Since today is the feast day of Saint Joseph the Worker, I wanted to briefly focus on the importance of work from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I would also encourage you to check out my blog post from last year on this date that focused on the thoughts of our newest saint in regards to work, Pope Saint John Paul II (then Blessed John Paul II).

Saint Joseph the Worker was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to combat the Communists and their day “celebrating” work known as May Day. It was Pope St. John Paul II that took the baton from his predecessor and continued to fight the Communists in Europe.

I don’t know about you, but as Italian-American who witnessed his father’s dedication to work (now he is retired) and other family members that work just as hard, it’s not only in my blood to work hard, but I was taught properly the importance of working hard. I love to work and find great dignity in the work I have done throughout my life in different positions.

Now working at a parish that is busting at all sides and writing blog posts and other projects, work has a whole different meaning to it, and I truly enjoy the work I do in the assistance of bringing people to Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church.

Here are some brief points from the CCC on the importance of work –

CCC 2458 – The Church makes a judgment about economic and social matters when the fundamental rights of the person or the salvation of souls requires it. She is concerned with the temporal common good of men because they are ordered to the sovereign Good, their ultimate end.

CCC 2459 – Man is himself the author, center, and goal of all economic and social life. The decisive point of the social question is that goods created by God for everyone should in fact reach everyone in accordance with justice and with the help of charity.

CCC 2460 – The primordial value of labor stems from man himself, its author and beneficiary. By means of his labor man participates in the work of creation. Work united to Christ can be redemptive [italics mine].

CCC 2461 – True development concerns the whole man. It is concerned with increasing each person’s ability to respond to his vocation and hence to God’s call (cf. CA 29).

For a more extensive explanation of the above points, please read paragraphs CCC 2427-2428 and 2433-2436 of Part Three, Article 7, Section 4.