Why was today’s Feast of St. Joseph the Worker established?

Here is a petty good explanation from the paid ($20/mth) version of perplexityAI.

Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker

Date and Significance

 

The Feast of St. Joseph the Worker is celebrated on May 1 each year. This date was established in 1955 by Pope Pius XII to coincide with International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, which is recognized globally as a celebration of labor and workers’ rights12368. The intention was to provide a Christian perspective on the dignity of human work and to present St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and a carpenter by trade, as a model and patron for workers.

 

Historical Context

 

The institution of this feast was partly in response to the growing influence of communist and socialist movements, which used May 1 as a day to exalt labor and promote their ideologies. By establishing the feast on the same day, the Church sought to affirm the spiritual value and dignity of work through the example of St. Joseph, emphasizing that labor is not merely an economic activity but a participation in God’s creative work68.

 

St. Joseph’s Role and Patronage

 

St. Joseph is honored as the patron saint of workers, craftsmen, carpenters, and the universal Church56. He is celebrated for his humility, dedication to his family, and his role as a provider through honest labor. The feast highlights the sanctity of work and encourages all people to find dignity and purpose in their daily tasks, following Joseph’s example256.

 

Other Feast Days

 

St. Joseph is also commemorated on March 19 as “St. Joseph, Husband of Mary,” which is his primary feast day on the Catholic liturgical calendar3457. The May 1 feast specifically focuses on his identity as a worker.