May 1 | Saint Joseph the Worker

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, the year is 1955.

The world is still bruised, battered, and slowly recovering from the devastating destruction of World War II. But true peace hasn't completely arrived. A massive, heavy divide, known as the Iron Curtain, has stretched across the continent of Europe. Powerful, sweeping political movements like communism, socialism, and fascism are leaving deep, lasting marks on people all over the globe.

In the middle of this intense global struggle, a battle is brewing for the hearts and minds of the working class. For communists, May 1st is heavily promoted as May Day, a massive global celebration of the proletariat and the workers. The world needs a hero. The church needs a powerful example to show what true, honorable work really looks like. Pope Pius XII decides to institute a brand new feast day to remind the entire world of the ultimate, divine model of labor.

Who does the Pope choose to go up against these massive global superpowers? A loud, fiery speaker? A king with a massive army? No, he chooses a humble carpenter from the ancient Middle East, a man who doesn't have a single recorded word in the entire Bible, but who speaks entirely through his actions. Today, we're talking about St. Joseph the Worker.

Now, you might be thinking, wait, doesn't St. Joseph already have a feast day? You would be right. Very few saints have multiple feast days on the calendar, and St. Joseph's main feast is celebrated on March 19th. But Pope Pius XII knew that the modern world, especially in 1955, amidst the rise of the Iron Curtain, needed a specific reminder of St. Joseph's role as a worker. So, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker was added to the church's list. to be celebrated every year on May 1st.

Let's look at the incredible, action-packed life of this silent protector. Imagine this. You are asked by an angel to take on a massive responsibility. Joseph showed radical obedience and deep humility in marrying Our Lady. But his courage didn't stop there. When his family's lives were threatened, he had to pack up everything and lead them on a terrifying, dangerous flight into Egypt to escape with their lives. That is the kind of quiet, fiercely protective hero he was. When they finally returned to their home, Joseph didn't seek out fame or fortune.

He lived a quiet, hidden life with Mary and Jesus in the town of Nazareth. He worked as a carpenter, doing what we would call today the job of a blue-collar worker or tradesman. He spent his days cutting wood, building, sweating, and laboring with his own two hands. He probably even taught Jesus this very same craft. Because of his incredible fidelity, his deep humility, and his relentless hard work, St. Joseph serves as an absolutely excellent example for all workers everywhere. St. Joseph is the patron of the universal church, the patron of fathers, the patron of the dying, and the patron of social justice.

You might not be working a full-time job just yet, but you are a worker. Your job right now might be going to school, practicing your sport or instrument, and doing your daily chores around the house. Today, take a page out of St. Joseph's playbook. Remember, he has zero recorded words. That means he just put his head down and did the hard work he was called to do without complaining, without bragging. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.