"The joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the men and women of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these too are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ."

These opening words of Vatican II's Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes illustrate the doctrinal foundation for a Feast of St Joseph the Worker, which Pope Pius XII instituted on 1955.

Beginning with Pope Leo XIII's encyclical Rerum Novarum, the Church has consistently shown its care for workers. Nowadays, we frequently speak of an "option for the poor and the marginalized." We should not, however, think that this only applies to the very destitute. The destitute, are of course, much more marginalized than others, but many of the workers of the world, even though they may have a steady income and a home to live in are, nevertheless, still marginalized and need the Church's special care. Given St Joseph's role in God's work of our salvation, it is fitting that he is the patron and model for workers.