St. Joseph the Worker

 Blessed Easter season!!!  May the joy of this holy season fill each of your days.

On May 1 the Catholic Church honors St. Joseph as St. Joseph, the Worker. St. Joseph provides a wonderful example of living each moment of one's life in union with God's plan. Throughout his time in Nazareth of caring for Mary and Jesus, St. Joseph lived a quiet life, dedicated to God's service. He did not desire praise and attention, but instead St. Joseph was content with faithfulness to God in each day's duties. Whether protecting and providing for his family, teaching Jesus his trade, or simply carrying out the daily responsibilities of a carpenter, St. Joseph worked diligently to ensure his work was done for God and in union with God's plan. We would do well to imitate him. Whether a small child, student, or adult employed in a career or caring for a family, we are all called to use each moment of our day, including our daily, repetitive toils to bring others to Christ and glorify Him, just as St. Joseph sought to do. When we offer our moments and work to God and do our duties out of love for Him, no matter what the task, those moments gain worth. On this feast of St. Joseph the Worker let us strive to imitate this saint's untiring devotion, humility, and service to God. An excellent prayer for this feast, composed by Pope Pius X, follows.

Prayer to St. Joseph, Patron of Workers

O glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to toil, obtain for me the grace to toil in the spirit of penance, in order thereby to atone for my many sins; to toil conscientiously, putting devotion to duty before my own inclinations; to labor with thankfulness and joy, deeming it an honor to employ and to develop by my labor the gifts I have received from Almighty God; to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties; to work, above all, with a pure intention and with detachment from ourselves, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then render of time ill-spent, of talents unemployed, of good undone and of empty pride in success, which is so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all in imitation of you, O Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my motto in life and in death. Amen.

---composed by Pope Pius X

St. Joseph, pray for us!