Prayer:Prayer to St. Cajetan
Stored: Prayer to St. Cajetan
| Prayer to St. Cajetan | |
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| Author | Unknown |
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| Language | English |
| Approval | None |
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| Added on | 2026-08-13 |
Introduction
St. Cajetan of Thiene (1480–1547) was an Italian nobleman, priest, and religious reformer who gave up a life of privilege to serve the poor and the sick, and who co-founded the Clerks Regular, popularly known as the Theatines, in 1524. His profound trust in Divine Providence led him to refuse all systematic begging or fundraising for his communities, relying entirely on God's provision — a practice that earned him the title "Hunter of Souls" and established his enduring reputation as the patron of the unemployed, the poor, and those who suffer material want.
This prayer of intercession to St. Cajetan belongs to the broad tradition of Catholic devotional prayer that asks a canonized saint to intercede with God on behalf of the faithful. It reflects the theological conviction that the saints, glorified in heaven, remain in living communion with the Church on earth and exercise a powerful intercessory role before the throne of God. The prayer has been prayed for centuries, particularly in Italy, South America, and among Catholic immigrants who brought devotion to St. Cajetan with them across the world.
The feast of St. Cajetan is celebrated on August 7, and his shrines — most notably the Basilica of San Gaetano in Naples and the Shrine of San Cayetano in Buenos Aires, Argentina — draw enormous numbers of pilgrims each year, especially workers and those facing unemployment or financial hardship.
The Prayer
O glorious St. Cajetan, renowned for your virtue and miracles, you were given by God a special gift to aid those in need. In your boundless charity you founded the Order of Theatines for the sanctification of souls and the welfare of the Church.
You are the patron of those who seek employment and all who suffer want. To you I turn in my time of need, confident in your powerful intercession before the throne of God.
Obtain for me, I beg you, through the merits of Jesus Christ, the grace I now seek, and above all, the grace of a holy life and a happy death.
Amen.
History and Background
Gaetano dei Conti di Thiene was born in 1480 in Vicenza, in the Republic of Venice, to a noble family of deep faith. After studying law at the University of Padua, he entered the service of the papal court under Pope Julius II. He was ordained a priest in 1516 and thereafter devoted himself entirely to works of charity, spiritual renewal, and the care of the sick and dying — including those suffering from plague and syphilis, whom he served personally and without fear.
In 1524, together with Gian Pietro Carafa (later Pope Paul IV), St. Cajetan co-founded the Congregation of Clerks Regular, whose members became known as Theatines after the city of Chieti (Latin: *Theate*), where Carafa was bishop. The Theatines were a pioneering force in the Catholic Reformation, insisting on strict poverty, rigorous clerical discipline, and total reliance on Divine Providence — never soliciting alms but trusting that God would supply every need. This radical trust in Providence is the spiritual root of St. Cajetan's patronage of the unemployed and the poor.
St. Cajetan's reputation for miraculous aid in times of material and spiritual need grew steadily after his death in Naples on August 7, 1547. He was beatified by Pope Urban VIII in 1629 and canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671. Devotion to him spread throughout the Catholic world, particularly to the Philippines, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil, where he is venerated with extraordinary fervor. In Buenos Aires, his feast day draws millions of pilgrims to the shrine of San Cayetano in Liniers, making it one of the largest annual Catholic pilgrimages in the Western Hemisphere.
How to Pray / Devotional Use
This prayer may be prayed by any Catholic at any time, but it is particularly recommended in the following circumstances and manners:
- For the Unemployed and Seeking Workers: Those without work are encouraged to pray to St. Cajetan daily during their period of seeking employment, placing their situation before God through the saint's intercession and trusting in Divine Providence for their provision.
- On His Feast Day (August 7): The traditional practice is to attend Mass on August 7, pray before an image or statue of St. Cajetan, and present a specific petition or intention to him, particularly relating to work, livelihood, or material need.
- As Part of a Novena: This prayer is commonly incorporated into a nine-day novena preceding his feast day, beginning on July 30. Each day's prayer is accompanied by reflection on a particular virtue of the saint — especially his trust in Providence, his charity to the poor, and his priestly zeal.
- At Shrines and Parishes: Many parishes with Theatine connections or strong Italian and South American immigrant communities celebrate a special votive Mass and procession in honor of St. Cajetan on or near his feast day. Pilgrims often bring images of the saint, loaves of bread, or symbolic ears of wheat as offerings of thanksgiving or petition.
- In Times of Financial or Material Crisis: Catholic tradition encourages invoking St. Cajetan whenever a household or community faces severe economic hardship, trusting in his well-documented intercession for those in material want.
The prayer should be prayed with faith, humility, and a sincere disposition of trust in God's will, understanding that all petitions are ultimately subject to divine wisdom and that the saint intercedes according to what is most truly beneficial for the soul of the petitioner.