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

How Unemployment can be a time of spiritual growth

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



Unemployment is never an easy situation, especially when there is a family to be supported. Moreover, people often peg their sense of self-esteem to a job. Work, in fact, has a spiritual dimension. Pope John Paul II’s 1981 encyclical Laborem Exercens observes: “Work is a good thing for man — a good thing for his humanity — because through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being.” Through our work we contribute to building society and helping our neighbors. The Catechism in No. 2427 notes, “  Human work proceeds directly from persons created in the image of God and called to prolong the work of creation by subduing the earth, both with and for one another.” In this sense, God is certainly concerned about how we make a living. Any work that truly improves the community and the individual is an activity worthy of respect. Even the humblest job can help a person grow in virtue if he undertakes it out of love for God and others. More than a few unsung saints have spent years toiling in disagreeable jobs in order to provide for their loved ones.

Now to the question about how to discern God’s will during this troublesome time. That is often one of the biggest question marks hanging over us. Firstly and most importantly it is good to remember who you are. You are a beloved son/daughter of a heavenly Father. You are made in his image and gifted with an immortal soul. That is the heart of your identity. God cares about you and your well-being. “Your Father knows what you need” (Matthew 6:8). Reminding ourselves of God’s providence can help to stave off worries and feelings of despair. Then too, we have to “pray always without becoming weary” (Luke 18:1). Prayer demands perseverance because God has his own timetable for responding to petitions. He often speaks in a whisper, so he wants us to make an effort to listen to him. If you have more time on your hands right now, consider dedicating longer periods to prayer and Bible reading. Attend daily Mass, if possible. Learn to guard the spirit of silence in your life by limiting the use of media and other distractions. In this way you give the Holy Spirit the space he needs to work in you. The Spirit also needs something to work with. That is why it is good to have a strategy for job hunting. Program your time well. Tap into your network of friends and business contacts. Keep an eye on helpful job-posting websites. Pursue every worthwhile lead. Be flexible. Also, consider doing volunteer work; it helps us put our own challenges in perspective when we attend to the needs of others.

Be alert, too, to how your next job could be integrated into your spiritual life. Downtime between jobs can help to teach us more humility, more patience, more gratitude. That means that we might re-enter the workforce as better people. At that point we can perhaps see better that our work is a way to give glory to God. For now, don’t lose hope. God has a plan for you, and he will reveal it in his time, lean on his strength and trust in his Providence. Even great Saints had "off" days, St. Teresa of Avila once said that some days she felt that she could take on the world, and others she couldn't stand up to an ant!

1725 Print of St Cajetan

An engraving of St Cajetan printed in Nuremberg by Kristoff Weigel in 1725.

St Cajetan's Monthly Day of Commemoration

K. Schmidt

"St Cajetan In Glory"

18th century

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall”

Psalms 55:22

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

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



Oracion para implorar de San Cayetano el remedio de cualquier necesidad

O glorioso patriarca San Cayetano,

heroe de la más sublime santidad y amarosísimo

protector nuestro! Humildemente te suplicamos que nos

obtengaís de Dios Nuestro Señor vernos libres,

ante todo, del mayor mal que es el pecado, y luego.....

(aqui se expone la necesidad que padecemos y mal que nos aflige)

Vos glorioso y bendito Santo,

que de tanto valimiento gozais ante La Divina Providencia,

alcanzadnos la gracía que, segun vuestra poderosa intercesion

podeís obtener del Divino Niño Jesús

que tan tiernamente llevaís en vuestros brazos,

y también la de amarle cada día más en la tierra,

para que así alcanzaremos un día cantar

sus divinas alabanzas con vos en la Gloria.

Amén

(Se reza tres veces el Padre Nuestro, Ave Maria y Gloria Patri)

El Sr. Obispo de Murcia concede 50 dias de indulgencias a los fieles que reciten lo anterior

An 18th century statue of St Cajetan from Morelia Cathedral, Mexico