As the world marks International Workers’ Day on May 1st, the Catholic Church honors St. Joseph the Worker, underlining the profound significance of labor in human development and spiritual growth. This day not only celebrates work but also venerates St. Joseph, known for his life as a craftsman and his role as the husband of Mary and the earthly guardian of Jesus.
St. Joseph’s feast is observed twice annually: on March 19 as the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on May 1 as a model and patron of workers. The Gospels describe him as a “tekton,” a craftsman skilled in woodworking and the repair of agricultural tools, emphasizing that his sanctity was derived through labor rather than contemplation or penance.
The designation of May 1st as St. Joseph the Worker’s feast day was established by Pope Pius XII on April 24, 1955, in an address to the Catholic Association of Italian Workers. This move provided a religious dimension to the secular International Workers’ Day, celebrated globally since 1892.
Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical “Quamguam pluries” (1889) was the first papal document dedicated to St. Joseph, highlighting the benefits of his patronage across various walks of life—from families and married couples to workers and the socially disadvantaged. It underscored the universal applicability of his virtues, particularly his diligent and humble approach to labor.
A century later, Pope John Paul II, in his apostolic exhortation “Redemptoris Custos,” revisited the life lessons Jesus garnered from St. Joseph in the carpentry shop of Nazareth. He reflected on how labor, especially physical work, plays a crucial role in human development, a theme central to the Gospel narratives.
Pope Benedict XVI, in a homily on March 19, 2006, stressed that work is essential not only for individual fulfillment but also for societal advancement. He warned against idolizing labor to the point where it overshadows other aspects of life, urging a balanced approach that respects human dignity and serves the common good.
The devotion to St. Joseph has flourished particularly in Poland, with the central shrine located in Kalisz. Numerous churches across the nation are dedicated to St. Joseph, reflecting his widespread veneration as a patron of workers, families, and various social causes.
The annual pilgrimage of Polish priests, survivors of the Dachau concentration camp, to Kalisz to honor St. Joseph underscores the enduring spiritual legacy and the deep personal and communal connections fostered by this saint’s example.
St. Joseph’s Day on May 1st thus bridges the sacred and the secular, celebrating work as a means of approaching the divine and bettering the human condition, resonating with workers and families worldwide.