WALL-E and Holy Leisure

When we hear the word leisure, what do we think of? Many people think of leisure as simply what you do when you are not working. It is simply another word for free time. With that understanding, anything goes, such as binge-watching a show or scrolling through our phones. But I want to offer another definition. The type of rest the Church had in mind is called otium sanctum, or holy leisure. This is not the mere absence of strenuous activity. Instead, it is a certain disposition of the soul.

Josef Pieper, a Catholic philosopher, argues that leisure is a form of spiritual openness and receptivity—a posture necessary for contemplation and worship. He makes the following comment:

“Leisure is the basis of culture. It is not the attitude of the one who intervenes but of the one who opens himself; not of someone who seizes but of one who lets go, who lets himself go… It is only in leisure that the truly human is preserved and cultivated.”

The Catholic Church understands holy leisure as a part of living a fully human life and receiving the fullness of the gift of being human. With this conception of leisure in mind, do we feel like we are getting the full human experience while mindlessly scrolling through our phones or unplugging our minds as we binge-watch a show? Is this the “posture necessary for contemplation and worship” of which Pieper speaks?

I invite you to witness sacred rest come to life in the Pixar film WALL-E. WALL-E follows a small robot programmed to clean up an abandoned Earth, left in ruins by overconsumption. Meanwhile, humanity lives aboard the spaceship Axiom, a fully automated vessel that caters to their every need. Over time, the humans lose touch with life itself. They never leave their hovering chairs, their bodies weaken and grow in size, and their eyes remain glued to screens.

The director of WALL-E, Andrew Stanton, had a specific plan in mind when portraying humanity as he did.

“I wasn’t trying to make the humans into fat, lazy consumers,” he told Christianity Today, “but to make humanity appear to be completely consumed by everything that can distract you—to the point where they lost connection with each other, even though they’re right next to each other. The reason I made them look like big babies was because a NASA guy told me that they haven’t yet simulated gravity perfectly for long-term residency in space. And if they don’t get it just right, atrophy kicks in and you begin to lose your muscle tone—you just turn into a blob of goo.”

Originally, the Axiom was intended to host a five-year space cruise before returning to a restored Earth. Instead, after 700 years, it became a permanent escape from a polluted Earth, offering a life of endless amusement: golf simulators, pools, and unlimited food and drink. It was far from the plan, and far from true living.

Luckily, the story does not end there. We see the redemption of mankind through the unlikely character of WALL-E. While carrying out his daily task, WALL-E has the contemplative spirit necessary to, as Pieper says, “open himself” to the beauty and simple joys the world has to offer. In his garage, he has a collection of knick-knacks that he found on Earth that are a charming expression of his fascination with creation.

Of course, what is missing from his garage is the crown jewel of creation: woman. Both in the beginning and for WALL-E, this woman is EVE. She comes down out of heaven in the form of a dove to bring new life to WALL-E as she herself looks for new life on Earth. Thanks to WALL-E, she successfully locates a plant that proves Earth is habitable again. It then happens that the fruit (or vegetation) of EVE’s womb is what brings the message of salvation back to the Axiom.

While following EVE on her mission, WALL-E and EVE share a moment dancing in space. It is in these simple experiences that EVE comes to realize there is more to life than just her directive. There is time for relationships, for play, and for joy!

Similarly, there is a moment aboard the Axiom when, after their screens are accidentally turned off, two passengers—John and Mary—begin to truly see the world around them for the first time. Freed from their constant distractions, they notice WALL-E and EVE gracefully dance through space, share a moment of wonder, hold hands, and even playfully splash in the pool. In that simple awakening, a genuine friendship begins to form between John and Mary—a glimpse of real connection and life beyond the screen.

The examples of EVE and of John and Mary coming to life reveal the two extremes for those unaware of holy leisure. EVE was ruled by the tyranny of work and thus knew only how to seize and to achieve. John and Mary were ruled by the tyranny of amusement and thus knew only idle pleasure. Neither case approaches the heights for which mankind is made.

A common thread, then, in these examples of holy leisure is the presence of another person—someone to share the moment with, to awaken wonder, and to invite connection. Part of the human experience is to be in communion with each other and, further yet, in communion with God. St. Augustine is famous for saying, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” This foundational quote captures the idea that true rest—holy leisure—is not just relaxation, but communion with God.

As we look ahead to summer and consider how we will spend our time and be present with our families and friends, let us imagine what a season of holy leisure might look like—a summer filled with shared experiences, simple joys, and intentional moments spent with God.

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Brennan Garriques serves as the Campus Minister for Men's Ministries at Christ the King on the campus of LSU. He resides in Batou Rouge with his wife, Teresa.