Novena To St. Joseph - Start March 10th

Day One: Foster Father of Jesus

Saint Joseph, Thou were privileged to share in the mystery of the Incarnation as the foster-father of Jesus. Mary alone was directly connected with the fulfillment of the mystery, in that She gave Her consent to Christ's conception and allowed the Holy Ghost to form the sacred humanity of Jesus from Her blood. Thou had a part in this mystery in an indirect manner, by fulfilling the condition necessary for the Incarnation -- the protection of Mary's virginity before and during Thy married life with Her. Thou made the virginal marriage possible, and this was a part of God's plan, foreseen, willed, and decreed from all eternity.

In a more direct manner Thou shared in the support, upbringing, and protection of the Divine Child as His foster-father. For this purpose the Heavenly Father gave Thee a genuine heart of a father -- a heart full of love and self-sacrifice. With the toil of Thy hands Thou were obliged to offer protection to the Divine Child, to procure for Him food, clothing, and a home. Thou were truly the saint of the holy childhood of Jesus -- the living created providence which watched over the Christ-Child.

When Herod sought the Child to put Him to death, the Heavenly Father sent an angel but only as a messenger, giving orders for the flight; the rest He left entirely in Thy hands. It was that fatherly love which was the only refuge that received and protected the Divine Child. Thy fatherly love carried Him through the desert into Egypt until all enemies were removed. Then on Thy arms the Child returned to Nazareth to be nourished and provided for during many years by the labor of Thy hands. Whatever a human son owes to a human father for all the benefits of his up-bringing and support, Jesus owed to Thee, because Thou were to Him a foster-father, teacher, and protector.

Thou served the Divine Child with a singular love. God gave Thee a heart filled with heavenly, supernatural love -- a love far deeper and more powerful than any natural father's love could be.

Thou served the Divine Child with great unselfishness, without any regard to self-interest, but not without sacrifices. Thou did not toil for Thyself, but Thou seemed to be an instrument intended for the benefit of others, to be put aside as soon as it had done its word, for Thou disappeared from the scene once the childhood of Jesus had passed.

Thou were the shadow of the Heavenly Father not only as the earthly representative of the authority of the Father, but also by means of Thy fatherhood -- which only appeared to be natural -- Thou were to hide for a while the divinity of Jesus. What a wonderfully sublime and divine vocation was Thine -- the loving Child which Thou carried in Thy arms, and loved and served so faithfully, had God in Heaven as Father and was Himself God!

Thine is a very special rank among the saints of the Kingdom of God, because Thou were so much a part of the very life of the Word of God made Man. In Thy house at Nazareth and under Thy care the redemption of mankind was prepared. What Thou accomplished, Thou did for us. Thou are not only a powerful and great saint in the Kingdom of God, but a benefactor of the whole of Christendom and mankind. Thy rank in the Kingdom of God, surpassing far in dignity and honor of all the angels, deserves our very special veneration, love, and gratitude.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for Thy privilege of having been chosen by God to be the foster-father of His Divine Son. As a token of Thy own gratitude to God for this Thy greatest privilege, obtain for me the grace of a very devoted love for Jesus Christ, my God and my Savior. Help me to serve Him with some of the self-sacrificing love and devotion which Thou had while on this earth with Him. Grant that through Thy intercession with Jesus, Thy foster-Son, I may reach the degree of holiness God has destined for me, and save my soul.

Saint Joseph, I, Thy unworthy child, greet Thee. Thou are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate Thee. Thou know that I have special confidence in Thee and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in Thee, for Thou are especially powerful with God and will never abandon Thy faithful servants. Therefore, I humbly invoke thee and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to Thy intercession. I beg of Thee, by Thee love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as Thee did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to Thee to implore Thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that Thy prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to Thy protection or asked for Thy aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in Thy goodness, I come before Thee and humbly implore Thee. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.


Day Two: Virginal Husband of Mary

Saint Joseph, I honor Thee as the true husband of Mary. Scripture says: 'Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, and of Her was born Jesus who is called Christ' (Matt. 1:16). Thy marriage to Mary was a sacred contract by which Thou and Mary gave Thyselves to each other. Mary really belonged to Thee with all She was and had. Thou had a right to Her love and obedience; and no other person so won Her esteem, obedience, and love.

