Saint Joseph

Some Saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.

-St. Thomas Aquinas

JOSEPH was "a just man". This praise bestowed by the Holy Spirit, and the privilege of having been chosen by God to be the foster-father of Jesus and the spouse of the Virgin Mother, are the foundations of the honour paid to St. Joseph by the Church.

"Who, in fact, was St. Joseph? And what were the offices he filled and the privileges he enjoyed? He was predestined to be the virgin spouse of the Virgin Mother of the Son of God, and was to be His and her guardian and protector; he was the chosen minister of the counsels of the Most High in the mystery of the Incarnation; he was for years the habitual companion of both Mary and Jesus; he bore the Divine Child constantly in his arms, lovingly caressed Him and received His caresses in return; to him, as to His Blessed Mother, Jesus was subject in the house and workshop of Nazareth; he was as a father and a tutor to Him; he was the daily witness of His hidden life and heard the sacred words that fell from His lips, all through His boyhood, youth and early manhood; and he had the unspeakable blessedness of dying in His embrace. But further: with this sublime vocation and these incomparable privileges the graces and virtues of Joseph fully corresponded; his merits were commensurate with his dignity; and therefore it is that he ranks next to Mary in the Court of Heaven and is seated in glory so nigh unto the throne of the Incarnate Word."

1. Indulgenced Prayer to St. Joseph to be Said After the Rosary
2. Wednesday Prayer to St. Joseph
3. Seven Sorrows and Joys of Saint Joseph
4. Holy Family: Jesus, Mary & Joseph
5. Sleeping Saint Joseph

Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He is your keeper. He has kept you hitherto. Do you but hold fast to his dear hand, and he will lead you safely through all things; and, when you cannot stand, he will bear you in his arms. Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. Our Father will either shield you from suffering, or he will give you strength to bear it. -Saint Francis de Sales

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Background:

When the Bible speaks of God “justifying” someone, it means that God, the all-holy or “righteous” one, so transforms a person that the individual shares somehow in God's own holiness. By saying Joseph was “just,” the Bible means that he was one who was completely open to all that God wanted to do for him. He became holy by opening himself totally to God. His Feast Day is 19^th March.

Intercessory Prayer:

O St Joseph,
whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God,
I place in you all my interests and desires.

O St Joseph,
do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your
divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So
that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my
thanksgiving and homage to the most Loving of Fathers.

O St Joseph,
I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in
your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press
Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the
kiss when I draw my dying breath.

Saint Joseph, Patron of Departing Souls, Pray For Us

Indulgenced Prayer to St. Joseph to be Said after the Rosary

TO thee, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. Through that charity which bound thee to the immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee to graciously regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

Defend, O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once thou rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holy, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

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Background:

Each day of the week has a particular focal point for reflection.

• Sundays are dedicated to Christ's Resurrection.
• Mondays are dedicated to Holy Spirit and holy souls in Purgatory.
• Tuesdays are dedicated to the Holy Angels.
• Wednesdays are dedicated to St. Joseph.
• Thursdays are dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Priesthood.
• Fridays are are dedicated to Christ's Passion and to His Sacred Heart.
• Saturdays are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary

I do not know how anyone can think of the Queen of the Angels, during the time that she suffered so much with the Child Jesus, without giving thanks to Saint Joseph for the way he helped them. If anyone cannot find a master to teach him how to pray, let him take this glorious saint as his master and he will not go astray.

-Saint Teresa of Avila

Intercessory Prayer:

O, Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires.

O, Saint Joseph, do assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me from thy Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below your Heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving, and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O, Saint Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions (mention now your intentions).

O Saint Joseph, pray for me! Amen.

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Background:

The origin of the practice of meditating on St. Joseph's Seven Joys and Sorrows comes from a miraculous event involving two Franciscan Fathers.

Two Fathers of the Franciscan order were sailing along the coast of Flanders, when a terrible tempest arose, which sank the vessel. The two Fathers had sufficient presence of mind to seize hold of a plank, upon which they were tossed to and fro upon the waves, for three days and nights. In their danger and affliction, their whole recourse was to St. Joseph, begging his assistance in their sad condition.

