There are two primary feasts of St. Joseph the Spouse of Mary, and St. Joseph the Worker, which we celebrate this Wednesday, May 1. The origins of this feast day go back to the early days of the Socialist movement. May 1 was “May Day,” when the socialists celebrated the accomplishments of the labor unions and the Worker Movement.
    
As the Worker Movement moved further and further into socialism and communism, the Church became alarmed, for it also moved deeper and deeper into atheism. The Church declared May 1 to be the Feast Day of St. Joseph and made him the patron saint of workers, of labor unions, and he was recognized as a model for our work, and the dignity of all workers.