JOSEPH CARDIJN

CARDIJN'S LIFE

• Born in Belgium on November 13, 1882
• Wanted to become a priest instead of working in the laborious factories of Belgium
• Blamed his father's early death on the factory work he did all of his life
• Ordained a priest in 1906, at the age of 24
• Imprisoned twice during WW1 for so-called patriotic activities

CARDIJN'S LIFE

• Devoted his time to social work after imprisonment
• Began the "Young Trade Unionists" in 1919, denied by the church
• Eventually accepted by the church
• Grew into Young Christian Workers which grew to 2,000,000 members
• Pope Paul VI made Cardijn a cardinal in 1965

CARDIJN'S LIFE

• Given the title Cardinal Deacon of St. Michele Arcangelo
• Died in Belgium on July 24, 1967

EXEMPLIFIED THE BEATITUDES

• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
• He worked to serve the public, specifically workers
• Was even imprisoned TWICE for continuing to help factory workers despite the Belgian government
• Reformed work conditions throughout the European nation and eventually the whole world

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