The First of May

I must apologize for being an absent blogger these days. Sunshine and family visits have been occupying most of my time as of late, and when I do get a few moments here and there to log on, I've been reading posts, not writing them.

Today is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. It is also a national holiday for laborers, and I found it humorously disappointing (you know, when you laugh at first but then become saddened on further reflection) that the local conservative talk show hosts did not know why. I will not be engaging myself in any form of labor whatsoever today, but rather spending time with a special someone in my life taking in the splendors of nature and beauty and good food. I hope Saint Joseph won't mind.


One of my favorite prayers, worthy of much more than the time it takes to say it ~ A Prayer for the Spirit of Work:


~~Glorious St. Joseph,
~~model of all who pass their life in labor,
~~obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance
~~to atone for my many sins;
~~to work conscientiously,
~~putting the call of duty above my own inclinations;
~~to work with gratitude and joy,
~~considering it an honor to use and develop by my labor
~~the gifts I have received from God;
~~to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience,
~~without ever recoiling before weariness or difficulties.
~~Help me to work, above all, with purity of intention
~~and with detachment from self,
~~having always before my eyes the hour of death
~~and the accounting which I must render
~~of time lost, talents wasted, good omitted,
~~and vain complacency in success,
~~which is so fatal to the work of God.
~~All for Jesus,
~~all for Mary,
~~all after your example,
~~O Patriarch Joseph!
~~This shall be my watchword in life and in death.
~