The Dual Legacy of 1 May: From the Haymarket Affair to the Patron Saint of Workers
For many in the legal profession, 1 May serves as a point of intersection between industrial history and religious tradition. Internationally recognised as International Workers’ Day, the date is also observed as the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker.
The modern observance of ‘May Day’ has its roots in the 19th-century struggle for an eight-hour workday, safer conditions, and collective bargaining. It also commemorates the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago, where a peaceful labour strike turned violent following a bomb explosion and subsequent police intervention. In 1889, the Second International (a political international of socialist and labour parties formed in Paris) declared 1 May as a day of global solidarity for workers.
In 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted the Feast of St Joseph the Worker during the Cold War, emphasising the dignity of work over class struggle. St Joseph the Carpenter, traditionally known as the foster father of Jesus, was presented as the patron saint of workers, affirming work as a divine creative act and more than just an economic necessity.
For Christian practitioners, this dual legacy offers an opportunity to reflect on the meaning and dignity of our work. With that in mind, the following scripture readings and prayer are offered for reflection for this month:
1. Gratitude
Verse:
‘But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.’ – Deuteronomy 8:18
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, today I pause to thank You for the skills and the health that allow me to work. I acknowledge that every talent I possess is a gift from Your hand. Thank You for providing the means for me to support myself and my loved ones. Help me never to take my abilities for granted, but to use them with a grateful heart to bless others.
2. Endurance
Verse:
‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ – Galatians 6:9
Prayer:
God, thank You for the reminder that my hard work and integrity matter, even when no one seems to notice. When I feel like giving up or cutting corners because of the pressure, give me the endurance to keep going. I trust that You see my efforts and that You are preparing a harvest for me in Your perfect timing.
3. Discernment
Verse:
‘And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.’ - Philippians 1:9-10
Prayer:
Lord, I bring my current projects and decisions before You today. I choose to commit my work to You, recognising that I cannot see the full picture on my own. As I move forward, please align my thoughts with Your will. Give me clarity on which tasks to prioritise and which directions to take, so that my plans may be established and successful in Your eyes.
4. Breakthrough
Verse:
‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’ - Isaiah 43:19
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, sometimes I feel like I am in a dry season or facing a wall in my career. I ask for a breakthrough today. Open my eyes to see the new thing You are doing. Where there currently seems to be no path forward, I ask You to carve out a way. Bring life to dead situations and create streams of opportunity where I least expect them.
By Sarah Beshay, Ergon Law. Ergon Law is a boutique employment law firm based in Parnell, Auckland. Among its services is Ergon Sacred, which offers guided karakia (prayers), hui (gatherings), kōrero (talks), seminars, and publications for groups and organisations, all centred on the sacredness of work and informed by a Christian theological perspective. www.ergonlaw.co.nz