St. Joseph & International Workers' Day: May 1

On May 1st, International Workers’ Day is celebrated in many countries. On this day we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker. St. Joseph the Worker reminds us to recognize the value of human work, to defend the dignity of working people, and encourage all to be responsible in their work. On this day, we celebrate the role that human work has in God’s plan for creation. 

 Prayer

Joseph, by the work of your hands and the sweat of your brow, you supported Jesus and Mary and had the Son of God as your fellow worker. Teach me to work as you did, with patience and perseverance, for God and for those whom God has given me to support. Teach me to see in my fellow workers the Christ who desires to be in them, that I may always be charitable and forbearing towards all. Grant me to look upon work with the eyes of faith, so that I shall recognize in it my share in God’s own creative activity and in Christ’s work of our redemption, and so take pride in it. When it is pleasant and productive, remind me to give thanks to God for it. And when it is burdensome, teach me to offer it to God, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the world.