St. Joseph the Worker COLLECTION (BK 31)

St. Joseph is traditionally associated with woodworking. In this image, he is shown on break, deep in thought, and leaning on his axe. A recently shaped beam lies across his workbench with wood chips scattered on the ground beneath. Although we have little in the way of direct testimonials, we infer from Matt. 1:19 that as a “just” or “righteous” man St. Joseph was a model worker embodying such virtues as reliability, efficiency, and industry as he went about his daily tasks. His attitude here is far from servile but rather suggests a dignity and sense of accomplishment in using his God-given abilities to be of service to his community as he provides for his family, the Holy Family. + By virtue of his traditional occupation as a carpenter, St. Joseph is patron saint of artisans and laborers. In 1955, Venerable Pope Pius XII instituted a special feast, the feast of “St. Joseph the Worker”, to be celebrated on May 1. Its liturgy emphasizes the right to work and the dignity of labor. The date was deliberately chosen to provide a Christian alternative to the secular, worldwide May Day celebrations--often communist backed--of International Workers’ Day. + Feast: May 1; Principal Feast: March 19