I Work With:Saint Jospeh



San Giuseppe, the patron of carpenters, the
unemployed and people providing for their families has a long history with folk magic. As related in a previous entry, the benevolent saint entered my orbit during a time of unemployment.  Since then, he has become my patron saint.

Saint Joseph is petitioned for a variety of needs and reasons in magico-religious traditions. As Saint Jospeh the Worker he helps the unemployed secure employment and the employed stay at work. As a builder of homes and provider he is traditionally invoked to sell houses. Traditionally, his statue is buried in the yard or, in apartments or buildings where a lawn is lacking, a flowerpot. He is also invoked for a peaceful death, as he was surrounded by Jesus and Mary at his end.

Renowned for his compassion, Saint Joseph may ask you to exercise charity in your own life. He is often depicted with lilies, the death flower and yellow or purple robes. Yellow is the color of his novena candles and purple relates to his place in Heaven. With his special place in God's court, he can relate our petitions to the highest levels. For this reason (and to demonstrate his familiar compassion) he is shown carrying the infant Jesus. His special day is Sunday. Remember as you are praying or working with Saint Jospeh, that you are forming a relationship with this generous, gifted man, a humble but energetic saint.

Saint Joseph the Worker

"O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests in desires..."

The preceding prayer has helped me immensely of late.  And it can help you.  Creating a relationship with St. Joseph, the beloved foster father of Christ, is a personal journey I undertook three months when my unemployment looked grim.  Being a transsexual has it's own set of challenges, one of which happens to be finding a job.  Little by little I lost hope and little by little San Giuseppe, the carpenter saint of my Catholic heritage appealed to me.  I began to worry for my own safety and that of my boyfriend and our pets, who depended on my finding a new source of income in the near future.

"O Saint Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you or Jesus asleep in your arms... "

   It occurred to me, as it has to so many others, that Saint Joseph shares our concern for family being a craftsman who supported Jesus and Mary.  For that reason he has been petitioned by countless Italians who integrated him into folk magic.  A relationship with Saint Joseph can help you maintain stability and homeostasis within your work and home life.  

   As Saint Joseph the Worker he is honored on May 1 and his special day is Sunday. He is often seen in the his spouse and child as the Holy Family.  He is also at home with his work bench on Catholic Holy Cards, ready to help you resume control of your life.