Prayers for a Job
St. Joseph, who fed the Holy Family with his hands, is the Church's patron of workers — and by extension of everyone looking for work. Psalm 89's closing line has been the worker's prayer for centuries: that God direct the works of our hands.
Traditional prayers
Memorare
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Morning Offering
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.
I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart:
the salvation of souls, reparation for sin,
and the reunion of all Christians.
I offer them for the intentions of our bishops
and of all Apostles of Prayer,
and in particular for those recommended
by our Holy Father this month. Amen.
From Scripture
17And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and direct thou the works of our hands over us; yea, the work of our hands do thou direct.
— Psalm 89 (90), vv. 17, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter
31Be not solicitous therefore, saying: What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed?
32For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.
33Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.
— Matthew 6, vv. 31-33, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter
Psalm numbers follow the Douay-Rheims (Vulgate) numbering; the common Hebrew numbering appears in parentheses.
Pray a novena
Patron saints for this intention
How to use these prayers
The St. Joseph novena is the traditional nine-day prayer for work. Pray it while applying, not instead of applying — Joseph was a tradesman, not a lottery.