2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-1957/1
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2025 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 16
March 14, 2025 - Introduced by Senators TOMCZYK, JACQUE and MARKLEIN,
cosponsored by Representatives WICHGERS, BEHNKE, DONOVAN, GOODWIN,
GUNDRUM and MURPHY. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
Relating to: recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in
Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men
and women in Wisconsin.
Whereas, Pope Francis, in his apostolic letter entitled Patris Corde (With a
Father[s Heart), describes St. Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father,
an obedient father, an accepting father, a father who is creatively courageous, a
working father, and a father in the shadows; and
Whereas, in a much more sublime and supernatural way, Joseph found favor
with his heavenly Father and was entrusted with the Father[s greatest treasures,
his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, and Mary, the mother of Jesus; and
Whereas, the Gospel of St. Matthew attests to the holiness of Joseph when he
is described as Xa righteous manY (Matthew 1:19); and
Whereas, as head of the family, Joseph[s responsibilities would have included
leading the family in common prayers before meals, gathering the family for
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synagogue services on the Sabbath, and leading the family on annual pilgrimages
to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate XThe Festival of Unleavened Bread,Y XThe
Festival of Weeks,Y and XThe Festival of SheltersY (Deuteronomy 16:16) and XThe
Passover FestivalY (Luke 2:41); and
Whereas, three times in scripture, Joseph heard the word of the Lord in a
dream (Matthew 1:20, 2:13, 2:22), and each time, Joseph arose and Xdid as the angel
of the Lord had commanded himY (Matthew 1:24); and
Whereas, Jesus and Mary needed housing, food, and clothing; it was Joseph
who provided for these necessities through his manual labor as a carpenter and
who taught Jesus to work, and Jesus himself was referred to as a carpenter: XIs this
not the carpenter, the son of Mary?Y (Mark 6:3); and
Whereas, when the angry King Herod ordered the massacre of all male
children two years old and younger, it was to Joseph as protector of the family that
the angel of the Lord was sent; Joseph took heed and fled into Egypt with the child
and Mary and thwarted the attempt on Jesus[s life (Matthew 2:13]15); and
Whereas, Christians for hundreds of years have invoked Joseph for his great
chastity in taking Mary into his home and for respecting the fact that she belonged
exclusively to God; and
Whereas, during turbulent times in 1870, these truths inspired Pope Pius IX
to once again XGo to Joseph,Y and on December 8, 1870, to proclaim Joseph as St.
Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church; and
Whereas, in 1909, Pope Pius X approved the Litany of St. Joseph, highlighting
Joseph[s titles, privileges, and heroic virtues as follows: noble offspring of David,
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light of patriarchs, the spouse of the Mother of God, chaste guardian of the Virgin
Mary, foster father of the Son of God, zealous defender of Christ, head of the holy
family, Joseph most just, Joseph most chaste, Joseph most prudent, Joseph most
courageous, Joseph most obedient, Joseph most faithful, mirror of patience, lover of
poverty, model of workmen, glory of domestic life, guardian of virgins, pillar of
families, comfort of the afflicted, hope of the sick, patron of the dying, terror of
demons, and protector of the Holy Church; and
Whereas, Pope Pius XII, in 1955, established the Feast of St. Joseph the
Worker on May 1 of each calendar year; and
Whereas, on May 1, 2021, Pope Francis added seven new titles to Joseph in
the Litany of St. Joseph, as follows: custos redemptoris (guardian of the redeemer);
serve Christi (servant of Christ); minister salutis (minister of salvation); fulcimen in
difficultatibus (support in difficulties); patrone exsulum (patron of exiles); patrone
afflictorum (patron of the afflicted); and patrone pauperum (patron of the poor); and
Whereas, in a time of trial and distress, when all of Egypt and the entire world
became hungry and begged for bread, Pharaoh told the Egyptians, XGo to Joseph;
what he says to you, doY (Genesis 41:55); while Pharaoh was referring to Joseph the
son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery because of the jealousy of his brothers
(Genesis 37:11]28) and who subsequently became a viceroy of Egypt (Genesis
41:41]44), popular trust in St. Joseph is seen in the expression XGo to JosephY; and
Whereas, our situation in the world today is not unlike the situation of God[s
people during the great famine in Egypt; we recognize our need for heavenly power
to safeguard and steer us through the many trials of our day; now, therefore, be it
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Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the Wisconsin
Legislature does hereby recognize May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day
in the state of Wisconsin; and, be it further
Resolved, That the Wisconsin Legislature does hereby recognize May 1 of
each year as a day to be observed to honor the working men and women in
Wisconsin, who get up every day and work hard to provide for and lift up their
families, their communities, the state of Wisconsin, and the United States of
America; and be it further
Resolved, That the Wisconsin Legislature does hereby urge and request the
executive branch of the State of Wisconsin to cause an appropriate celebration on
May 1 of each year to bring recognition and appreciation to the dignity of all
working men and women in Wisconsin.
(END)
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