St. Joseph the Worker Novena
Contents
Show HideThe Catholic Church’s recognition of the dignity of human work goes all the way back to the beginning when God invited mankind to participate in His creative work; however, our relationship with work suffered after the Fall.
Like all aspects of human life, work needed redemption.
During His life, Christ worked alongside His earthly father—a lowly carpenter named Joseph. Through his work, Joseph gave the faithful an example of work as a sincere offering to God.
In 1955, Pope Pius XII decided to honor the “Model of Workers” with his own special feast that also served as the Church’s response to Communist-sponsored celebrations for “International Workers’ Day.”
You can pray this novena to grow in devotion to Saint Joseph, to offer your labor to God, and to pray for all those who work.
About Saint Joseph the Worker
While we don’t hear much about St. Joseph in Sacred Scripture, we know that he was a holy and just man.
Joseph, a carpenter, was betrothed to Mary when she became the Mother of God, and rather than subjecting her to shame, he sought to divorce her quietly. However, after an angel appeared to him in a dream, Joseph took Mary for his wife and became the adoptive father of Jesus.
The Church sees Joseph not only as the protector of Jesus and Mary but as the Protector of the Holy Church, which is just one of the many titles he holds. He is also referred to as Head of the Holy Family, Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, Terror of Demons, and Model of Workers.
While the Solemnity of St. Joseph celebrated on March 19 is his primary feast, a secondary feast of Joseph is celebrated on May 1 and celebrates his role as Model of Workers. This particular feast came as Pope Pius XII’s response to Communist-sponsored celebrations for “International Workers’ Day” or “May Day.”
This feast was meant to foster a deeper devotion to St. Joseph, celebrate workers, and aid in the understanding of the dignity of human labor through a Catholic lens.
Since the beginning, the Church has recognized the dignity of work and of those who work.
In the book of Genesis, God gave man, made in His image and likeness, the commandment to “be fertile and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it,” and He set man with the task to “cultivate and care for” the Garden.
We are all called to work not merely as a way to earn a living but as a way to participate in the creative work of God.
As a carpenter and one given the noble task of caring for Jesus and Mary, Saint Joseph provides a model for holiness of labor and for all workers. He can show us how to serve Christ through our work.
Not only did Joseph work diligently in his craft, but he also taught Jesus the trade; Jesus worked for many years as a carpenter before He began His ministry. If Joseph’s example of holy work provided a worthy example for God Made Man, we too can seek to learn from him how to work well.
Saint Joseph the Worker’s Feast Day: May 1st
Why Pray the Saint Joseph the Worker Novena?
Saint Joseph the Worker is the patron saint of . . . you guessed it—workers!
You can pray for all those who work—both in home and out of the home—that they can participate joyfully in their daily tasks and unite their labors to Christ. You can pray for those who provide for their families and for those who are struggling to, or for people currently looking for a job.
You can also pray for justice among workers and that the basic rights of workers—the right to productive work, to organize, to decent and fair wages, and to a safe work environment—would be upheld worldwide.
You can pray the Saint Joseph the Worker Novena for any intention!
St. Joseph the Worker Novena Prayers
St. Joseph the Worker Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Heavenly Father, in the beginning You gave us the Garden with its fruit and commanded us to care for it. In doing so, You invited us into Your holy and creative work.
Your holy servant Joseph clearly reflected You by embracing the call to holy labor.
St. Joseph, Model of Workers, while humanity’s understanding of work suffered after the Fall, you were able to work as God intended—in union with Him.
At the workbench next to Christ, you brought human labor closer to the mystery of the Redemption.
Teach me how to make my daily responsibilities and tasks an offering to our Lord. Help my work—no matter how simple or mundane—reflect the marvelous gift of redemption I’ve been given through my baptism.
During the creation of the world, Our Father looked upon the work He had done and saw that it was good. Through your intercession and guidance, St. Joseph, I pray that God may look upon my work and find it just as pleasing.
I ask that you also pray for this intention close to my heart…
(Mention your petition here)
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joseph the Worker Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Jesus, You redeemed the curse of Adam by working by the sweat of Your brow and devoting Yourself to the work of the Father alongside St. Joseph. Under the guidance and instruction of Your earthly father, You further developed Your humanity through work.
Give me the grace to follow the example of Your earthly Father so that through my work I may come to know You more fully.
St. Joseph, Model of Workers, remind me that my dignity is not found in how hard I work or in what I produce, but rather in my identity as a child of God. Help me ensure that my work upholds this identity rather than confuses it.
Teach me to navigate my daily work with wisdom. Let not my desire for meaningful work turn into greed or a lust for power, money, or status. Show me how to attend to each task with the diligence and love it deserves.
Allow my work to form me into a man/woman of the Lord and help me develop the virtues necessary to live a holy life.
Bring good fruit from my labors.
Pray also for the intention that I bring to you today…
(Mention your petition here)
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joseph the Worker Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Jesus, son of Joseph, You entered the world through a human family—a family headed by a lowly carpenter whom You chose to work next to for years. You put Yourself under the care and tutelage of a man who modeled simple and sacrificial work for the good of all.
