May 1: International Workers’ Day
The first of May is a national public holiday in many countries to celebrate International Workers’ Day. This event started with trade union activities in the late 19th century pushing for an eight-hour working day. Today, the focus is on the right to work which is enshrined in article 23.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is also recognized in international human rights law, included in part III article 6.1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and in article 15 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, Patron of the Universal Church and Patron of Workers is also celebrated on the first of May. Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955 to encourage devotion to Saint Joseph. The Catholic Church teaches that Saint Joseph was a man of integrity, and profound worker. As foster father of Jesus and carpenter, he shared in the divine plan of salvation and thus is a model of family care and the dignity of human work.
International Workers’ Day is a time to pause and reflect on the meaning of work. In Laborem Exercens (On Human Work), Pope John Paul II, inter alia, says, that the value of human work does not depend on the kind of work done but on the one doing the work. Human work must be for service to mankind and for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). In this sense, Martin Luther King, Jr. encouraged excellence in human work when he said, “If a man is called to be a street-sweeper, he should sweep …so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘here lived a great street-sweeper who did his job well.”
Saint Marcellin Champagnat was a great man of God who shone with zeal for work. Many images show him with his sleeves rolled up ready for work and mission. He learned the value of hard work from his father as he followed him everywhere doing farm work. His passion for work was revealed in the various ways by which he educated himself, ministered to parishioners, founded his religious family and undertook all his projects. He equally affirmed his total dedication to work in his letters such as when he wrote, “there is no sacrifice which I am not ready to make to educating young people”.
For us, Marists of Champagnat, love of work is about encouraging young people to strive to do their best and to experience the joy of their successes. In a society affected by consumerism and excess, we choose to train the young people to discover the dignity of work. Through our example, we teach them that work is a powerful means of self-fulfillment, giving purpose and meaning to life, and of contributing to the general economic, social, and cultural well-being. In this way, everyone becomes a “co-creator”, continuing the work of creation in our turn, with joy and hope.
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Brother Francis Lukong – Secretariat of Solidarity