Finding Rest in the Fire: Why Rest and Relaxation Are Essential for the Catholic Firefighter

A few weekends ago, my wife and I celebrated our 31st anniversary in one of our favorite northern Michigan locations. It was a welcome chance to leave behind the stress of the last few months and simply slow down. The quiet mornings, the familiar roads, and the time alone together reminded me how much I’ve been pushing myself.

The truth is, I am guilty of not resting well. I tend to take on too much, say yes to every project, every responsibility, every new challenge. I’ve convinced myself that if there is work to be done, I should be the one to shoulder it. And somewhere along the way, that drive — which can be good when it fuels service — turns into something that wears the soul thin.

Fire trucks get serviced. SCBAs get tested. Hoses get inspected and hung to dry. But firefighters often push through exhaustion as if we are immune to strain. I’ve done it more times than I can count. And what happens? We run ourselves into the ground. Not all at once, but a little bit at a time — physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. That weekend away reminded me how badly I needed to stop, breathe, and let God refill what I had been pouring out.

Rest as a Command, Not a Suggestion

From the beginning of creation, God modeled the importance of rest. After forming the heavens and the earth, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done” (Genesis 2:3).

If the Creator Himself took time to rest, who are we to think we can go without it? For firefighters, that rest might not always fall on a Sunday. It may come in small moments—between calls, during a quiet night at the station, or a walk after shift when we finally let the tension ease from our shoulders. These pauses are sacred. They remind us that we are human beings, not machines.

Spiritual Stillness in a Chaotic Profession

The fire service teaches constant readiness, but our faith teaches constant surrender. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

It’s not simply a break from work—it’s communion with the One who gives our work meaning. When we rest in God, we aren’t escaping the world; we’re returning to our foundation. In prayer, the Rosary, or the quiet of Adoration, we allow the stress and strain of the job to settle and heal. Christ tells us, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27).

The Cost of Neglecting Rest

Too many in our profession wear exhaustion like a badge of honor. We push through fatigue, work the extra shift, and tell ourselves we’ll rest later. But “later” rarely comes. Without rest, our judgment dulls, our patience shortens, and our spiritual clarity fades.

Even Christ took time away from the crowds. “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while,” He told His disciples (Mark 6:31). If the Son of God needed rest, then so do we.

Rest as Renewal, Not Escape

True rest isn’t about idleness or indulgence—it’s about renewal. It allows us to return to duty with a clear mind, a stronger body, and a heart anchored in faith. For Catholic firefighters, rest becomes a form of prayer: an acknowledgment that our strength, our breath, and our time are all gifts from God.

The Catechism reminds us that “Sunday… is a day of protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money” (CCC 2172). Even if our schedule keeps us from Sunday rest, we can honor that spirit by setting aside time for peace, prayer, and gratitude.

A Prayer for the Weary Firefighter

Lord of Mercy,
You know the burden of those who serve.
You watch over us through smoke and flame, through fear and fatigue.
Teach us to rest in You.
Remind us that our worth is not in our work,
but in being Your sons and daughters.
Renew our strength, restore our peace,
and prepare us once more to serve with compassion and courage.
Amen.

Rest is not retreat — it is readiness renewed. By resting, we honor the God who calls us to both serve and be still. When we balance the firehouse with faith, the shift with silence, and the chaos with calm, we become not just better firefighters, but holier men and women — ready to bring light into every dark place we are called to enter.

Pro Dio et Populo – For God and the People