It’s May! Honor St. Joseph!
Wait! What?
While we know May is a Marian month, May 1st honors her spouse St. Joseph, but why?
It was a significant and intentional move by the Church.
The first of May, known as “May Day” in the mid-19th Century, honored laborers around the World. A century later though there was a movement to rename it and change the distinction to “Communist Worker’s Day,” as a way to influence communism on society.
Upset, but putting his concerns before God, Venerable Pope Pius XII made the bold decision to call upon the faithful to pray for St. Joseph’s intercession.
He said there is “no better protector” than the Terror of Demons, to guard the world from evil and specifically to denounce communism.
“Go to Joseph!” That is the direction of Venerable Pope Pius XII, to the faithful on May 1, 1955, when he declared the day as the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. He said the Guardian of the Redeemer will go directly to Christ with our prayers.
As we honor St. Joseph the Worker on this feast day, let us remember him as a great example of how to be a dedicated, loving, and humble worker, father, and spouse. He worked with dignity in all those roles not only to provide, but for God. He worked with our Blessed Mother to raise, nurture, and teach Jesus. He tirelessly worked to honor Mary and protect her and the Son of God, especially when they had to escape danger time and time again.
Look to St. Joseph and let him teach all of us how to work for God, family, and community.
As the patron of the universal Church and our diocese, he watches over the faithful. Ask him to intercede and obtain mercy and courage for us, while defending us from all evil.
