Saint Joseph the Worker
Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in the Roman Calendar in 1955. May Dy was chosen for this particular feast due to the fact that this is Labour Day in many countries. Saint Joseph is invoked by workers and all those who seek justice for workers. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states this about work: “In work, the person exercises and fulfills in part the potential inscribed in his nature. The primordial value of labour stems from man himself... Work is for man, not man for work.”
(CCC 2428).
Let us pray.
O God Creator of all things,
who laid down for the human race the law of work,
graciously grant that by the example of Saint Joseph
and under his patronage
we may continue the works You set us to do
and attain the rewards You promise.
Through our Lord Jesus, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
who laid down for the human race the law of work,
graciously grant that by the example of Saint Joseph
and under his patronage
we may continue the works You set us to do
and attain the rewards You promise.
Through our Lord Jesus, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
For a substantial teaching on "Human Work," I recommend reading chapter 6 of The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Some factions within the Church today seem to dismiss social justice out of hand. What is the difference between social justice and the social teaching of the Church? Are we free to disagree with one but not the other?
ReplyDeleteI’m thinking Laborem Exercens (sp?) by JPII would also be good reading.
Laborem Exercens by written by Pope St. John Paul on September 14, 1981 on the subject of human work. Today it remains an important part of Catholic Social Teaching begun by Pope Leo XIII'e encyclical letter "Rerum Novarum."
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