+J.M.J.+

Mary’s month of May begins with a day for her husband. Today, celebrated around the world as “International Workers’ Day” is the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker.

There’s poetry to the fact that the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin begins by putting the focus on her husband, and therefore on their family life. Imagine the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph working together, playing together, praying together. There’s our model.

Today, the bishops of the United States will reconsecrate our nation to the Blessed Virgin. You can join in (virtually) on the USCCB Facebook page. More information is available on their website.

Through a collective dedication or entrustment of a nation to Mary, an act of consecration is meant to be a reminder to the faithful of the Blessed Mother’s witness to the Gospel and to ask for her effective intercession before her Son on behalf of those in need.

O Glorious Saint Joseph,
model of all those who are devoted to labor,
obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously,
putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations,
to work with gratitude and joy,
in a spirit of penance for the remission of my sins,
considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor
the gifts received from God,
to work with order, peace, moderation and patience,
without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties,
to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self,
having always death before my eyes and the account that I must render
of time lost, of talents wasted, of good omitted,
of vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God.

All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thine example, O Patriarch, Saint Joseph.
Such shall be my watch-word in life and in death.

(Prayer to Saint Joseph composed by Pope Saint Pius X)