In the Spirit: The Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

There's a Catholic joke that pities Joseph because every time something went wrong in his household he'd look around and say, "Well, my wife is perfect and my son is God.  I guess it's my fault again."

While St. Joseph often gets recognition for his humility and for his loving service within the Holy Family, the Church takes an opportunity on May 1st to honor his patronage of all who labor.  St. Joseph did not just sit around patting himself on the back for scoring the coolest family in human history; he worked and sweated to support them and make a simple but comfortable life for those he loved.

He also taught the Son of God to work alongside him.  In doing so, Christ lifted daily human labor to be a part of our salvation (not just a necessary part of our survival).  Each and every action can be done in perseverance, patience, excellence, and charity.  When we imitate Christ and his earthly father in this way, we grow in virtue (good habits of right action) and we prove our love for Him--the ultimate source and end of all of our human acts.

We have a copy of this picture in our living room.  It reminds me that no task that I perform for my family, as simple as it may be, is without meaning or value.

For further reflections on St. Joseph the Worker, including some great quotations from recent popes, check out this site.

St. Joseph the Worker, help us to do our daily work for others as "cheerful givers," and in doing so, to come closer to the heart of your foster Son, the One's Whose work resulted in the creation of our world and Who continues to care for each of us at every moment.