Honoring St. Joseph the Worker
Why was May 1st chosen for the Feast of St. Joseph, patron of all laborers?
Today on May 1st, the Catholic Church honors St. Joseph the Worker in her sacred liturgy with a First Class Feast. Though St. Joseph has long been the patron of workers, this feast day however was not established until 1955 by Pope Pius XII to provide a Christian model and protector to workers. This was especially important at this time when the concept of labor had been infected with Communist-Socialist errors.
The date of May 1st was specifically chosen by Pius XII to counteract the Communists' May Day celebrations, also known as the Day of the International Solidarity of Workers, itself a commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago, Illinois. With the founding of this new feast day for St. Joseph, a date associated with an atheistic movement was thereby Christianized as a day dedicated to honoring the true patron and inspiration of all workers.
That same year—1955—on May 1, Pius XII offered these words to some Italian workers about turning to St. Joseph as their patron:
St. Joseph is the best protector to help you in your life, to penetrate the spirit of the Gospel. Indeed, from the Heart of the God-Man, Savior of the world, this spirit is infused in you and in all men, but it is certain that there was no worker’s spirit so perfectly and deeply penetrated as the putative father of Jesus, who lived with him in the closest intimacy and community of family and work. So, if you want to be close to Christ, I repeat to you “Ite ad Ioseph”: Go to Joseph!"
We offer below the texts of the propers from the festive Mass of St. Joseph the Worker, as well as the comparative texts and a video link to the hymn sung in his honor during Vespers.
Propers from the Mass for the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
INTROIT Wisdom rendered to the just the wages of their labors and conducted them in a wonderful way; and she was to them a covert by day and for the light of the stars by night. Alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm) Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Glory be, etc.
COLLECT O God, Creator of all things, Who didst lay on the human race the law of labor: graciously grant that by following the example of St. Joseph and under his patronage, we may carry out the work Thou dost command, and obtain the reward Thou dost promise. Through our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE (Col. 3:14-15, 17, 23-24) Brethren: Have charity, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body; and be ye thankful. All whatsoever you do in word or in work do all in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. Whatsoever you do, do it from the heart: as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that you shall receive of the Lord the reward of inheritance. Serve ye the Lord Christ.
PASCAL ALLELUIA Alleluia, alleluia. In whatever tribulation they shall cry to Me, I will hear them, and be their protection always. Alleluia. Obtain for us, Joseph, grace to lead an innocent life; and may it ever be shielded by thy patronage. Alleluia.
GOSPEL (Matt. 13:54-58) At that time, coming into His own country, He taught them in their synagogues, so that they wondered and said: “How came this man by this wisdom and miracles? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence therefore hath He all these things?” And they were scandalized in His regard. But Jesus said to them: “A prophet is not without honor save in his own country and in his own house.” And he wrought not many miracles there, because of their unbelief.
OFFERTORY Let the brightness of the Lord Our God be upon us, and direct Thou the works of our hands over us; yea, the work of our hands do Thou direct. Alleluia.
SECRET From the work of our hands we offer sacrifice to Thee, O Lord; through the mediation of St. Joseph may it be a pledge for us of union and peace. Through Our Lord, etc.
COMMUNION How came this man by this wisdom and miracles? Is not this the carpenters son? Is not His mother named Mary? Alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION Grant, O Lord, that what we have received may, by the intercession of blessed Joseph, crown our work and confirm our reward. Through Our Lord, etc.
Vespers hymn to St. Joseph: Te Joseph Celebrent
This Vesper's hymn was written by Fr. Juan Escollar (+1700) and is used for both the feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 19) and St. Joseph the Worker (May 1).
| Hear the chant [YouTube]> | |
| Te, Joseph, celebrent agmina caelitum, te cuncti resonent Christiadum chori, qui, clarus meritis, iunctus es inclitae, casto foedere Virgini. |
Joseph! to thee by hosts on high and choirs of Christians, laud be paid! saintly of life,—by purest tie joined unto her, the glorious Maid. |
| Almo cum tumidam germine coniugem admirans dubio tangeris anxius, afflatu superi Flaminis, Angelus conceptum puerum docet. |
When thou didst doubt thy wife's repute, and mark her great with motherhood, the angel taught thee that her fruit came from the Holy Ghost of God. |
| Tu natum Dominum stringis, ad exteras Aegypti profugum tu sequeris plagas; amissum Solymis quaeris et invenis, miscens gaudia fletibus. |
To clasp the Son, the Lord, was thine, to share His flight to Egypt's shore, with tears, to seek in Salem's shrine Him lost,—with joy, to find once more. |
| Electos reliquos mors pia consecrat1 palmamque emeritos gloria suscipit; tu vivens, Superis par, frueris Deo, mira sorte beatior. |
Death brings to other Saints their rest; through toil they win the victor's place; thou happier, like the Angels blest, alive, hast seen God face to face. |
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Nobis, summa Trias, parce precantibus; |
Spare us, O Trinity most High! |
