Prayer to Saint Joseph

The following are Roman Catholic prayers to Saint Joseph.

The Catholic Tradition of Saint Joseph

Joseph, the silent man of the Gospels, is in the line of the great men of faith of the Old Testament. He is described as a "just man", a righteous man of integrity. He is in the tradition of Abraham who was called by God to "walk before my face and be upright (Gen: 17.1);and of Moses who was told to be "entirely sincere", "entirely faithful" (Deut: 18.13). For centuries his place in the story of Jesus was comparatively unnoticed. Gradually, in Catholic tradition, he was recognised as patron of fathers of families, of bursars and procurators, of manual workers, especially carpenters, and of all who desire a holy death.[1]

The parish in Buenos Aires where Pope Francis grew up is dedicated to San José. Solemnly inaugurated on 19 March 2013, Francis’ pontificate is placed under the protection of St. Joseph. One of the few things the Pope had sent over from Argentina after his election is a statue he had. It depicts the saint lying down asleep, a reference to the gospel accounts of St. Joseph receiving in dreams counsel from angels. The Pope slips pieces of paper with prayer requests under the pedestal of the statue, just outside in room at St. Martha's House.[2]

“You know,” said Francis, “you have to be patient with these carpenters: they tell you they’ll have a piece of furniture finished in a couple of weeks and it ends up taking a month even. But they get the job done and they do it well! You just need to be patient…”[2]

Prayer to St. Joseph After the Rosary

The purpose of Pope Leo XIII's 1889 encyclical Quamquam pluries was to implore divine help by means of prayer, joining to the intercession of Mary that of St. Joseph. Leo XIII therefore attached to his encyclical a special Prayer to St. Joseph requesting that it be added to the recitation of the rosary during the month of October. It may be said after the customary Salve Regina and concluding prayer. It may also be used to conclude other Marian devotions.[3]

Litany of St. Joseph

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The litany of St. Joseph, one of the more recent Catholic prayers, was sanctioned by Pope Pius X in 1909 After the usual petitions to the Holy Trinity and one to the Blessed Virgin, the litany is composed of twenty-five invocations expressing the virtues and dignities of St Joseph.[4]

Traditional Novena

A very old and beautiful invocation to St. Joseph is traditionally prayed for nine days before the Feast of St Joseph, starting on March 10. It is found in many places,[5][6] and was released in 1950 with the Imprimatur of the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Hugh C. Boyle. It is used in novenas, according to the text after the prayer, and the prayer text specifically seems to limit it to "spiritual blessings".

Oh, Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.
Oh, Saint 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.
Oh, Saint Joseph, I never weary 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 departed souls – pray for me. (Mention your intention) Amen.

Older copies of the prayer, sometimes contain an additional comment that,

The above prayer was found in the fiftieth year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles, when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it, or keep it about themselves, shall never die a sudden death or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, or shall be burned in any fire or shall be overpowered in any battle. Say for nine mornings in a row for anything you may desire. It has never been known to fail.

However, the year 50 A.D. is a very early date for a published prayer, preceding much of the New Testament, which does not mention very much about the father of Jesus. The statements about the year 50 A.D. and regarding the Pope and Emperor are not supported.

Dear Guardian of Mary

Dear Guardian of Mary is a hymn written in honor of St Joseph by Frederick William Faber in 1863.[7]

References

  1. ↑ The Novena of Saint Joseph
  2. 1 2 "Those little prayers Francis slips under his St. Joseph statue", La Stampa, April 30, 2014
  3. ↑ "Prayer to St. Joseph After the Rosary", USCCB
  4. ↑ Externals of the Catholic Church Her Government, Ceremonies, Festivals, Sacramentals, and Devotions By John Francis Sullivan
  5. ↑ "PrayerToStJoseph.org". Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  6. ↑ "Prayers to St. Joseph". ShrineOfSaintJoseph.org. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  7. ↑ "Dear Guardian of Mary", Hymnary

External links

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