St. Cajetan Prayer: 7 Catholic Prayers for Work and Employment (2026)

The best-known St. Cajetan prayer asks him to help you find work while you trust in God’s care: “O Holy Saint Cajetan, patron saint of job seekers, I come to you today in need of your help and guidance.” St. Cajetan of Thiene (1480–1547) is honored by many Catholics as the patron saint of job seekers and the unemployed. Below are 7 prayers for employment, a simple 9-day novena, and the story of the saint himself.

Being out of work is hard. It touches our income, our sense of purpose and often our family’s peace. If that is where you are today, you are not alone, and you are not forgotten by God.

Who Was St. Cajetan?

St. Cajetan (in Italian, Gaetano) was born in 1480 into the noble Thiene family of Vicenza, in northern Italy. He studied law at the University of Padua and earned a doctorate in civil and canon law. He then went to Rome, where he served in the papal court.

In Rome he joined the Oratory of Divine Love, a group of priests and lay people devoted to prayer and works of mercy. He was ordained a priest in 1516. He spent much of his time caring for the sick, including those with incurable illnesses whom others avoided.

In 1524, with Gian Pietro Carafa (later Pope Paul IV), he founded the Clerics Regular, better known as the Theatines. Their aim was to renew the clergy by holy living, preaching and care for the poor at a time when the Church badly needed reform. The Theatines were known for their complete trust in Providence: they owned no income-producing property and lived on what the faithful freely gave.

St. Cajetan spent his last years in Naples, where he died on August 7, 1547. He was canonized in 1671. His feast day is August 7.

A saying often shared about St. Cajetan and his companions sums up their spirit: “by prayer, faith, and penance, we save the world.”

Why Is St. Cajetan the Patron Saint of Job Seekers?

St. Cajetan’s patronage of workers and the unemployed is a popular devotion, not an official title given by the Church. It grew naturally from his life.

• He cared for the poor in practical ways. In Naples he supported the work of a monte di pietà, a charitable lending house that gave poor families small loans at little or no interest so they would not fall into the hands of moneylenders.
• He trusted God for daily bread. His whole community lived by trust in Providence, the very trust a job seeker needs.
• The faithful kept turning to him. In Argentina, where he is called San Cayetano, he is honored as the patron of “bread and work,” and huge crowds visit his shrine in Buenos Aires every August 7 to pray for jobs.

We pray to saints like St. Cajetan not because they replace God, but because they are friends of God who pray with us and for us. You can read more in why Catholics pray to saints.

What the Church Teaches About Work

The Church sees work as far more than a paycheck. The Catechism teaches that human work comes from people made in God’s image, who are called to carry on the work of creation (CCC 2427). Work is meant for the person, not the person for work (CCC 2428).

The Church also teaches that access to employment should be open to all, that workers deserve a just wage (CCC 2433–2434), and that unemployment almost always wounds a person’s dignity and brings real strain to families (CCC 2436). So if losing work has shaken you, that pain is real, and the Church takes it seriously.

Jesus invites us to bring these worries to the Father, who knows what we need: “Seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6:33).

7 St. Cajetan Prayers for Work and Employment

1. Prayer to St. Cajetan to Find a Job

This is the prayer most people use when looking for a new job. You can pray it at any time of the day.

O Holy Saint Cajetan, patron saint of job seekers,
I come to you today in need of your help and guidance.
I am in search of a new job and I am feeling lost and uncertain.
I need your help in finding the right path for me.
I pray that you would intercede to open up doors for me
and lead me to the job that is best for me.
I pray that you would give me the strength and courage
to face the challenges that come with job hunting.
I also pray for your wisdom and guidance
in making the right decisions along the way.
I trust in God’s goodness and mercy
and I know that He will provide for me in ways that I cannot even imagine.
I know that God is always with me
and I am so grateful for His love and care.
Thank you, Saint Cajetan, for hearing my prayer.
Amen.

2. Popular Prayer to St. Cajetan for Perseverance in Seeking Work

This short popular prayer calls him a saint of “good fortune.” For Catholics, that means God’s providence, not luck: every good gift comes from the Father’s care.

Saint Cajetan, saint of good fortune and employment,
encourage all those looking for work
to grow in understanding of God’s unfailing care for them.
Increase in them the gifts of ingenuity, courage, and persistence.
Help us remember that during this time of seeking,
God’s love is by far our most valuable possession.
Amen.

3. Short Daily Prayer to St. Cajetan (Original Prayer)

St. Cajetan, friend of the poor,
pray for me today.
Help me to work hard, to trust God,
and to receive whatever he sends with a grateful heart.
Amen.

4. Prayer Before a Job Interview (Original Prayer)

Lord Jesus, you know the work I am hoping for.
Calm my nerves and clear my mind.
Help me to speak honestly and well,
to listen carefully,
and to show the gifts you have given me.
St. Cajetan, stand beside me in this interview.
Whatever the outcome, let me rest in your will.
Amen.

5. Prayer for a Family Member Looking for Work (Original Prayer)

Heavenly Father, I lift up to you [name],
who is searching for work.
You know his (her) talents, needs and worries.
Lead him (her) to honest work that supports a good life,
and keep his (her) heart from discouragement.
St. Cajetan, pray for him (her),
and St. Joseph, faithful worker, watch over our family.
Amen.

6. Prayer When the Waiting Is Long (Original Prayer)

Lord, I have knocked on many doors,
and some have closed in my face.
I am tired, and today it hurts.
Do not let me lose hope.
Remind me that my worth does not depend on a job title,
but on your love, which never changes.
Give me the strength to try again tomorrow.
St. Cajetan, pray for me.
Amen.

7. St. Cajetan Novena Prayer (Original Prayer)

Glorious St. Cajetan,
you placed your whole trust in the providence of God
and spent your life serving the poor and the sick.
I come to you in my need for work.
Ask the Lord to grant me employment
that is honest, fitting and able to provide for those I love,
if it is his will.
Help me to use this time of waiting well,
to grow in patience, prayer and kindness to others.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

How to Pray the St. Cajetan Novena

A novena is nine days of prayer for a particular intention. You can begin a St. Cajetan novena on any day. Many people pray it from July 30 to August 7, so that it ends on his feast.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Name your intention: a job for yourself, or for someone you love.
3. Pray the St. Cajetan Novena Prayer (prayer 7 above).
4. Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.
5. End with: “St. Cajetan, pray for us.”

Repeat this each day for nine days. Pair the novena with practical steps, such as sending applications and asking friends for leads. Prayer and effort belong together.

Other Saints to Pray to for Work

St. Cajetan is not the only friend in heaven for job seekers. Many Catholics also turn to St. Joseph the Worker, the carpenter of Nazareth, whose feast is May 1. See our prayers to St. Joseph for employment.

If money is running out while you search, you may find comfort in the prayer to St. Jude for urgent financial help and these prayers for a financial miracle. Once you are back at work, our prayer for stress at work may help.

A Word of Encouragement

Praying to St. Cajetan is not a guarantee of a particular job on a particular day. It is a way of placing your search in God’s hands while you do your part. Many people find that the season of waiting, though painful, also brings them closer to God and to those who help them.

St Cajetan’s story is not only about one man and his charitable work but also about the Church and its work for the common good. Keep praying, keep trying, and let the saints walk with you.