St. Joseph the Worker Novena – 9 Days of Prayer
A nine-day novena prayed before the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, asking his intercession for holy work, family provision, and the sanctification of daily labor
St. Joseph the Worker honours the foster father of Jesus as the model of honest labour. The feast was set for May 1 to give workers a Christian meaning for the day. This novena asks for holy work, provision for families and the sanctification of ordinary tasks. Whether you labour in an office, a workshop or a home, it dignifies the effort. It honours the dignity of ordinary labour: a carpenter's shop in Nazareth became the place where Jesus learned a trade. Pray it before you clock in, or while commuting, and let the day have a purpose beyond the paycheck.
A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer. Begin nine days before the feast (May 1) and finish on its eve. You can pray this novena at any time of year.
Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle PlaySt. Joseph the Worker Novena – prayer for all nine days
Intention: For Holy Work, Provision for My Family, and Protection of the Home
Glorious St. Joseph, chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus and the protector of the Holy Family, we honor you as patron of all who labor. As you worked with your hands in the workshop at Nazareth, sanctifying the ordinary toil of daily life, intercede for us in our needs.
Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who labor for the love of God, obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance for the expiation of my sins; to work conscientiously, placing duty above my inclinations; to work with thankfulness and joy, considering it an honor to develop by labor the gifts received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience, without recoiling before weariness or difficulties.
Present my intentions and needs before the throne of God:
(Mention your intentions here.)
St. Joseph, you are the patron of workers and the guardian of families. You provided for the Holy Family through hardship and exile. Intercede for those who are without work, for families struggling to make ends meet, and for all who offer their daily toil as a sacrifice of love.
Protect my home and family as you protected the house of Nazareth. Help me to sanctify my ordinary duties and to offer all my work to the glory of God.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
Pray this prayer once a day for nine days in a row.
Traditional Catholic Devotion · Feast established by Pope Pius XII, 1955; coincides with International Workers Day
More novenas
- Divine Mercy Novena
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena
- Immaculate Conception Novena
- Holy Spirit Novena
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Novena
- Assumption of Mary Novena
Frequently asked questions
When should I start the St. Joseph the Worker Novena?
Begin on April 22 to end on April 30, the eve of the feast on May 1. It is also fitting when starting a new job.
How do I pray the St. Joseph the Worker Novena?
Pray the daily prayer once a day, ideally at the start of work or study.
Who is the St. Joseph the Worker Novena for?
It is for workers, fathers, the unemployed and anyone who wants to offer their labour to God.
Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle Play