Our Catholic faith is supposed to be at the forefront of our lives in good times and in bad times. However, it is the bad times that most often drive us to our knees in prayer. During these tumultuous economic times, it would be good to remember to ask St. Joseph to offer his prayers for us. This Friday, May 1, is the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker. This feast, established by Pope Pius XII in 1955, highlights the dignity of the worker and the holiness of work. St. Joseph was a carpenter. He was a laborer. Through his daily toil he provided for Mary and the Child Jesus. It was not an easy life. Pope Leo XIII stated, “Workmen and all those laboring in conditions of poverty will have reasons to rejoice rather than grieve, since they have in common with the Holy Family daily preoccupations and cares.” We look to St. Joseph as a model for offering to God our daily work, whatever it may be.
If you are out of work and looking for a job or just worried about the stability of your current job, asking for the prayers of St. Joseph to intercede on your behalf is a wise move. Even if your job situation seems stable, use this feast day to offer a prayer on behalf of those who are not so fortunate. Be mindful of all those who labor. This is a great day to provide a bonus for those whom you employ. Honor St. Joseph by giving a bigger than expected tip to the waitress who serves you at lunch or the taxi driver who picks you up at the airport.
Remember the Church offers special graces for those who attend Mass at a parish on its feast day. There are several St. Joseph parishes in the DC Metro area. St. Joseph Parish in Herndon, Virginia will offer Mass at 6:30 am and at 8:00 am on Friday. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia will offer Mass at 7:45 am on Friday. Both St. Joseph’s in Largo, Maryland and St. Joseph’s in Beltsville, Maryland celebrate Mass at 8:15 am on Friday. St. Joseph Catholic Church in Morganza, Maryland offers Mass at 8:00 am. St. Joseph’s in Pomfret, Maryland provides Mass at 9:00 am. Finally, for those of you in the District, St. Joseph on Capitol Hill will have Mass at 8:00 am and 12:10 pm on Friday.
You can learn so much about your Catholic faith if you learn to live the rhythm of the liturgical calendar. Pay attention to the feasts and solemnities of the saints. The Communion of Saints make great prayer partners. Just as you would ask your mother or your best friend to offer a prayer, you can ask these souls who make up the Church Triumphant in Heaven to pray for you. You say you believe in the Communion of Saints every time you recite the Nicene Creed during Mass. Don’t be afraid to ask for their prayers. It is not superstitious. It is faithful.
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