To St. Joseph, Patron of Workers

GLORIOUS ST. JOSEPH, pattern 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 labour with thankfulness and joy, deeming it an honor to employ and to develop by my labour the gifts I have received from Almighty God: to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties; to wok above all with a pure intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then tender 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 thee, O Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my motto in life and in death. Amen.


The Story of St. Joseph
from: http://www.stjosephmantua.com/

Saint Joseph, a man with a common touch. Quiet, giving, on the verge of mystery. He was left with dreams and the work of his hands. Displaced, a common worker, no name but carpenter this Joseph. Despite his humble work and means, Joseph came from a royal lineage, descended from David, the greatest king of Israel. We know he was a compassionate, caring man. The just man was simply, joyfully, wholeheartedly obedient to God - in marrying Mary, in naming Jesus, in shepherding the precious pair to Egypt, in bringing them to Nazareth, in the undetermined number of years of quiet faith and courage. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph's wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: 'Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord".

Two feast days are celebrated for Joseph:
March 19 for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1 for Joseph the Worker.