Today is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

Devotion to St. Joseph

All for Jesus – All for Mary

All to imitate thee O Patriarch St. Joseph

Joseph is of royal descent from David. Joseph’s family came from Bethlehem in Judea but he had moved to Nazareth in Galilee, where he was a builder. He was bethrothed to Mary, became alarmed when he found Mary was pregnant though she had not lived with him, and was dissuaded from divorcing her by the angel of the Lord who told him her pregnancy was “by the Holy Spirit.” He was with Mary at the birth of Jesus and the visit by th Magi at Bethlehem. He took Mary and the child to Egypt to escape Herod’s massacre of the infants, and after the death of Herod, brought them back to Nazareth. He and Mary had Jesus circumcised and presented to the Lord in the Temple in Jerusalem. When Jesus was twelve Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem, lost him, and found him discoursing with the doctors in the Temple.
Joseph was declared Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX in 1870; a model for fathers of families by Pope Leo XIII, who confirmed that his pre-eminent sanctity places him next to the Blessed Virgin among the saints, in his encyclical Quanquam pluries in 1889; a protector of working men by Pope Benedict XV; and in 1955 Pope Pius XII established the feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1. March 19 is the feast day of St. Joseph

Saint Joseph, Model of All who Labor

Oh glorious Saint Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labor. Obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins. To work conscientiously, placing love of duty above my own inclinations, To gratefully and joyfully deem it an honor to employ and to develop by labor the gifts I have received from God, To work methodically, peacefully, and in moderation and patience without ever shrinking from it through weariness or difficulty to work, above all with purity of intention and unselfishness. Having unceasingly before my eyes death and the account I must render of good not done, talents unused, and vain complacency in success. All so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, oh patriarch Saint Joseph. This shall be my motto for life and eternity.  Amen.