Sunday, April 27, 2014, Pope Francis canonized Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. Both of these popes are loved by many faithful Catholics and admired by many non-Catholics. The Canonization Mass was televised live in the US on several secular, major national television networks. I thought to myself, “Both holy men are reaching out to our sad world from their heavenly home. Praise God.”
Today is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. St. Joseph worked tirelessly with his saintly hands so that he could provide for Our Lady and her only son, Jesus. God entrusted these two beautiful souls to St. Joseph because he was a devout and faithful servant of the Lord. Beyond just providing a livelihood for the Holy Family, St. Joseph taught Christ how to work with His hands. Joseph, no doubt, showed Our Lord the value of work. When Our Savior ascended into Heaven, He took with Him the lessons about work. In other words, He knows the toils and challenges that all workers must face.
In honor of St. Joseph, I would like to share with you the following prayer composed by St. John XXIII. The prayer places all workers under the patronage of St. Joseph the Worker, and asks for his intercession so that we may work as a means of growing in holiness. Oh, yes, Pope St. John XIII is still reaching out to us from heaven.
[dropcap]O[/dropcap] 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.