Pope entrusts to St Joseph young job seekers and unemployed
The "main importance" of work lies in "realization of man and development of society", but it must not be "idolized" and man must not allow himself to be "enslaved" by his work. The Decalogue is not a collection of 'no's'; each of these in fact represents "as many yes' to the growth of authentic freedom". The crowd wished Benedict XVI well for his feast day.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) The image of St Joseph, who humbly looked after the Holy Family and who exemplified the working man, was at the heart of two meetings Benedict XVI had today. This morning, he celebrated Mass for workers at St Peter's Basilica and greeted 50,000 people present in the St Peter's square for the Angelus. The two events gave people the opportunity to give the Pope their best wishes for his feast day today, for which he thanked them several times.
The "main importance" of work lies in "realization of man and development of society", said the Pope during Mass celebrated in the basilica for associations and groups of Christian workers. He reserved special mention for youth in search of employment and for those who no longer have work, but "at the same time, it is indispensable that man does not allow himself to be enslaved by work, that he does not idolize it, expecting to find in it the ultimate and definitive meaning of life".
Before the recital of the Angelus, he talked about the example of St Joseph, who "although he remained quite hidden, assumes a fundamental importance in the history of salvation". His example "comes forth to all of us a strong invitation to undertake with faithfulness, simplicity and modesty the tasks which Providence assigned to us. I think especially of fathers and mothers of families, and I pray that they may always appreciate the beauty of a simple and industrious life, cultivating with care the conjugal relationship and undertaking the great and not easy mission of education. And [I think] of priests, who exercise fatherhood within church communities, so that St Joseph may obtain for them to love the Church with affection and full dedication, and that he may support consecrated people in their joyful and faithful observation of the evangelical councils of poverty, chastity and obedience. That he may protect workers of the whole world, so that they may contribute with their various professions to the progress of all mankind, and that he may help each Christian to realize the will of God with faith and love, thus cooperating in the fulfillment of the work of Salvation".
However, work, in the reflection of Benedict XVI, should also be linked to prayer and rest. These were the themes he tackled during this morning's mass, taking his queue from the bible readings. "The text says: 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery' (Ex. 20:2). The Decalogue is therefore intended as a confirmation of freedom that has been won. In effect, the commandments, if one looks at them in depth, are the means which the Lord gives us to defend our freedom from both the internal conditioning of passions as well as external abuse from those who have bad intentions. The 'no' of the commandments are also a 'yes' to the growth of authentic freedom. There is a second dimension to the Decalogue that should also be underlined: through the Law given by the hand of Moses, the Lord reveals that he wants to reach a pact of alliance with Israel. The Law, then, more than an imposition, is a gift. More than commanding what man should do, it intends to reveal to all the choice of God: He is on the side of the elected people; he freed them from slavery and surrounded them with his merciful goodness. The Decalogue bears witness to a love of predilection."
In the bible, however, there is a recommendation to make holy the day of rest, "in which man better understands the meaning of his existence and also of his working activity. One could, thus, affirm that the Bible teaching on work finds its crowning achievement in the commandment to rest."
Working activity, ultimately, "should serve the true good of mankind, allowing 'man as an individual or as a member of society to cultivate and to implement his integral vocation' (Gaudium et spes, 35). For this to come about, technical and professional qualification, albeit necessary, is not enough; not even the creation of a just social order, attentive to the good of all, is sufficient. One must live a spirituality that helps believers to sanctify themselves through their work, imitating St Joseph, who each day had to provide for the needs of the Holy Family with his hands. For this, the Church upholds him as patron saint of workers. His testimony shows that man is the subject and protagonist of work. I would like to entrust to him those youth who are struggling to enter the world of work, unemployed people and those who suffer disadvantages owing to the prevalent employment crisis. Together with Mary, your Bride, watch, St Joseph, over all workers and obtain for their families and for all mankind serenity and peace."
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