Happy Solemnity of St. Joseph, patron saint of the Universal Church, carpenters, travelers, immigrants, workers, fathers, and a happy death. As the foster father of Jesus and husband of Mary, he is revered as a guardian and protector of families, and a model of servant leadership. 

There’s so much to learn from St. Joseph, but today I’d like to focus on one specific aspect of his sainthood: his patronage of workers. 

Saint Joseph is the patron saint of workers because, even as he raised Jesus, he worked as a humble carpenter, thus embodying the dignity, sanctity, and value of manual labor. The reality is that we don’t know much about Joseph from Scripture. His presence doesn’t stretch beyond the infancy narratives, so while it makes sense from his role as a carpenter that he’s the patron of workers, his life doesn’t provide us overt guidance on how to think about or be a worker. 

And so, it is with imagination that I use St. Joseph as an inspiration to reflect on the concept of work and vocation. 

Here are some of my thoughts:

All jobs have their splinters

I imagine that Joseph, working with wood and tools, suffered the occasional (or maybe frequent) injury. I, on the other hand, have never sustained physical wounds from work. That doesn’t mean, however, that I don’t have my own version of workplace hardships. As a psychotherapist, hearing about the childhood traumas — ongoing and past — of my clients impacts the way that I look at the world, the fears that I have regarding my own children, and my sense of trust in humanity. Weeks will go by without a “splinter” to my heart, but then all in one day, I’ll take in three or four traumas, leaving me grief-stricken and scared. St. Joseph reminds me that injury is part and parcel of work, and as workers, we are called to navigate the hardships so as to continue the call. 

Keep work in its proper order

If one were consider St. Joseph’s most important role, I think most people would determine his foster fatherhood of Jesus and partnership to Mary as ranking higher than his work as a carpenter. While I have no doubt that Joseph contributed meaningfully with the work of his hands, the tables he built and mangers he crafted were in the service of something greater. It’s easy to get wrapped up on our work, to treat it as the most important thing in our lives, or as an end in itself. Sometimes it may be, but often it isn’t, and St. Joseph’s varying roles call attention to this reality. 

Consider service broadly 

One of the most impactful moments I’ve ever had when considering the topic of vocation occurred when I was working at a small Catholic parish about ten years ago and the copy machine and printer broke. Anyone who has worked in an office can relate to this aggravation! Fortunately for me, the parish secretary was quick to say, “Call Dan the printer guy,” and voila! My problems were solved and I gained a new perspective on what it means to serve. With cheerfulness and haste, Dan came to my aid, and as he efficiently fixed the problem, he made me feel at ease about all things printers. He gave me tips on how to keep the printer at its best (this was when I learned that fanning a ream of a paper before inserting it in the machine removes excess dust and thus decreases the frequency of the machine ending maintenance), he chatted with me about his family and mine, and he said something along the lines of, “this work isn’t glamorous, but it’s something I can do well and it’s a way that I can help others.” YES. I like to imagine that Joseph, in his modest work as a carpenter, felt the same way. He wasn’t saving lives — he wasn’t Jesus, after all — but he was working to make the existence of others a little easier, a little more beautiful. That’s service. 

As we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph today, consider taking this moment as an opportunity to reflect on what vocation means to you. Are you satisfied with your work? Do you keep it in its proper order? In what ways does it draw you close to God and your fellow humans? And as you ponder these questions, look to St. Joseph for guidance on what it means to live out God’s call for us in our working lives. St. Joseph, patron saint of workers, pray for us.