Joseph the Worker

First Century

St. Joseph and Christ in the Workshop by Pietro Annigoni hangs in the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy. The feast of St. Joseph the Worker is May 1. (CNS photo by Nancy Wiechec)

Though his principal feast is March 19, St. Joseph also is honored for his labors as a carpenter in providing for his family’s needs in Nazareth. The carpentry trade in first-century Palestine covered building houses, which were mostly made of wood; by tradition, Jesus joined the family business. Throughout church history, Joseph was honored as a craftsman, but this feast was set in 1956 to give Christian meaning to what had become a secular association of May 1 with labor.

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Author: Catholic News Service

Catholic News Service is the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ news and information service.

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