chancery prayer in honor of St Joseph the worker

Prayer adapted from the Year of St Jospeh:

St Joseph, guardian of the Redeemer, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to you, God entrusted his only Son. In you, Mary placed her trust. With you, Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.

Reflection

     As we recently celebrated the Year of St Joseph in our Catholic faith as declared by Pope Francis, yesterday we celebrated the feast day of St Joseph the Worker. Back in Lent, we celebrated the feast day of St Joseph, the spouse of Mary, on March 19.  The feast on May 1 in honor of St Joseph the Worker was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955 in order to foster deep devotion to St Joseph amongst the Catholic faithful, but also in response to the celebrations for workers on May 1 that were traditionally held in Europe in communist countries. St Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, is an example of the holiness of human labor in his work as a carpenter.  Through his patience, perseverance, and industriousness, Joseph trained Jesus in his work as a carpenter and in the values of the Jewish faith.  We Catholics are not only called to be capable, well-trained, industrious workers, but we are to bring the values of our faith to our workplace as well.   

Prayer petitions - St Joseph the worker

Priest: Lord, you are the source of all holiness. Let us therefore pray to Our Lord God who gave St. Joseph the light and strength he needed to be faithful at all times. 

1. For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, our Bishop Joseph, and for all our church leaders, that they may follow the example of St. Joseph and lead us through responsible and dedicated leadership, let us pray to the Lord.

2. For our Diocese, our parishes, and our Catholic schools, that we may treat each other with dignity and respect, and be dedicated to our families by following the example of Saint Joseph, let us pray to the Lord. 

3. For those entrusted with responsibility in various ministries in the Church, may they set a modern Christian example for the people they lead, let us pray to the Lord.

4. For all laborers and workers, may Saint Joseph the Worker inspire us to work wholeheartedly in this world, seeking always to give God glory and be faithful to the duties assigned to us in our work, let us pray to the Lord. 

5. For all humanity, that through the intercession of  Saint Joseph, all workers find the opportunity to have secure employment and a fitting standard of living, let us pray to the Lord.

You may add your own prayer intercessions: 

Priest: Father, we praise you for having led Saint Joseph to serve your son Jesus and his Mother Mary so faithfully; help us to be faithful to our responsibilities and serve you with love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord for ever and ever.  AMEN.  

Prayers to St. Joseph - For Workers

    Let us pray together: Joseph, by the work of your hands and the sweat of your brow, you supported Jesus and Mary. You had the Son of God as your fellow worker.

    Teach me to work as you did, with patience and perseverance, for God and for those whom God has given me to support. Teach me to see Christ in my fellow workers, that I may always be charitable and forbearing towards all.

     Grant me to look upon work with the eyes of faith. Through work, may I share in God’s creative activity and in Christ’s work of our redemption, and so take pride in it.

     When work is pleasant and productive, remind me to give thanks to God for it. And when work is burdensome or a struggle, teach me to offer it up to God, in reparation for my sins and for the sins of the world.  

     Lord, as we pray with St Joseph the Worker today and unite our prayer with his intercession, I pray that you bless my work and the work of all.  We pray that all may earn a just wage and may work in a just and safe environment. AMEN.