For most Americans, Labor Day is the symbolic end of summer. This year, Labor Day is to be observed on Monday, Sept. 1. The United States Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday back in 1894. It is a holiday in every state of the union. The first observance of Labor Day occurred at a parade of 10,000 workers on Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City. The event was organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary.

As of May, 154.5 million people comprised our nation’s labor force. Most of them now are covered by health insurance. Paid vacation has become a rather common employee employment benefit. A growing number of employers are providing assistance for child care. And others make access to long-term care insurance available. But it was not always thus.

Labor Day is basically a creation of the labor movement. Until workers began to organize, justice in the workplace was woefully lacking. This holiday honors the social and economic achievements of the American worker. It is our annual tribute to the contribution that all workers make to the well-being of all of us.

The church has not been oblivious to the concerns of our working people. One of the seven key themes at the heart of our Catholic social tradition involves the dignity of work and the rights of workers. In that regard we bishops have stated, “The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. 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.”

But even though the church has not been unmindful of the needs of workers, some of our people are still standing on a platform from which the train has already left the station. Recently I received a letter from an irate Catholic because of the words of one of the hymns at the end of a Mass he attended. He felt that the lyrics about economic justice undermined capitalism. I don’t think so. But if economic justice and capitalism can’t go hand to hand, then something is wrong. Folks continue to believe they can and will co-exist, but not without healthy and respectful relationships between employers and employees.

The bishops of the United States have outlined A Catholic Framework for Economic Life in order to provide some principles for reflection, some criteria for judgment and directions for action. I already mentioned the first, namely, that the economy exists for the person and not the person for the economy. Let me cite the others:

• A fundamental moral measure of any economy is how the poor and vulnerable are faring.

• All people have a right to life and to secure the basic necessities of life (e.g. food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, safe environment, economic security).

• All people have the right to economic initiative, to productive work, to just wages and benefits, to decent working conditions, as well as to organize and join unions or other associations.

In his encyclical on labor, Pope John Paul II insisted that “human work is a key, probably the essential key, to the whole social question.” Unfortunately, there are many people in our own country and millions around the world who still lack decent work or fair wages, who labor under inexcusable conditions and who have no real voice in their economic life. Obviously much work remains to be done, in spite of all the advances that have been made over the years ever since ordinary workmen prompted the establishment of this national holiday we call Labor Day.

This year I have already called your attention to the voters’ guide, Faithful Citizenship, prepared by the American bishops in anticipation of this year’s national elections. The section on social justice is particularly noteworthy when it comes to matters of economic policy. Therein we bishops assert that all economic decisions and institutions are to be assessed according to whether they protect or undermine the dignity of the human person; the centerpiece of all social and economic policies should be the creation of jobs for all who can work with decent working conditions and just wages; workers do have the right to organize to join a union and to bargain collectively; these rights are to be exercised without reprisal.

Catholic social teaching historically affirms economic freedom, initiative and the right to private property. In order to achieve these goals, workers, owners, employers and unions must collaborate in order to advance the common good. Government can also help. A welfare policy that reduces poverty and dependency strengthens family life and helps families leave poverty through work, training and assistance with child care, health care, housing and transportation, together with a safety net for those who cannot work, is a great need. One practical initiative recommended in Faithful Citizenship is the improvement of the Earned Income Tax Credit and child tax credits made available as refunds to families in greatest need.

For disciples of Jesus Christ, Labor Day is more than a civic holiday. It is also a time to recommit ourselves to God’s invitation that we partner with him in the ongoing task of building the kingdom of God on earth. We do this in a variety of ways. These include our own daily labors on the job, our efforts to treat all people with justice and a commitment to defend the lives, dignity and rights of workers, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

Thank you to all of you for the good work you do in the service of our nation, our church and our families. Jesus Christ himself spent most of his life as a common laborer. No greater tribute could be made to recognize and support all the works, great and small, of our hands and our hearts. Happy Labor Day!