Prayer to St. Joseph
To thee, 0 Blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our afflictions, and having implored the help of thy thrice-holy Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence, earnestly beg thee also to take us under thy protection.
By that charity wherewith thou wert united to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and by that fatherly love by which thou didst cherish the Child Jesus from the depths of thy heart, we beseech thee and we humbly pray that thou wouldst look down with gracious eye upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His Blood and will succor us in our need by thy power and strength.
Defend, 0 most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen offspring of Jesus Christ. Keep from us all blight of error and corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in this our battle with the powers of darkness, and even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the perils of His life, so now defend God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity.
Shield us ever under thy patronage, that, following thy example and strengthened by thy help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and attain to everlasting bliss in Heaven. Amen. ~
St. Joseph, Friend of the Sacred Heart, pray for us.
St. Joseph, Foster Father of the Son of God, pray for us.
St. Joseph, Defender of the Family, pray for us.
St. Joseph, Protector of Holy Mother Church, pray for us.
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From the APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION : REDEMPTORIS CUSTOS
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF JOHN PAUL II
ON THE PERSON AND MISSION OF SAINT JOSEPH
IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND OF THE CHURCH
MARRIAGE TO MARY: In response to what is clearly the plan of God, with the passing of days and weeks Mary's "pregnancy" is visible to the people and to Joseph; she appears before them as one who must give birth and carry within herself the mystery of motherhood.3. In these circumstances, "her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly" (Mt 1:19).
He did not know how to deal with Mary's "astonishing" motherhood. He certainly sought an answer to this unsettling question, but above all he sought a way out of what was for him a difficult situation. "But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins'" (Mt 1:20-21).
"When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife" (cf. Mt 1:24). He took her in all the mystery of her motherhood. He took her together with the Son who had come into the world by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this way he showed a readiness of will like Mary's with regard to what God asked of him through the angel.
THE GUARDIAN OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD: One can say that what Joseph did united him in an altogether special way to the faith of Mary. He accepted as truth coming from God the very thing that she had already accepted at the Annunciation…5. Therefore he became a unique guardian of the mystery "hidden for ages in God" (Eph 3:9), as did Mary.
Together with Mary, Joseph is the first guardian of this divine mystery. Together with Mary, and in relation to Mary, he shares in this final phase of God's self-revelation in Christ and he does so from the very beginning. Looking at the gospel texts of both Matthew and Luke, one can also say that Joseph is the first to share in the faith of the Mother of God and that in doing so he supports his spouse in the faith of the divine annunciation.
THE SERVICE OF FATHERHOOD: 7. As can be deduced from the gospel texts, Joseph's marriage to Mary is the juridical basis of his fatherhood. It was to assure fatherly protection for Jesus that God chose Joseph to be Mary's spouse. It follows that Joseph's fatherhood – a relationship that places him as close as possible to Christ, to whom every election and predestination is ordered (cf. Rom 8:28-29) – comes to pass through marriage to Mary, that is, through the family.
WORK AS AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE: 22. Work was the daily expression of love in the life of the Family of Nazareth. The Gospel specifies the kind of work Joseph did in order to support his family: he was a carpenter.
24. What is crucially important here is the sanctification of daily life, a sanctification which each person must acquire according to his or her own state, and one which can be promoted according to a model accessible to all people: "St. Joseph is the model of those humble ones that Christianity raises up to great destinies;…he is the proof that in order to be a good and genuine follower of Christ, there is no need of great things-it is enough to have the common, simple and human virtues, but they need to be true and authentic."
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ST. JOSEPH, PATRON OF A HOLY AND HAPPY DEATH
Daily Prayer of the Pious Union of St. Joseph:
O St. Joseph,
Foster Father of Jesus Christ
and true spouse of the Virgin Mary:
pray for us and for all who will die this day.
(The Pious Union of St. Joseph is dedicated to praying for the suffering and dying and more information can be found at http://www.piousunionofstjoseph.org/ . Canonically recognized on February 12, 1914, the Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Salvation of the Dying was declared a "Primary Confraternity" by Pope St. Pius X.)
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Litany of St. Joseph
V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.
V. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy.
V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.
V. Jesus, hear us. R. Jesus, graciously hear us.
V. God, the Father of Heaven, R. have mercy on us.
V. God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, R. have mercy on us.
V. God, the Holy Spirit, R. have mercy on us
V. Holy Trinity, One God, R. have mercy on us.
Response for all the following: pray for us.
Holy Mary,
St. Joseph,
Renowned offspring of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster father of the Son of God,
Diligent protector of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of artisans,
Glory of home life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the wretched,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church, Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R. spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R. graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.
R. have mercy on us.
He made him the lord of his household.
R. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray. O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen
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Remember, O most illustrious patriarch St. Joseph, on the testimony of the devoted client, St. Teresa, that never has it been heard that anyone who invoked thy protection or sought thy mediation has not obtained relief. In this confidence I come before thee, my loving protector, chaste spouse ofMmary, foster father of the Savior of men and dispenser of the treasures of His Sacred Heart. Despise not my earnest prayer but graciously hear and obtain my petition…(here mention your request)
Let us pray:
O God by Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose St. Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be 0ur intercessor in Heaven, Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
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A MEDITATION FOR ST. JOSEPH'S DAY by Sister Brid Carrick, OCD+++
Joseph!
Chosen from eternity, one with Mary
in the Father's call to mirror forth
on earth His Own eternal Love;
that love which is Mercy, tender, strong, unfathomable.
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Go to Joseph!
Mary was the first to hear those words and to obey.
A virgin, trembling on the threshold of womanhood, a
wed by the Spirit's call
to dedicate her life to God in single-hearted love,
did she not at times wonder?
Who will understand my way?
Must I remain forever an enigma?
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Did the Spirit then not whisper, deep within, “Joseph! Go to Joseph!”?
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And Joseph did not prove unworthy of her trust.
Within the sheltering mantle of his love she was secure.
Her hand in his, she knew no fear
and was set free to walk her destined path in joy.
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Go to Joseph!
Jesus, a boy in Nazareth, heard these words.
We see him, a child, come running, eager:
“Mother, the wild olives are ripe!
May I go to the hills with my friends to gather some?”
Mary smiles. “Of course, son, if Joseph says so.
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Go to Joseph.”
Then, a boy's light voice goes running
through the woodshed, calling, “Abba! Abba Joseph!”
A woman comes, bowed with care.
Her husband needs a plow, but they are poor and cannot pay just yet.
Perhaps when harvest comes….
Mary soothes her. “Go to Joseph. Joseph will provide.”
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When God calls, it is forever.
Until the end of time
Joseph still provides for all the brothers and sisters
of the one who long ago in Nazareth called him,
“Abba. Abba Joseph.”