The Saint, thus invoked, appeared in the habit of a young man of beautiful features, encouraged them to confide in his assistance, and, as their pilot, conducted them into a safe harbour. They, desirous to know who their benefactor was asked his name, that they might gratefully acknowledge so great a blessing and favour.

He told them he was St. Joseph, and advised them daily to recite the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be seven times, in memory of his seven sorrows and joys.

St. Joseph's Seven Joys and Sorrows

Joseph's seven joys and sorrows, which come from Sacred Scripture, dive into the hidden details, emotions, and actions of his silent Gospel presence.

The Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be are three very common prayers. They are used in this devotion to show that St. Joseph was the Father's representative on earth as he nurtured and provided for Jesus, God's only Son. He was Mary's faithful and supportive husband. He was the trustworthy servant of the Triune God.

The First Sorrow and Joy

The perplexity of deciding whether or not to divorce Mary, who is with Child, and the angelic revelation to Joseph of the Incarnation.

St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of the Holy Mother of God, by the Sorrow with which thy heart was pierced at the thought of a cruel separation from Mary, and by the deep Joy that thou didst feel when the angel revealed to thee the ineffable mystery of the Incarnation, obtain for us from Jesus and Mary, the grace of surmounting all anxiety. Win for us from the Adorable Heart of Jesus the unspeakable peace of which He is the Eternal Source.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

The Second Sorrow and Joy

The anxiety of seeing Jesus born into abject poverty, and the awe of beholding the Shepherds and the Magi as they adored the Christ Child.

St. Joseph, Foster-Father of Jesus, by the bitter Sorrow which thy heart experienced in seeing the Child Jesus lying in a manger, and by the Joy which thou didst feel in seeing the Wise men recognize and adore Him as their God, obtain by thy prayers that our heart, purified by thy protection, may become a living crib, where the Saviour of the world may receive and bless our homage.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

The Third Sorrow and Joy

The pain of seeing Jesus's blood spilt during His circumcision, and the privilege of bestowing the name “Jesus” on his child.

St. Joseph, by the Sorrow with which thy heart was pierced at the sight of the Blood which flowed from the Infant Jesus in the Circumcision, and by the Joy that inundated thy soul at thy privilege of imposing the sacred and mysterious Name of Jesus, obtain for us that the merits of this Precious Blood may be applied to our souls, and that the Divine Name of Jesus may be engraved forever in our hearts.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

The Fourth Sorrow and Joy

The agony of Joseph's own soul on hearing Simeon's prophesy of Mary's pierced heart, and the sweet knowledge that Jesus will bring salvation.

St. Joseph, by the Sorrow when the Lord declared that the soul of Mary would be pierced with a sword of sorrow, and by thy Joy when holy Simeon added that the Divine Infant was to be the resurrection of many, obtain for us the grace to have compassion on the sorrows of Mary, and share in the salvation which Jesus brought to the earth.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

The Fifth Sorrow and Joy

The burden of being told to flee to Egypt to escape Herod's massacre of the Bethlehem infants, and the honour of bringing the Living God to crush the Egyptian idols.

St. Joseph, by thy Sorrow when told to fly into Egypt, and by thy Joy in seeing the idols overthrown at the arrival of the living God, grant that no idol of earthly affection may any longer occupy our hearts, but being like thee entirely devoted to the service of Jesus and Mary, we may live and happily die for them alone.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

The Sixth Sorrow and Joy

The fear of Archelaus in Judea when returning from Egypt, and the wonder of seeing Moses's prophesy fulfilled when the angel directs the Holy Family to Nazareth.

St. Joseph, by the Sorrow of thy heart caused by the fear of the tyrant Archelaus and by the Joy in sharing the company of Jesus and Mary at Nazareth, obtain for us, that disengaged from all fear, we may enjoy the peace of a good conscience and may live in security, in union with Jesus and Mary, experiencing the effect of thy salutary assistance at the hour of our death.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

The Seventh Sorrow and Joy

The terror of losing Jesus in Jerusalem for three days, and the relief of finding Him in the Temple.

