Patron of Carpenters

To provide for his family, St. Joseph worked as a carpenter. The original word in the Gospel is tekton which means "craftsman" or "artisan," thereby suggesting that he could well have been a builder of homes as well as a carpenter. St. Joseph left an example to all those who must earn their bread by work of their hands, which constitutes an overwhelming majority of mankind; and therefore, he is the principal patron in the world of work.

St. Joseph is also referred to as the Model of Artisans. This is a beautiful title that reminds us that St. Joseph was fully human--talented, hard-working, with an eye for beauty and quality. At our baptism, God gives us spiritual gifts (charisms), which are special abilities to enable us to be channels of God's love and presence in the world. Some are given the charism of craftsmanship which empowers an individual to be an effective channel of God's grace to others through artistic or creative work that beautifies and/or orders the physical world. It is quite possible that St. Joseph had the charism of craftsmanship.

Today, God continues to give the Body of Christ a variety of gifts through which He can continue to make His presence known in the world. Those of you who have the gift of craftsmanship have a special intercessor in St. Joseph. St. Joseph can help you to glorify God by practicing your trade with integrity and skill.

Let us pray the St. Joseph Prayer for Workers to honor carpenters, artists, and craftsman:

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.

(Note: This prayer was adapted from the booklet "Devotions to Saint Joseph" by Brian Moore, S.J., printed and published by the Society of St. Paul.)

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.

Daily Challenge

What are some of the charisms or spiritual gifts that God has given you? Reflect on how you are using these to bring beauty to your world. Is there some small way you might use your gifts to better channel God's love and presence? Ask for the grace and opportunity to do so.