St Cajetan in art and popular devotion

An 18th century painted tile of St Cajetan, Valencia, Spain

A modern tile picture of St Cajetan from Seville

A devotee of St Cajetan in Buenos Aires

Monthly Commemoration of St Cajetan - Trust & Do Not Worry!

A 19th century holy card of St Cajetan

O Glorious St Cajetan, Father of Divine Providence, help all those who are unemployed, who search for employment and who fear for their jobs, lead them towards what they are looking for and pray for us all that we may be courageous in the face of adversity

"We can only meet God in the present moment. This is an area where God chooses to place limits on His own power. We choose whether or not to live in the present moment. Because we can encounter God only in that present moment, whenever we live in the past or in the future, we place ourselves beyond His reach.

We can only make decisions in the present moment. We can only enjoy sights and sounds in the present moment. We can only love or hate in the present moment. The present moment is the interface between ourselves and the rest of the universe, and, more importantly, it is the only point of contact between the individual and God. Of all the possible points of time, only the present moment is available for repentance. The past cannot be taken back and remade. The future remains forever outside our reach."

St Cajetan on his monthly day of commemoration asks us to have hope and to trust in God's bounty, to look to the future and not to surrender to our doubts and fears.

The Miraculous Image of St Cajetan, S Lorenzo, Turin,
showing his altar now and during the  first half of the 20th century.

An 18th century Italian print of the death of St Cajetan

The Holy Death Of St Cajetan

The authorities at Naples, civil as well as ecclesiastical, had resolved to institute the Inquisition in the city, to guard the faithful more thoroughly against heresy. The people were, however, opposed to it to such an extent, that a revolt was feared, and neither the exhortations and persuasions of St. Cajetan nor of other men were of any avail. The holy man was deeply distressed at the danger posed to so great a city and still more to so many souls. Hence he offered his life as a sacrifice to appease the wrath of the Almighty, praying that God would accept of it, restore peace, and spare the city and its inhabitants. The following event will show how pleased the Almighty was with this sacrifice. Soon after the Saint had offered himself to Heaven, he became dangerously sick, and repeating his offer, died a most peaceful and holy death, having had the privilege of seeing Christ and the Blessed Virgin. The Saviour assured him of his salvation, the Divine Mother of her protection until his death. And yet he would not die in any other manner than as a penitent; for when the physician said he needed a more comfortable bed, he protested most emphatically against it, saying that he would not, in his last hour, allow his body any comfort, but that he would be laid in his penitential robes upon ashes on the ground, adding: "There is no road leading to Heaven but that of innocence or repentance. He who has departed from the first, must take the second; else he is eternally lost." 

He received the last Sacraments with great devotion, turned his eyes towards Heaven, and rendered up his soul tranquilly to God, in the year of our Lord 1547. The strife in the city soon after ceased and peace was restored, as if God had wished to show that He had accepted the life of St. Cajetan as a peace offering for the salvation of innumerable souls. 

Praying to St Cajetan for Work

A picture of worshippers outside the Church of St Cajetan in Liniers, Buenos Aires.

The text accompanying the photo reads: "Praying For Work - People line up to enter the church of San Cayetano in suburban Buenos Aires on Thursday to pray to the Patron Saint of Employment.

With Argentina's economy crumbling, the worshippers, estimated at up to 100,000 strong, 

appeared more fervent than usual."

Whilst this photo dates from 1975, the situation it describes could be today! But do we have the same faith now? Would it not be a very good thing, if not life changing, to have a heavenly intercessor to help us through our present woes? St Cajetan offers his prayers and help from Heaven, he knows our needs and can see our situation and wishes to aid us. He wishes to bless each covering letter and CV we send out, he wishes to accompany us in each step we take when pounding the streets in search of a job, he wishes to give strength and patience to those who fear for their jobs and above all he wishes to give us hope that in the end all will be well. Is this not an invitation we wish to accept?

A Miracle Through St Cajetan's Intercession

Father John Madigan, O.M.I., Director of the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate in Belleville, Illinois shared the following e-mail message he received recently from a benefactor:

“I ordered a rosary and prayer to (St. Cayetano), the patron saint of unemployed – I did not know there was one. I mailed it to my cousin who lives in Southern California who had been out of work for 18 months.“A single woman, she was getting desperate as unemployment (benefits were) running out. As you know, the economy there is really bad. She had no prospects despite diligently working to find a job. She started saying the prayer and carrying the beads and prayer with
her when visiting agencies or going on interviews.

“About two weeks after she began saying the prayers, she received a phone call offering her a one-year contract position! She can only attribute it to St. Cayetano – it was the only change she had made. Greatest thanks for making us aware of him and for his speedy work on behalf of a desperate supplicant.”

– Kathy G. of Pennsylvania

Glorious St Cajetan, Saint of Divine Providence,
intercede for us that in our homes we may
never lack bread and work.

St Cajetan, the jobseekers friend

A Jobseekers Prayer

St. Cajetan, pray for me so that I might find the perfect job. 

You were known for your eloquence and ability to move even the most hardened souls, please pray for me that I might write inspired covering letters, catch all of the typos in my CV, and connect with an employer who will offer me work that will bring me closer to God.
St. Cajetan, intercede for me that I might emulate your work ethic
and honour Christ through my career.

St. Cajetan, pray for us!

St Cajetan on his monthly day of commemoration asks us to have hope and to trust in God's bounty, to look to the future and not to surrender to our doubts and fears.

St Cajetan, patron of the unemployed & jobseekers in London

In these difficult times of unemployment and job insecurity it may be a comfort to know that there is a Patron Saint devoted to this special cause who is becoming increasingly popular . 

St Cajetan of Thiene, known as the "Saint of Divine Providence", founded both the Theatine order and the Naples "Monte Pio" (a bank which offers loans without interest) to help the poor and offer an alternative to usurers (loan sharks). His concern for the unemployed, giving them the necessary financial help in their time of need, made him their patron.

This prayer card is available from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, St Paul's & CTS Bookshops, Victoria and the Padre Pio Bookshop on Vauxhall Bridge Road