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Dear Freepers in Christ,

I have some interesting information, regarding the History and Theology of this Feast of Saint Joseph, The Worker.

I also have a fine Homily which has been published by the "Catholic Doors Internet Ministry" based in Canada.

If anyone is interested in reading all the Papal Encyclicals from 2006-1227-- This is the Link you have to go to.

http://www.papalencyclicals.net/all.htm

All Papal Encyclicals Online from 2006- 1227.

From the reign of Pope Honorious III – Pope Benedict, the XVI.

Mow, the articles regarding the History and Theology behind the establishment of the Feast of Saint Joseph, the Worker.

BTW, This Feast of Saint Joseph, The Worker was instituted by Pope Pius, the XII in 1955 for the Spiritual Welfare of Catholic Workers who were exposed to the ravages of "Communism".

In the Risen Lord Jesus Christ,

P.S.- These articles which I am posting should explain everything.

http://www.catholicculture.org/lit/calendar/day.cfm?date=2006-05-01

May 01, 2006
Optional Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker

The feast of St. Joseph the Worker was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955 in order to Christianize the concept of labor and give to all workmen a model and a protector. By the daily labor in his shop, offered to God with patience and joy, St. Joseph provided for the necessities of his holy spouse and of the Incarnate Son of God, and thus became an example to all laborers. "Workman and all those laboring in conditions of poverty will have reasons to rejoice rather than grieve, since they have in common with the Holy Family daily preoccupations and cares (Leo XIII)."

St. Joseph the Worker

"May Day" has long been dedicated to labor and the working man. It falls on the first day of the month that is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Pius XII expressed the hope that this feast would accentuate the dignity of labor and would bring a spiritual dimension to labor unions. It is eminently fitting that St. Joseph, a working man who became the foster-father of Christ and patron of the universal Church, should be honored on this day.

The texts of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours provide a catechetical synthesis of the significance of human labor seen in the light of faith. The Opening Prayer states that God, the creator and ruler of the universe, has called men and women in every age to develop and use their talents for the good of others. The Office of Readings, taken from the document of the Second Vatican Council on the Church in the modern world, develops this idea. In every type of labor we are obeying the command of God given in Genesis 2:15 and repeated in the responsory for the Office of Readings. The responsory for the Canticle of Zechariah says that "St. Joseph faithfully practiced the carpenter's trade. He is a shining example for all workers. " Then, in the second part of the Opening Prayer, we ask that we may do the work that God has asked of us and come to the rewards he has promised. In the Prayer after Communion we ask: "May our lives manifest your love; may we rejoice for ever in your peace."

The liturgy for this feast vindicates the right to work, and this is a message that needs to be heard and heeded in our modern society. In many of the documents issued by Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, the Second Vatican Council and Pope John Paul II, reference is made to the Christian spirit that should permeate one's work, after the example of St. Joseph. In addition to this, there is a special dignity and value to the work done in caring for the family. The Office of Readings contains an excerpt from the Vatican II document on the modern world: "Where men and women, in the course of gaining a livelihood for themselves and their families, offer appropriate service to society, they can be confident that their personal efforts promote the work of the Creator, confer benefits on their fellowmen, and help to realize God's plan in history" (no. 34).

Excerpted from Saints of the Roman Calendar by Enzo Lodi

Patron: Against doubt; against hesitation; Americas; Austria; diocese of Baton Rouge, California; Belgium; diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi; Bohemia; diocese of Buffalo, New York; bursars; cabinetmakers; Canada; Carinthia; carpenters; China; Church; confectioners; craftsmen; Croatian people (in 1687 by decree of the Croatian parliment) dying people; emigrants; engineers; expectant mothers; families; fathers; Florence, Italy; happy death; holy death; house hunters; immigrants; interior souls; Korea; laborers; diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin; archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire; married people; Mexico; diocese of Nashville, Tennessee; New France; New World; Oblates of Saint Joseph; people in doubt; people who fight Communism; Peru; pioneers; pregnant women; protection of the Church; diocese of San Jose, California; Sicily; diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; social justice; Styria, Austria; travellers; Turin, Italy; Tyrol, Austria; unborn children; Universal Church; Vatican II; Viet Nam; diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia; wheelwrights; workers; working people.

Symbols: Bible; branch; carpenter's square; carpenter's tools; chalice; cross; hand tools; infant Jesus; ladder; lamb; lily; monstrance; old man holding a lily and a carpenter's tool such as a square; old man holding the infant Jesus; plane; rod.

Things to Do:

•May 1 is celebrated in Communist countries as the Day of the International Solidarity of Workers. Today would be a good day to pray for athesistic Communism's influence to cease and a proper application of the principles explained by Leo XIII in Rerum novarum and John Paul II in Centesimus annus to be the guide used by nations.

