Barb Spies, OFS, Director of Mission Services and Pastoral Care

In 1891, Pope Leo XIII wrote Rerum Novarum: The Condition of Labor, a work that outlined a series of ideas for the Church to understand how we should view labor. It is one of the documents in church history that led to the understanding of building a just society, as outlined in Catholic Social Teaching. This work notes the dignity of labor, worker’s rights, hours of labor, child labor, just wages, and worker’s associations, among other ideas.

One of the basic precepts of Catholic Social Teaching is the dignity of work and the rights of workers. Catholic Relief Services summarizes this theme saying, “The economy must serve people, not the other way around.” And, “If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected – the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.”

Close to the same time of Pope Leo XIII’s writing, the US Government established Labor Day in 1894. According to the US Department of Labor, “Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.”

Those who have struggled to make work dignified have contributed much to our society. From their ideas came the relief of a 40-hour work week, with pay for overtime. The number of hours that a minor can work and the types of work they can do mean that we are not to be a country that exploits the labor of children. A safe and healthy workplace along with full payment of wages are meant to be provided.

On this day we recognize the gifts that labor has afforded our nation. Without that, we would not be the nation we are today. Working people keep our country running. The protections offered workers continue to change based on the needs of our world. May we continue to respect the dignity of labor and the rights of all workers.

Blessed Angela: “Never look for self in anything, but always seek the glory of God and the good of your neighbor.”