This weekend our country celebrates “Labor Day.” It is a strange celebration without a lot of ritual except for some we have created like picnics, parades, and barbecuing. The US Department of Labor Defines Labor Day as “a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and wellbeing of our country.” The Catholic Church exercised a prominent role in the formation of the America’s labor movement. In 1891, Pope Leo XIII wrote an encyclical letter entitled “Rerum Novarum” (New Things) that articulated the Catholic Church’s teaching on the importance of work as it helps instill dignity and purpose in the lives of people. Pope Leo criticized the concentration of wealth for only a few at the top; He spoke out against the abuses that workers faced in the workplace; He demanded that workers be granted certain rights and safety regulations and be entitled to work under safe conditions. The encyclical emphasis the fact that work instills a sense of dignity, pride, and gives meaning and purpose to our lives. This weekend we pray for workers, for better working conditions, and those who find themselves unemployed or underemployed. We also remember our parents and those who helped instill a good workethic in our lives. I would like to share a few quotes about the value and purpose of work. “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration” Thomas Edison “Nothing will work unless you do” Maya Angelou “I didn’t get there by wishing or hoping for it, but by working for it.” Estée Lauder “All Labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence” Dr King Jr. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord and not for men.” St. Paul “Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not merely philanthropy. It is a moral obligation . . . “ Pope Francis. May each of you have a blest Labor Day. Fr. Roach
