May 01 2019 - St. Joseph the Worker - Work and the Meaning of Life

For many years, the Soviet Union and other Communist Eastern Bloc countries held massive rallies and marches on the first day of May, which they called May Day,  to celebrate the contribution of workers to the Communist State. “Celebrating the dignity of work”, sounds like a noble ideal.  In fact, in our own country, we celebrate Labor Day on the 1st Monday of September, as a national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

In 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted this feast of St. Joseph the Worker, as a sort of liturgical labor day. And, he did so, partially, to counter Communist error. Remember, that Communism is essentially atheistic. The highest good is not to serve God, but to serve the state. Communism strips the individual of his God-given dignity, and treats him as a cog in the wheel for the prosperity of the State. 

When Pope Pius XII instituted this Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955, he wished to remind the world that all of our Human Labor should be aimed, not merely at the prosperity of the state or even the individual, but God. 

The Psalmist says, “Unless God is the builder, our building is in vain.”  Saint Paul says, “whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”. 

Our society is in danger of falling into the communist error again.  When a society or an individual removes all reference of God from life, we end up, as Pope Francis stated in his first encyclical “worshiping the work of our own hands”.  Pope Francis called this sort of idolatry, “an aimless passing from one lord to another…a plethora of paths leading nowhere.” 

And St. Joseph is such a wonderful example and model for us. Think of how Joseph offered to God with patience and joy, the daily labor of his carpenter’s shop, and provided for the necessities of his holy spouse and the Incarnate Son of God. His labor was at the service of helping his family be at the service of God. When God is removed from the equation, our earthly realities are transformed into idols and our labors are stripped of meaning.

When our labors are begun with faith, and carried out with faith, as it is in the example of St. Joseph, labor can become an opportunity for an encounter with God and imitation of God, who Himself is depicted in Scripture as a worker—a shepherd, a tender of vineyards, a gardener, a creator.

May God bless the work of our hands today, begun in faith, carried out in faith. Whatever we do, may we do in the name of the Lord Jesus, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -
 
That the Holy Catholic Church, entrusted to the protection of Saint Joseph, may continue to labor faithfully for the salvation of souls.

That our young people, especially those at risk of disengaging from society, may come to discover the fulfillment found in work and self-sacrifice.

For the unemployed and underemployed, and that all who work may receive a just reward for their labors.

That St. Joseph patron of the dying may help all those who will die today to know repentance of their sins and the grace of a peaceful death.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, those who have supported us by their work, those who fought and died for our freedom, for all of the souls in purgatory and for X, for whom this mass is offered.

Gracious Father, you created us in your divine image, hear our prayers, and grant us the help we need to work always for your Holy Will, through Christ Our Lord.