Saint Joseph
St Joseph is husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Joseph worked and labored to provide for the Holy Family over 2000 years ago. The feast of St. Joseph under his title as Husband of Mary is celebrated March 19th. Other than the Blessed Virgin Mary, he has long been celebrated as the greatest of the saints. St. Joseph taught the Lord Jesus his trade as a carpenter where he lived and worked in Nazarath. Although no words of St. Joseph are recorded in Sacred Scriptures, Joseph spent more time with Jesus than any of His disciples during His three year public ministry. St. Joseph has seen Jesus Christ take his first steps, speak his first words, and assisted the Virgin Mary in teaching him the Psalms, the Prophets, indeed all of Scriptures, and all the traditions of the House of David. We know that one of those traditions was to make a yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover(Luke 2:42-51). As those great teachers of Israel were being taught by the true Pascal Lamb, Joseph frantically searched with the Virgin Mary for the Son of God and his own son. God commissioned Joseph, the just man, as Guardian of the Redeemer until his death in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Our Patronal Feast Day – May 1st
In 1955 Pope Pius XII instituted the Feast of St. Joseph the Workman and decreed it be celebrated on May 1st., the first day of the month devoted to Our Lady. Many countries of the world celebrate Labor Day on May 1st. The Church teaches that ordinary work and family life is a path to holiness, offering up our difficulties to those of the Savior on the cross.
More about Saint Joseph – Foster Father of Jesus
Saint Joseph Novena
Below is a Novena prayer to be made to St. Joseph. This can be made anytime, but is especially befitting leading up to the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary or St. Joseph the Workman.
Litany of Saint Joseph
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Illustrious son of David, pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us.
Pure Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Provider for the Son of God, pray for us.
Zealous defender of Christ, pray for us.
Servant of Christ, pray for us.
Minister of salvation, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph, most just, pray for us.
Joseph, most chaste, pray for us.
Joseph, most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph, most brave, pray for us.
Joseph, most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph, most loyal, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model for workers, pray for us.
Glory of family life, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Cornerstone of families, pray for us.
Support in difficulties, pray for us.
Comfort of the sorrowing, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of exiles, pray for us.
Patron of the afflicted, pray for us.
Patron of the poor, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons, pray for us.
Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
He made him master of his house, and ruler of all his possessions.
Let us pray.
O God, who in your inexpressible providence
were pleased to choose Saint Joseph
as spouse of your most holy Mother,
grant, we pray,
that we, who revere him as our protector on earth,
may be worthy of his heavenly intercession.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.