On Thursday March 19th, the church universal celebrates the feast of Saint Joseph. Then on Monday May 1st the church celebrates the feast of St. Joseph the worker. The feast day of ‘Joseph the Worker’ has an interesting origin. When this feast day was promulgated, May 1 was the celebration of “May Day” by the Communists. To counter this secular celebration of what work meant to them, in 1955 Pope Pius XII instituted this feast of St. Joseph the Worker. It also had another purpose — to increase devotion to the saint who was the model of workers, and to uphold those who provided for their families as did St. Joseph to the Holy Family. The institution of this feast day reminded the entire world about the dignity and importance of work. In 2005 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI noted: “It is necessary to live a spirituality that helps believers to sanctify themselves through their work, imitating St Joseph, who had to provide with his own hands for the daily needs of the Holy Family and whom, consequently, the Church holds up as Patron of workers.” Pope St. John Paul II focused on St. Joseph in Redemptoris Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer). He said, “If the Family of Nazareth is an example and model for human families, in the order of salvation and holiness, so too, by analogy, is Jesus’ work at the side of Joseph the carpenter. In our own day, the Church has emphasized this by instituting the liturgical memorial of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1.” Pope John Paul later in another encyclical entitled ‘Laborem Exercens,’ affirms that “The Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated, and to help guide social changes so as to ensure authentic progress by man and society. . .” Working isn’t just to receive a paycheck! There is something deeply rooted within each of us that when we work, it gives us meaning, purpose, and closely aligns us to the spiritual mission of St. Joseph. Just ask anyone unemployed how they feel! During this time of the uncertainty within the world, let’s pray especially for those who are unemployed and those underemployed. Through the intercession of St. Joseph the Worker, may God help all who are struggling to find employment and to speedily help those awaiting to return to work. May the blessings of Jesus’ foster father, continue to bless our church, our great nation and all workers so that together, we may feel needed, accepted, and fulfilled in all we do as we labor in His service. Fr. Roach