© Copyright Trinity Communications 2006. All rights reserved

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH, THE WORKER MAY 1, 2006.

Sunday: Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker
Date: May 1, 2006
Year: B
The readings: [Acts 5:27-33; Jn. 3:31-36]
The message: The love of one's labour in the workplace.
Prepared by: THE CATHOLIC DOORS MINISTRY
Total words: 1331

http://www.catholicdoors.com/homilies/2006/060501.htm

Welcome my spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ to today's celebration of the Holy Mass that commemorates the liturgical Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

Today's Feast is one of two that are celebrated by the Holy Catholic Church in honour of St. Joseph. The first Feast, St. Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church, is celebrated on March 19th. Today's Feast that commemorates St. Joseph as a carpenter, exemplifies the working people who are dignified by their labour and who bring Christ into their workplace.

It was not until the 15th century that the name of St. Joseph was entered into the Liturgical Calendar of the Catholic Church. Since then, devotion to St. Joseph experienced a tremendous growth. Finally, in 1955, Pope Pius XII proclaimed on May 1, Labour Day in many countries, the Feast that we are joyfully celebrating today.

When reflecting on St. Joseph as a worker,a carpenter, what comes to our minds? As a general rule, we associate the word 'worker' with the words 'career' or 'employment.' This association relates to our secular work. But what about our spiritual work?

Through St. Joseph, a great model for all Christians, we see a love for both, his worldly and spiritual labour. St. Joseph was an artistic carpenter who loved to transform a piece of wood by creating useful objects. In his mind, he surely perceived that the wood that came from the trees was a God given gift.

As Christian carvers of wood do, St. Joseph must have surely spent endless hours in prayer to the Lord God so that he might be inspired as to the potential end result of each piece of wood that was processed through the labour of his hands.

As all parents have to, St. Joseph had to fulfill his marital obligation to support his family. He worked day after day to support the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus.

Through his work, St. Joseph had to be honest in his dealings with the suppliers of wood and the buyers or traders who purchased his finished product. His honesty was a reflection of his obedience to the command of God to live a righteous life.

As a parent, when his adopted Son Jesus came of age, St. Joseph had to work with Him. St Joseph taught his trade to the Lord Jesus who was God incarnated in human form. Imagine, a man, a mere human being, teaching God, He Who's infinite knowledge surpasses that of the entire human race.

In all these things, we see the correlation of the worldly and the spiritual labour in the work place. Through St. Joseph, we are reminded of how we should labor in our Christian life at work and at home.

During today's First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles [Acts 5:27-33], we heard of the labor of Peter, the Apostles, the temple police, the high priest, and the members of the council. When considering the personal interest of each and everyone of them, can we honestly say that their worldly and spiritual labors were in harmony? No! The perfect harmony was in St. Peter and the Apostles but it was not in the others who placed their worldly needs above their spiritual obligation before God. In their desire for fame, power and wealth, they lacked love, honesty and justice. They were only concerned about their little 'me', the selfish 'me' that has destroyed so many during the history of mankind.

During today's Gospel Reading, [Jn. 3:31-36] we heard that 'the Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God's wrath.' [Jn. 3:35- 6]

During the First Reading, we heard the high priest reprimand the Apostles when he said, 'We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us.' It is obvious from this statement that the high priest did not inherit eternal life. Rather, he had to endure God's wrath.

As Catholics, we are called to submit ourselves to the teachings of Jesus that have been handed down to us through the Holy Catholic Church. Our Church is the only one that has not watered down the teachings of Our Lord Jesus. In our striving to inherit eternal life, we have rejected and condemned divorces, abortions, same sex marriage and all the abominations that greatly offend the Divinity of God.

Those who live model lives as St. Joseph did, they do so by the grace of God the Father in the Most Holy Name of Jesus through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit who guides them in the ways of God. Blessed with a new nature during the Sacrament of Baptism, they have embraced the spiritual way that Jesus commanded His followers to obey. Without embracing a spiritual mind, it is impossible to please God.

For St. Joseph to please God, he had to live a holy life that was filled with righteousness. Joseph's 'yes' to accept the Virgin Mary as his spouse was his baptismal 'yes' to faithfully serve the Lord God.

For us to please God, we have to follow in the footstep of Saint Joseph over and above submitting ourselves to the Church and its Sacraments for our assurance of salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Let us always look up to St. Joseph as one of our Patron Saints. As the Patron of workers, for those of us who work, St. Joseph is the model that we should imitate to ensure that the grace of God shall continue to flow upon us and flourish richly through us.