St. Joseph, you worked diligently to provide for the Blessed Mother and the Son of God in all of their needs. You showed us how we should work, not only for ourselves, but to serve others. Fill me with love for all peoples.
Show me, as you once showed Christ, how to lay down my life through my work so I can leave the world a better place than I found it. Help me obtain the means to provide for my family and for the Church through stable and life-giving work.
Pray that I may learn to love others more fully through my labors and pray also for the intention I now bring to you…
(Mention your petition here)
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joseph the Worker Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Heavenly Father, You gave Adam and Eve dominion over Your creation, not to control it but to work alongside it to better glorify You. From the fruit of the earth and the work of human hands, bread and wine can become the body and blood of Your Son Jesus.
Joseph, Model of Workers, you kept the commandment of our first parents—to work alongside creation to bring forth beauty. From the wood of trees you fashioned furniture and tools that allowed others to fulfill the tasks to which God called them.
Through this work, you helped prepare Christ to lay down His life and embrace the wood of the cross.
Stir up gratitude in my heart for the marvelous gifts God has given us through His creation and teach me how to faithfully steward these gifts.
Reveal to me how I can cooperate with creation to bring beauty into the world—both at work or at home—and how I can best glorify God through each of my daily tasks.
Pray for all those who work with their hands, especially those who make our worship possible through their labors. Pray also for my special intention…
(Mention your petition here)
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joseph the Worker Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dearest Jesus, You tasked Your followers with the work of spreading the Good News, making disciples of all nations and bringing others into the Church. We, too, are commanded to partake in the holy work of winning souls for You.
Saint Joseph, Model of Workers, you brought your love for Christ to your work, allowing your faith to be the guiding force of your entire life, even your labor.
Today I offer you all of those in the workforce. Whether they work on site or remotely, help these laborers see themselves as servants of God and recognize their place of employment as an opportunity to evangelize.
Give all workers the courage to proclaim their faith through word and deed. Bring peace to any conflicts that might arise among those who work together. And help them shine the light of Christ your Son to everyone they encounter, until the culture is transformed for the better.
I also ask for your intercession for my special intention:
(Mention your petition here)
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joseph the Worker Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Heavenly Father, You gave each one of us gifts and talents. Reveal to us the ways in which You want us to use these gifts to build up Your kingdom as Joseph did.
Saint Joseph, Model of Workers, you are no stranger to the anxieties caused by a lack of employment. You once faced the difficult task of providing for your family under extreme circumstances, particularly during the flight into Egypt.
You trusted the Lord to guide you where you needed to go and to bring good fruit from that challenging situation.
Today I bring to you all those in need of a job and ask for your intercession to provide for this need. I ask that you guide and assist them in their search for stable and meaningful employment and bring their search to a swift and joyful end.
Help them unite their suffering and anxiety caused by the lack of employment to the cross of your Son. Guard them against discouragement and bitterness of heart. Help them trust in the love and mercy of God as you did and remain steadfast and obedient to Him.
I also ask for your intercession in this particular need of mine:
(Mention your petition here)
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joseph the Worker Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Heavenly Father, You made man in Your image and likeness, and sending Your only Son to suffer and die for us emphasized the inherent dignity of each person. Your servant Joseph upheld this truth through his words and actions.
St. Joseph, Model of Workers, you were known as a just man. You exemplified the virtue of righteousness and modeled the ways in which we should act to be like God.
Today I ask for your prayers for those who face injustices, especially those who are denied a fair wage, safe conditions in which to work, freedom to organize, and opportunities for rest. Protect them from all harm and rejuvenate their spirit.
Open our eyes to the struggles of those exploited for their labor and open our hearts to their needs.
Embolden us to speak up on their behalf and demand that the dignity of these workers be recognized by those with the power to enact change.
I also ask you to pray for this special intention:
(Mention your petition here)
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joseph the Worker Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Christ Jesus, You gave us a perfect example of servant leadership, as first modeled to You by Your earthly father Joseph. Pour out Your grace upon all people in positions of authority that they may learn from You how to lead well and serve others.
Saint Joseph, Model of Workers, today I offer you the leaders in the workplace—those responsible for workers—that they may also look to you as the model of Christlike leadership.
May their actions and decisions be informed by the dignity deserving of those under their care and help them recognize your Son in each person they lead.
Encourage all leaders to act with honesty, integrity, and justice in their business dealings. Teach them humility and help open their hearts and minds to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Help make their own heart like thine.
Please pray also for the special intention I hold in my heart…
(Mention your petition here)
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Joseph the Worker Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Heavenly Father, Scripture tells us that on the seventh day of creation You rested, thereby setting the expectations for all of Your people. You gave us the Sabbath as a chance to step back from our work, to rejuvenate us, and to bring us into communion with You.
St. Joseph, Model of Workers, as a faithful man, you no doubt rested on the Sabbath in imitation of the Divine Worker. You kept God at the center of your life and especially your work.
Keep me from sacrificing myself totally on the altar of work; give me perspective and understanding that work was made for man, not man for work. Allow my work to flow from my worship of your Son and allow it to always lead me back to Him.
Teach me the meaning of holy rest, in which my soul remains active in pursuing goodness, truth, and beauty, so that I may be filled with the love of God.
Pray also for this intention:
(Mention your petition here)
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.