The Worker and the Queen

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 is also a day where traditionally parishes all around the world crown an image or statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In many places, this is done by a May Queen and her court, often children from the local Catholic School.

I was privileged to attend today’s crowning at my parish of Saint Patrick at this morning’s school Mass, celebrated by Bishop Frank Schuster.

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)