St. Joseph's Workshop COLLECTION (BL 01)

By virtue of his traditional occupation as a carpenter, St. Joseph is patron saint of artisans and laborers. In 1955, Venerable Pope Pius XII instituted a special feast, the feast of “St. Joseph the Worker”, to be celebrated on May 1 with a liturgy emphasizing the right to work and the dignity of labor. The date is significant: The “May Day” date coincides with the secular--often communist-backed--celebrations of International Workers’ Day throughout the world. + Although he may actually have been the equivalent of a building contractor, St. Joseph is most often associated with woodworking. This image depicts the interior of a typical ancient carpenter’s workshop with lumber leaning against a wall and a workbench strewn with tools of the trade. Our products with its image can be used to place modern workshops--whether professional or hobbyist--under the patronage of St. Joseph. In our hustle-bustle world, working with one’s hands can be more than just a stress reliever; it can be a sanctified, a holy activity. + Feast: May 1; Principal Feast: March 19