MANY PLACES AROUND the world celebrated the dignity and rights of workers on International Workers’ Day on May 1. It is also the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, which was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to entrust labourers to the saint’s safekeeping and to underscore the dignity and value of work.
In his December 2020 apostolic letter, Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart), in which Pope Francis proclaimed a Year of St. Joseph, he described the saint as a “working father.” Joseph was a carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family and enjoyed the fruit of his own labour. From him, Jesus learned this value, dignity and joy.
For human beings, work is a means of participating in the work of salvation, an opportunity to hasten the coming of the Kingdom, to develop our talents and abilities, and to put them at the service of society.
Patris Corde pays special attention to the marginalised. When writing on the spirituality of work, the pope mentions that employment has again become an urgent social issue in the middle of the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. In particular, workers are suffering from unemployment in many places. “A family without work is particularly vulnerable to difficulties, tensions, estrangement and even break-up. How can we speak of human dignity without working to ensure that everyone is able to earn a decent living?” the pope writes.
The Church cares for workers and is involved in related pastoral. In Hong Kong, this year is the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Labour Affairs. Over the years, the commission has shown great concern about the labour issues in Hong Kong. Through the services of the frontline labour pastoral centre, it provides faith formation to raise awareness and advocates policies and responses, manifesting the Church’s role of social concern.
In the face of the difficulties faced by workers amidst the pandemic, we can of course turn from St. Joseph to his wife, Mary, the Mother of God, because she is the Comforter of the Afflicted.
May is the Month of Mary and it is a good opportunity to seek her intercession. Her example can strengthen our reliance on God for everything. Despite difficulties, we must embrace hope like Mary who accepted God’s sanctification and salvation.
Let us beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary and her husband, St. Joseph, to help us to find the means to promise not to allow any young people, any person or any family to be out of work! SE
