Saint Joseph
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Virginal Father of the
Child Jesus
Patron of the Universal Church
God confided to the care of St. Joseph His most precious treasures
Feast Days
March 19: Feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
May 1: Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
Feast of the Holy Family: First Sunday after Christmas
The Church has traditionally assigned Wednesday as a special day of
remembrance of St. Joseph.
Patron Saint of Fathers, Workers, and the Dying
Prayers to St. Joseph
from St. Joseph's Oratory, Mount Royal
http://www.saint-joseph.org/
Joseph, our Solace in Suffering
Compassionate Joseph, one with us in our human
condition, together with Mary and Jesus you experience exile,
hunger and violence. Refusing vengeance, you choose mercy. Your
forgiveness breaks the circle of violence. Through your
goodness, God's hope for our humanity is preserved. Joy is
yours, for the Kingdom of God is your inheritance.
Open our compassionate hands in times of war, famine and exile.
Keep us from developing a victim's mentality, and make our pain
a source of growth. Sustain us in fulfilling our responsibility
of cultivating inner peace, joy and serenity. In your wisdom,
counsel us to close all doors to bitterness, so that, watched
over by God, we may dance for joy. Amen
Joseph, Model of Laborers
Good Saint Joseph, when God wanted a family for his Son, He
looked among the laborers, and chose you along with Mary,
demonstrating His esteem for human work.
You put your heart into your work, and share your workshop with
Jesus. Your work, like that of other humans, found new meaning
in the presence of God.
Sustain us in the hope of finding work when we are confronted
with the desolation of unemployment. Counsel business leaders to
create an equitable division of labor that is respectful of
individuals, and promotes our growth and happiness.
Help us to perform our work joyfully, conscientiously, fairly
and honestly. Prepare our hearts to recognize your Son in our
colleagues at work. Amen
Joseph, Mainstay of Families
Attentive Joseph, in Mary and you, the Divine Word finds a
favorable environment in which to carry out the will of the
Father; thus, you become the family of the Child-God.
In your gentle life together, you experience Love daily. The
unity of your hearts transforms life's lessons into growing
wisdom and grace.
Open our hearts to the Word that lives within us, that our
actions may bear witness to our connection to the family of God.
Sustain us in our emotional commitments, where giving and
forgiveness shape our identities. Grant us your tenderness in
the things we do each day!
Amen
Joseph, Hope of the Sick
Benevolent Joseph, the Son of God placed his life in your
hands. With Mary, you cared for Him who is the force of life.
May your compassion enfold our fragility, bringing us the
comfort of the divine presence.
We join with you in prayer, saying:
''Lord Jesus, Son of Living God, say a word for our
healing!''
Make us sensitive to the illnesses of those close to us. Support
our efforts and grant us courage in the fight against all evil.
Help us to find meaning in God's great project for humanity
beyond the sicknesses and sufferings that blind our sight. The
love of God be with us, as our hope lies with Him! Amen
Joseph, Patron Saint of the Dying
Faithful Joseph, with the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise,
you peacefully lave this world in Jesus’ and Mary’s hands. Your
faith transforms death into the sowing of life; thus, God
considers you to be a just man. Your heart overflows in the
presence of the Lord. With your hands outstretched to God, your
night is filled with Prayers. Surrounded by the living, you
embark upon the great march to the Promise Land.
Open our eyes that we may glimpse the road to Life that lies
beyond death. May nothing, denial, anger, or depression,
separate us from the Love of God. Strengthen our faith in God
who always finds ways of preserving us in his friendship. Be
beside us to hold our hands when we take our first steps toward
the Eternal Kingdom. Amen
Joseph, Protector of the Church
Brave Joseph, collaborator in God’s project for humanity,
your tenderness enfolds the newborn Church. Just as Mary and
Jesus recognize in you the protection of the Father, so too does
the community of faith place itself under your protection.
Strengthen us with the Spirit that filled the Nazarene home and
guide our footsteps on the road to the Kingdom.
Accompany us carrying out our mission. Help us to be lights in
the world so that the family of God may spring forth from
humanity transfigured in Christ.
Grant us the strength to imitate God’s preference for the poor
and weak. Guide us in our pastoral activities that our actions
may be modeled on the Good News. Amen
Joseph, Terror of Demons
Courageous Joseph, advised by an angel, you confront your
fears of the unknown. Your light shines brightly, penetrating
the dark corners of your being. Your fears dispersed, you
rediscover your true face, and actively participate in the
divine project reuniting mother and Child, and the people with
their God. Together with Mary and Jesus, you dwell in the love
of God.
Help us to rediscover the united core of our identities, beyond
all internal fears. Counsel us so we may build a better world to
welcome the coming Kingdom. Shed your light on our inner lives
that, freed from the grip of our fears, our decisions may be
founded in Love. May the face of God shine on us!
Amen
Joseph, Guardian of the Pure in Heart
Gentle Joseph, God is captivated by the quality of your
heart. Your entire being is focused on doing his will. With Mary
and Jesus, you answer the Holy Spirit's call to build a better
world.
With one heart, we join you in saying:
''Here we are, Lord, your will be done! Your kingdom come
nearer to us!''
Keep the hope of a new world alive in our hearts. Inspire us to
speak words of tenderness to awaken the love of hearts.
May we draw the energy for our actions from the source of all
Love so our faces may shine with the freedom of the children of
God. Amen
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