Network Dear Friends:
In my capacity as a Christian - Catholic, member of the Pastoral Worker, I am pleased to present the homily of Don Alejandro Goic Karmelic, Bishop Rancagua, on the occasion of Labour Day
"As we celebrate, as of this afternoon and tomorrow, Labor Day, the Church recalls in her liturgy at St. Joseph the Worker, husband of Mary, foster father of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
In this day of reflection and prayer, fraternal greetings Authorities in the region, the various union leaders to employers. Greetings from the Church to all men and women, in various settings, work with honesty and generosity for the integral development of all people.
A greeting and a special prayer for the sick and elderly workers who spent their lives, and that the weakness of the disease and the years can no longer produce. For all of them our gratitude and affection. What we are today as a country, as a region, we owe it to so many that in the past, sacrificed for the development and welfare of our people. The companies have to recognize justice their contribution and dedication.
Jesus taught the people in the synagogue and are surprised that he has so many skills and wisdom. They wondered: "Where did you come this wisdom and the power to do miracles?. Is not this the carpenter's son?. "
The Incarnation of the Son of God - is one of us - shows us God's love for every human being. And at birth in the home of a carpenter shows us the profound dignity of every human being and the work performed.
What he expressed deep San Alberto Hurtado, "The word work should suggest to everyone not just a means to earn a living, but a social partnership. For work man does his best to him: his personal activity, something of yours, as yours, not your money, your assets, but their effort, their very lives. "
He continued the holy:
"Work is a fraternal effort is the best way to test your love for the brothers, meets the demands of social justice and charity ... is sanctifying work in their results because the work man to God's plan works, humanizes the earth, penetrates thought, love, spiritualized and deified. Through work man contributes to the temporal and spiritual common good of families, the nation, of humanity. Through work man discovers the ties that bind all other men, feel the joy of giving and receiving something much change. "
is the same as the popes have taught, especially the revered John Paul II, recalling the primacy of the worker, ie the first value of work is the person doing this or that job.
Concrete, sisters and brothers these reflections, the In light of these principles grounded in Scripture, the testimony of the saints, and the word of the Magisterium.
The person performing the work has an infinite dignity given by God. The person is worth what it is, not what they do or what they have.
society is important for the work of both the physician as educator, the housekeeper, as the employer. We all need each other. What is truly valuable is each man, woman and man.
• The person who works, especially the poorest sectors, are entitled to a fair and decent pay. John Paul II told us in Chile: "The poor can not wait!" . Those who have nothing can not wait for relief to reach them a sort of overflow from the general prosperity of society. "
A system social, political and economic life and dignified wages for the poorest workers, is a truly humanizing. We still have much to do in the nation in this sense!. How to overcome self-interest groups? How to overcome the unjust poverty of the poor? How to understand the powerful of this world's goods are given for a fair and equitable administration? How to make everyone understand, even to believers, with no right to squander millions and millions of pesos at parties, on luxuries on luxury items, while thousands of our fellow citizens do not have the minimum to live each day?.
· Every worker has the right to rest. The human being is not a production machine. Dignified work when humanizes the person. The rest they need you to live family relationships and friendships, to enjoy nature and sport, to express his faith and transcendent dimension and its relation to God, enjoy music, reading, art, etc.
· The workers are entitled to a working environment and to manufacturing processes that do not involve injury to the physical and moral integrity is not damaged, to be safeguarded the personality in the workplace, without being violated in any way in his own conscience or personal dignity. The right to pension and social security for old age, sickness and accidents related to work performed.
• A question: there will be no more worthy to pay the pension to the elderly? It hurts to see them very close to the offices of the diocese in long lines, weather, cold and long wait times. Also passes around the dignity of workers.
There is much still to do to a person is in the center of social policies. No doubt we have come, but we still have much to do.
our diocesan Church through the Pastoral Workers who heads the dear brother P. Edward Morin, is making a great effort to reach all workers and pastoral perspective on the dignity of working people and their evangelization.
As our Eucharist six people recognize your work spirit of honesty, civic friendship, collaboration and contribute generously to ease the common good. They want to encourage thousands of women and men working to make human coexistence, justice and dignity for all. We ask in
the Eucharist, through the intercession of St. Joseph the Worker, in the ways of Chile and particularly in our region, is made with the generous contribution of all, the dignity of work and those of workers.
A Risen Christ, Savior and Redeemer of all honor and glory for ever. Amen.
+ Alejandro Goic Karmelic
Bishop of Rancagua Rancagua
Cathedral, April 30, 2007.
