St. Joseph The Worker

St. Joseph, the foster father of Our Lord and spouse of the Virgin Mary, is frequently honored with the title of St. Joseph the Worker. Pope Pius XII established the feast of St. Joseph the Worker in 1955. During this era, May Day celebrations for workers in Communist countries were common. By honoring St. Joseph as a worker on May 1, the pope sought to draw attention to the value Christians place on work. St. Joseph labored as a carpenter to provide for Mary and Jesus, and he taught Jesus to work as a carpenter. For centuries, laborers have considered St. Joseph their patron. St. Joseph has two feasts on the current Roman Calendar: March 19, which has been kept for centuries, and the newer May 1 honoring him as a worker.