St. Joseph, by the bitter Sorrow with which the loss of the Child Jesus crushed thy heart, and by the holy Joy which inundated thy soul in recovering thy Treasure on entering the Temple, we supplicate thee not to permit us to lose our Saviour Jesus by sin. Yet, should this misfortune befall us, grant that we may share thy eagerness in seeking Him, and obtain for us the grace to find Him again, ready to show us His great mercy, especially at the hour of death; so that we may pass from this life to enjoy His presence in heaven, there to sing with thee His divine mercies forever.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

Closing Prayer

O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence has vouchsafed to choose Blessed Joseph to be the Spouse of Thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector: Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

St. Joseph: Model of Patience, Perseverance, and Hope

One of the most striking aspects of this moving devotion is the fact that each event begins as a sorrow, and then transforms into a joy. With the help of grace, (and sometimes a message from an angel!) perplexity turns to awe, worry to wonder, and fear to peace.

Let us ask St. Joseph to intercede for us, especially for the virtues of patience, perseverance, and hope, as we navigate the many sorrows and joys of this life!

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Background:

Opening Prayer for each day

Heavenly Father, your grace reaches us through the hands of your most precious Son, Jesus. His response to the prayers of Mary and Joseph are assured, so we ask for their prayers during this Novena. Lord, send light to our understanding, inspiration to our decisions, and the fire of pure love to our hearts, so that we will respond to the blessing of your grace in our lives which comes through the prayers of the Holy Family. And you, our Guardian Angels and all the Saints in Heaven, intercede for us so that we may honor Jesus, Mary, and Joseph by the way we live. Help us to find ways to live as they did and to avoid looking for excuses for not changing our ways. Through this Novena in honor of the Holy Family, place in us the desire to pursue and imitate the virtues of the Holy Family and to accept your answer to our requests as your will for our lives. Amen.

First Day: Devotion to the Holy Family

To honor Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is a devotion that is beneficial to all Christians. The lives of the Holy Family on earth serve as models for every state of life for both the individual and the family. God offers His graces through the Holy Family of Nazareth to encourage devotion and reflection on their lives. We are challenged to make their way of life, our way of life. They are a source of virtue, they enlighten our minds, and they show us how to love through sacrifice. Let us respond to the love they have shown us. We pray for a deeper love of the Holy Family.

Meditate on these thoughts.

Then in honor of the Holy Family, pray The Holy Family Prayer, or pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

Second Day: The Holy Family Does God's Will

The Holy Family began with a “Yes” to the will of God. Mary's acceptance of God's will for her life to be the Mother of Jesus began with her saying,/“May it be done to me according to your word”/ (Luke 1:38). With this, the Holy Family began. Joseph planned to divorce Mary until he learned of God's plan for him. And while others did not understand Joseph, he accepted God's will for his life: “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home” (Matthew 1:24). Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane prayed “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Each member said “Yes” to God's will knowing their “Yes” required sacrifice, but they had confidence in God's blessings as well. Consider where God is calling us to say “Yes” to His will in our lives. The next time we pray the Our Father, ponder the words “thy will be done.”

Meditate on these thoughts.

Then in honor of the Holy Family, pray The Holy Family Prayer, or pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

Third Day The Holy Family - Model of Prayerfulness

Prayer is a cornerstone for the Holy Family. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are prayerful as persons and as a family in their practice of the Jewish faith. Joseph and Mary taught Jesus His prayers and they prayed as a family. They kept the Commandments, kept holy the Sabbath and Holy Days (Luke 2:22-41), and gave thanks for their blessings at mealtime. As parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts, and uncles, are we teaching our children how to pray? As children, are we praying for others or only for ourselves? Are we remembering to say grace before our meals at home and when we dine in public? Are we keeping Sundays and Days of Obligation holy by attending Mass and celebrating family life with special activities, or are we instead shopping and doing work that could be done on other days of the week? Consider how Jesus, Mary, and Joseph prayed everyday and especially lived their lives on the ‘Sunday' of their week.

Meditate on these thoughts.

Then in honor of the Holy Family, pray The Holy Family Prayer, or pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

Fourth Day: The Holy Family - Model of Humility

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph practiced the virtue of humility to a high degree. Their house, their clothing, and their food were always simple. Humility characterized and directed their work and their ideals. God resists the proud, but He grants His graces to the humble of heart (Matthew 5:5). Adopt the way of humility shown in the life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We should approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation frequently. Not only do we receive God's mercy in this Sacrament, but it also helps us to grow in humility. By learning this great virtue from the Holy Family, we will live happily and die peacefully.

