St. Joseph & The Dignity of Work – 3 Minutes With St. Joseph: Novena Day 8

At the beginning of humanity, work was a collaboration of man in perfecting visible creation (cf. Genesis 3:17-19). This was not a burden or curse, but an accomplishment and a joy. Sanctifying our work is the mission of all Christians. Through work, we exercise our freedom as children of God and dedicate ourselves to transforming the world so that we live in a better society. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us: “The sign of man’s familiarity with God is that God places him in the garden. There he lives ‘to till it and keep it.’ Work is not yet a burden, but rather the collaboration of man and woman with God in perfecting the visible creation.” (CCC #378). Therefore, today, we shall be looking at: “St. Joseph and the dignity of human labour.”

In his 1955 declaration, Pope Pius XII said of St. Joseph, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Saviour of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with Him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work.” Saint Joseph, who in the Bible is recognized as a just man, is the one who reveals with his own life that God the Father works, and through Him, work is sanctified.

Therefore, dear friends, let us try to discover today and always, continuously, the presence of Saint Joseph in our families and society; and he will continue to be, as he always has been, our protector and model. May he also remind us to diligently treat those who work under our care and not dehumanize them or use them as though they were machines. May Saint Joseph continually intercede for all workers, for those receiving unjust wages or salaries, for those awaiting promotion at their places of work, for retirees with unworthy income, for those who live in the instability of the informal economy, for those who live without even a home, and most especially all the unemployed and those who are out of work, looking up to God for justice in an imbalanced and corrupt society like ours.

If you’ve got some time to spare, kindly click on the link below and pray with me the rosary of St. Joseph

ROSARY OF SAINT JOSEPH

Shalom!
© By Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Paroquia Nossa Senhora da Immaculada Conceição, Paulo Ramos, Maranhão, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
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PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?