A PRAYER FOR FIDELITY TO WORK

The patron saint of work is Saint Joseph.

Have you every thought about the work you do? Have you prayed the Saint Joseph the Worker prayer?  Try it, you might begin to feel better about the work you are involved in . . .When you feel tired or bored about your work offer your works and sacrifices, time and energy spent for the forgiveness of your sins for the conversion of sinners and for the forgotten Souls in Purgatory.

"A Prayer for Fidelity to Work," is a prayer during those times that you find it hard to convince yourself to do the work that you need to do. Seeing a spiritual purpose in that work can help. This prayer to St. Joseph, patron of workers, helps you to call to mind that all of your labor is part of your struggle on the road to heaven.

Here is the prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker composed by Pope St. Pius X:

O Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, 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 honor to employ and develop by means of labor 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. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thy example, O Patriarch, Saint Joseph. Such shall be my watch-word in life and in death. Amen.

PRAYER FOR WORKERS TO SAINT JOSEPH

This beautiful prayer was composed by Pope Saint John XXIII (1958-63). It places all workers under the patronage of Saint Joseph the Worker and asks for his intercession so that we may regard our work as a means of growing in holiness.

A Prayer for Workers

O glorious Joseph! Who concealed your incomparable and regal dignity of custodian of Jesus and of the Virgin Mary under the humble appearance of a craftsman and provided for them with your work, protect with loving power your sons, especially entrusted to you.
You know their anxieties and sufferings, because you yourself experienced them at the side of Jesus and of His Mother. Do not allow them, oppressed by so many worries, to forget the purpose for which they were created by God. Do not allow the seeds of distrust to take hold of their immortal souls. Remind all the workers that in the fields, in factories, in mines, and in scientific laboratories, they are not working, rejoicing, or suffering alone, but at their side is Jesus, with Mary, His Mother and ours, to sustain them, to dry the sweat of their brow, giving value to their toil. Teach them to turn work into a very high instrument of sanctification as you did. Amen.

PRAYER TO THE THREE HOLY WISE MEN

Tradition says that the "Three Kings" were converted and became holy saints.

It is said that the Three Kings who traveled to Bethlehem to adore the newborn King were radically changed by the experience and abandoned their pagan ways. According to one account, the Magi traveled to India and were eventually baptized by St. Thomas the Apostle before their deaths.

Tradition has since held Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar as “saints,” and throughout the centuries various prayers have been composed to them. Below is one such prayer, part of a longer novena to the Magi that is often said in preparation for the feast of Epiphany.

O Holy Magi, you were living in continual expectation of the rising of the Star of Jacob, which would announce the birth of the true Son of justice; obtain for me an increase of faith and charity, and the grace to live in continual hope of beholding, one day, the light of heavenly glory and eternal joy.

(Share your request …)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Prayer to the Infant Jesus:
Infant Jesus, meek and mild,
look on me a little child.
Pity mine and pity me,
suffer me to come to Thee.

Heart of Jesus, I adore Thee.
Heart of Mary, I implore Thee.
Heart of Joseph, pure and just.
In these three hearts, I put my trust.

Help us Joseph in our early strife,
ever to lead a pure and blameless life.

O, Holy Magi, Pray for Us

DEVOTION TO SAINT JOSEPH FOR PROTECTION

The devotion promises St. Joseph's "efficacious protection in life" when said with a contrite heart.

Among the many devotions in honor of St. Joseph, one that is not often mentioned is the tradition of the “Five Psalms.” The devotion can be found in the Raccolta, a collection of prayers that dates to the early 19th century.

Pope Pius VII authorized this custom in 1809 “to encourage Christian People to practice this devotion to St. Joseph, thereby to obtain his efficacious protection in life, and still more in death.”

It consists of saying the following Psalms, along with various antiphons, all with the intention of honoring St. Joseph.

Ant. Joseph virum Maria, de qua natus est Jesus, qui vocatur Christus (Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ).

Psalm 100

Ant. Joseph virum Maria, de qua natus est Jesus, qui vocatur Christus (Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ).

Ant. Joseph de domo David, et nomen Virginis Maria (Ant. In the name Joseph of the house of David, and the Virgin Mary).

Psalm 47

Ant. Joseph de domo David, et nomen Virginis Maria (Ant. In the name Joseph of the house of David, and the Virgin Mary).

Ant. Joseph vir ejus, cum esset justus, et nollet eam traducere (Ant. Joseph her husband, being a just man and not wanting to expose her).

Psalm 129

Ant. Joseph vir ejus, cum esset justus, et nollet eam traducere (Ant. Joseph her husband, being a just man and not wanting to expose her).

Ant. Joseph fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam conjugem tuam (Ant. Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife).

Psalm 81

Ant. Joseph fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam conjugem tuam (Ant. Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife).

Ant. Joseph exurgens a somno fecit, sicut praecepit ei angelus (Ant. And Joseph rising up from sleep did as the angel said.)

Psalm 87

Ant. Joseph exurgens a somno fecit, sicut praecepit ei angelus (Ant. And Joseph rising up from sleep did as the angel said.)

Then it concludes with the following prayer.

V. He made him lord over His house.
R. And prince of all that was His.

Let us pray.
O God, who in Thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may have him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

There is also a hymn that concludes this devotion with the opening stanza.

Seek ye the grace of God,
And mercies from on high?
Invoke St. Joseph’s holy name,
And on his aid rely.

It is a rather unknown devotion of St. Joseph, but is one that draws a person deeper in relationship with God, through the example of St. Joseph.

THREE WISE MEN AND THE THREE GIFTS

Three Gifts – based on the gifts the Three Wise Men brought to baby Jesus.

Gold: symbolize something of value.  Something you really want.  Easy enough. 

Frankincense: symbolizes something spiritual.  Something that helps you grow in your spiritual walk.  We have used our “Family Gift” in this category as a way to foster our family time and quality time together.  Building in memories and opportunities for important conversations.

Myrrh: symbolizes something for the body.  Something you need.  This could be clothing, perfume, shoes…

*These are the general guidelines you could of course take it many different directions.  The goal after all is simplicity.Each year the kids also get to open a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve.  I started this tradition when they were babies and have kept it going.  I try to match as much as possible too, because that’s just what I like to do.  

What is one thing YOU really want this year?