St. Joseph the Worker

Today is the feast date of St. Joseph the Worker.

We are reminded today that we are called to holiness in all our endeavors. Every task, no matter how mundane, can be done with joy and offered with gratitude to Our Lord.

It is true that today is a wonderful day for job-seekers, fathers, families and laborers to offer their petitions to St. Joseph.

But it is also an exceptionally powerful day for anyone to approach this great saint.

It seems that God grants special intercessory authority to certain saints. St. Peregrine, Patron Saint of Cancer Sufferers, is an example. He may be a powerful intercessor for a prayer to heal cancer; however, asking him to help you pray to find a lost article might not prove particularly effective.

Areas of intercession appear to correspond to a specific saint's calling or reflect the ways God uniquely touched them while on Earth. It logically follows then that the two most glorious saints in all of heaven, The Blessed Virgin Mary and her Most Chaste Spouse, St. Joseph, who were called to know the Lord more intimately than any others, who were touched in every way by the magnificence of God and His mysterious plan, would be granted the ability to intercede - powerfully - for every prayer presented to them.

Numerous mystics and visionaries report that God grants Saints special power on their feast dates. While prayers are always heard, the connection to heaven might be extra-clear on those days. Just one more generous gift from our wonderful, loving merciful God.

Make the most of this powerful day to draw closer to the carpenter, spouse of the Blessed Virgin and humble servant of God who held the Christ child in his arms.

He who protected Our Lord and Our Lady while being hunted by cruel King Herod, is a extraordinary patron in uncertain times like this.


Litany of St. Joseph

V/ Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
V/ Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
V/ Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
V/ Jesus, hear us. R/ Jesus, graciously hear us.
V/ God, the Father of Heaven, R/ have mercy on us.
V/ God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, R/ have mercy on us.
V/ God, the Holy Spirit, R/ have mercy on us.
V/ Holy Trinity, One God, R/ have mercy on us.
R/ pray for us.

Holy Mary,
St. Joseph,
Renowned offspring of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster father of the Son of God,
Diligent protector of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of artisans,
Glory of home life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the wretched,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church,

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,

R/ spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,

R/ graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.
R/ have mercy on us.
He made him the lord of his household.
R/ And prince over all his possessions.

Let us pray.

O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever.

Amen.

additional resources

Prayers to St. Joseph

A fabulous book about the life of St. Joseph

Another great book about St. Joseph

A fantastic 31 day novena to St. Joseph

The Holy Cloak of St. Joseph - an extraordinary prayer

US National Shrine of St. Joseph

St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal, Canada

A Special Prayer to St. Joseph for Employment

God My Father, the Feast Day of Saint Joseph the Worker was instituted to draw attention to the dignity of labor, and to remind us of the spirituality of our jobs. I give the workers of my family and circle of friends-and their jobs-to Saint Joseph's intercession, and I especially ask for his prayers in the protection and guidance of husbands and fathers. Help us to view these men-and all workers-with the same appreciation as You have, O Lord. Teach us to prioritize our jobs rightly, for the sake of loving our families, and lead the unemployed to work that is right for them. Saint Joseph, pray for us. Amen.

One final note, if you wish to learn more about how devotion to St. Joseph can transform a life, please research Blessed Brother Andre. Wow!

Thank you St. Joseph for your extraordinary example. Bless us all, especially those in need of work and those who do not yet know your Son.

Thank you God for the graces granted to St. Joseph and Our Lady.

Good night and God Bless.