Asides from scripture describing him as a just man, very little is known of the life of St.
Joseph, yet on some occasions Our Lord was addressed as son of the carpenter.
St. Joseph, foster father and guardian of our Redeemer, worked with his hands and also
taught the child Jesus his craft of carpentry.
The church has placed him as Patron Saint of Workers, to teach us that work is not a curse rather it is a holy duty, ordained by God to sanctify our souls if done properly. God Our Heavenly Father gave us an example, he worked and then rested.
Even in Paradise, where there was no pain or sorrow, our first parents worked joyfully, tending the earth and keeping it.
As lay people, work takes up a great portion of our lives St. Joseph can teach us how to work well if we ask him. One way to do this is to start your work day with a prayer to St. Joseph.
St. Joseph is also good to invoke if you are having difficulty finding a job. He was commissioned to provide for the Son of God, so he fully understands the pressure men face to provide for their families.
PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH BEFORE WORK BY POPE ST. PIUS X
O Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labour, obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance for the expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations; to work with thankfulness and joy, considering it an honour to employ and develop by means of labour the gifts received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, never shrinking from weariness and trials; to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self, keeping unceasingly before my eyes death and the account that I must give of time lost, talents unused, good omitted, and vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God.