Meditate on these thoughts.

Then in honor of the Holy Family, pray The Holy Family Prayer, or pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

Fifth Day: The Holy Family - Model of Purity

Our Lord said:/“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God”/(Matthew 5:8). In the Holy Family, everyone was pure in thought, word, and deed. Jesus is purity itself; Mary is the Blessed Virgin and the Immaculate Mother; Joseph is the most chaste spouse. A person's purity is regularly under assault from the influences of the world, and this was true even in the time of the Holy Family. Pray for a pure heart and for desires that conform with God's will. In addition to prayer, we can help our purity in a couple of ways. First - guard the purity we have today and guard it under the protection of the Holy Family – keep it safe from further loss. Consider what we read, watch on TV, or listen to on the radio. Second, pray that our own words, actions, and attire safeguard and protect the purity of others.

Meditate on these thoughts.

Then in honor of the Holy Family, pray The Holy Family Prayer, or pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

Sixth Day: The Holy Family - Model of Love

The love of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is unconditional and faithful. Without love, holiness of life is impossible. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are perfect models of pure love, and, like all love, it requires sacrifice and forgiveness (Luke 2:48-51). Holy Family, we pray that we love as you love and embrace the sacrifice required to love and forgive when needed. Holy Family, help us to recognize that loving is a choice and not something we find. Help us to love faithfully and unconditionally even when love is not returned. As adults, help us to always love the children in our family with our hearts, words, and actions. As children, help us to love and respect our parents. Help us to see and love you, Jesus, in our brothers and sisters, especially in the suffering, poor, elderly, rejected, and unborn.

Meditate on these thoughts.

Then in honor of the Holy Family, pray The Holy Family Prayer, or pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

Seventh Day: The Holy Family Teaches Us to Work

Prayer and work were the continuous occupations of the Holy Family on earth. By the work of their hands, they earned the bread that nourished them and the clothing they wore (Matthew 13:54-56). It was the Holy Family who learned to sanctify work inside and outside of the home. Idleness is a source of vice; hence Jesus, Mary, and Joseph avoided it entirely. On the other hand, work can be the seed of virtue. Holy Family, teach us to make the everyday events of our lives and work into acts of loving God. Teach us to do our work with a Christian heart which will yield our best. Holy Family, help us to see where God wills us to volunteer our time and talents for serving our brothers and sisters.

Meditate on these thoughts.

Then in honor of the Holy Family, pray The Holy Family Prayer, or pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

Eighth Day: The Holy Family Teaches Us Trust in God

The Holy Family trusted in God. Mary and Joseph observed the law of Moses when they presented Jesus in the Temple. As immigrants fleeing from Herod, Joseph followed the will of God and trusted that God would provide. Jesus tells us to trust that the Father will provide (Matthew 6:25-34). By trusting in God and the laws He gives us through Scripture and His Church, we will draw closer to Jesus. How do we trust in God? Do we listen and strive to follow the guidance given to us by Scripture and His Church? Do we accept what is convenient and then ignore what calls us to sacrifice or change? Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, help us to accept, love, and trust in God's will and His Church's teachings, knowing that it is taught for our moral good and salvation. Help us see where we have avoided trusting in God by not following His will or the moral teachings of His Church.

Meditate on these thoughts.

Then in honor of the Holy Family, pray The Holy Family Prayer, or pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

Ninth Day: The Holy Family Teaches Us Interior Peace

The coming of the Holy Family into the world was the beginning of true and spiritual peace for our hearts. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph teach us how we can attain peace; namely, by imitating their lives. “For my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Matthew 11:30) may seem contrary to what we experience. Does living a holy life seem “easy” or more like a “struggle?” Our struggle is with our attachment to sin or our desire for material things of this world, not with living as Jesus lived. The more we separate ourselves from sin and material desires and live the virtues of the Holy Family, the more the burden is lifted and the more peaceful our lives become. As you journey with the Holy Family and change your life to be more like theirs, notice those moments of peace and joy. Know that these moments are times of grace from God that encourage us to keep moving in the same direction on our journey.

Meditate on these thoughts.

Then in honor of the Holy Family, pray The Holy Family Prayer, or pray three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

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