Lives of the Saints: 

St. Cajetan, patron of job seekers and the unemployed (1480–1557)

Many of us may know the kind of job we want to have or where we would like to work, but how often do we think about the work God is asking us to do? St. Cajetan, born to a noble Italian family, began his career as a lawyer. But God was calling him to something more. Cajetan turned down government positions and instead went to Rome to study to become a priest. Cajetan felt called in a special way to work with the poor and sick.

In 1522, Cajetan started a hospital to serve those who suffered from incurable illnesses. He later joined a religious community to continue this work, even though his family disapproved.

During Cajetan’s lifetime, the Church was undergoing many reforms. Cajetan knew that one of the best ways to reform the Church was to revive the spirit of priests. As a result, Cajetan and three friends-one of whom became Pope Paul IV-began the Theatines, an order dedicated to inspiring priests to reform their lives and become better pastors.

Cajetan and his friends called the clergy to commit their work to the poor and sick. Cajetan even started a bank to lend money to poor people so that they would not be taken advantage of by usurers-his organization later became the Bank of Naples.

St. Cajetan rejected a life of privilege and comfort so as to better serve the poor. This is a common theme in the lives of the saints and reminds us that the path of Christ often runs contrary to the priorities of the world. What temptations or challenges in our lives prevent us from following this countercultural path of Christ? Do we allow our work to change us for the better?