating your clothing and getting it to you to wear. Give thanks to God for them, and pray for their well-being.
