Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

GLORIOUS ST. JOSEPH,

Model 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 labor with thankfulness and joy,

Deeming it an honor

To employ and to develop by my labor

The gifts I have received from Almighty God;

To work with order,

Peace, moderation and patience,

Without ever shrinking

From weariness and difficulties;

To work, 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 render

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 you,

O Patriarch Joseph!

This shall be my motto

In life and in death.

Amen.