Thou were also the protector and witness of Mary's virginity. By Thy marriage Thou gave to each other Thy virginity, and also the mutual right over it -- a right to safeguard the other's virtue. This mutual virginity also belonged to the divine plan of the Incarnation, for God sent His angel to assure Thou that motherhood and virginity in Mary could be united.

This union of marriage not only brought Thou into daily familiar association with Mary, the loveliest of God's creatures, but also enabled Thou to share with Her a mutual exchange of spiritual goods. And Mary found Her edification in Thy calm, humble, and deep virtue, purity, and sanctity. What a great honor comes to Thou from this close union with Her whom the Son of God calls Mother and whom He declared the Queen of heaven and earth! Whatever Mary had belonged by right to Thee also, and this included Her Son, even though He had been given to Her by God in a wonderful way. Jesus belonged to Thee as His legal father. Thy marriage was the way which God chose to have Jesus introduced into the world, a great divine mystery from which all benefits have come to us.

God the Son confided the guardianship and the support of His Immaculate Mother to Thy care. Mary's life was that of the Mother of the Savior, who did not come upon earth to enjoy honors and pleasures, but to redeem the world by hard work, suffering, and the cross. Thou were the faithful companion, support, and comforter of the Mother of Sorrows. How loyal Thou were to Her in poverty, journeying, work, and pain. Thy love for Mary was based upon Thy esteem for Her as Mother of God. After God and the Divine Child, Thou loved no one as much as Her. Mary responded to this love. She submitted to Thy guidance with naturalness and easy grace and childlike confidence. The Holy Spirit Himself was the bond of the great love which united Thy hearts.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for Thy privilege of being the virginal husband of Mary. As a token of Thy own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to love Jesus with all my heart, as Thou did, and love Mary with some of the tenderness and loyalty with which Thou loved Her.

Saint Joseph, I, Thy unworthy child, greet Thee. Thou are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate thee. Thou know that I have special confidence in Thee and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in Thee, for Thou are especially powerful with God and will never abandon Thy faithful servants. Therefore, I humbly invoke Thee and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to Thy intercession. I beg of Thee, by Thy love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as Thou did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to Thee to implore Thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that Thy prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to Thy protection or asked for Thy aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in Thy goodness, I come before Thee and humbly implore Thee. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.


Day Three: Man Chosen By The Blessed Trinity

Saint Joseph, Thou were the man chosen by God the Father. He selected Thee to be His representative on earth, hence He granted Thee all the graces and blessings Thou needed to be His worthy representative.

Thou were the man chosen by God the Son. Desirous of a worthy foster-father, He added His own riches and gifts, and above all, His love. The true measure of Thy sanctity is to be judged by Thy imitation of Jesus. Thou were entirely consecrated to Jesus, working always near Him, offering Him Thy virtues, Thy work, Thy sufferings, Thy very life. Jesus lived in Thee perfectly so that Thou were transformed into Him. In this lies Thy special glory, and the keynote of Thy sanctity. Hence, after Mary, Thou art the holiest of the saints.

Thou were chosen by the Holy Ghost. He is the mutual Love of the Father and the Son -- the heart of the Holy Trinity. In His wisdom He draws forth all creatures from nothing, guides them to their end in showing them their destiny and giving them the means to reach it. Every vocation and every fulfillment of a vocation proceeds from the Holy Spirit. As a foster-father of Jesus and head of the Holy Family, Thou had an exalted and most responsible vocation -- to open the way for the redemption of the world and to prepare for it by the education and guidance of the youth of the God-Man. In this work Thou cooperated as the instrument of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost was the guide; Thou obeyed and carried out the works. How perfectly Thou obeyed the guidance of the God of Love!

The words of the Old Testament which Pharaoh spoke concerning Joseph of Egypt can well be applied to Thee: 'Can we find such another man, that is full of the spirit of God, or a wise man like to him?' (Gen. 41:38). No less is Thy share in the divine work of God than was that of Egypt. Thou now reign with Thy foster-Son and see reflected in the mirror of God's Wisdom the Divine Will and what is of benefit to our souls.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for having made Thee the man specially chosen by Him. As a token of Thy own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to imitate Thy virtues so that I too may be pleasing to the Heart of God. Help me to give myself entirely to His service and to the accomplishment of His Holy Will, that one day I may reach heaven and be eternally united to God as Thou art.

Saint Joseph, I, Thy unworthy child, greet Thee. Thou art the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate Thee. Thou knowest that I have special confidence in Thee and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in Thee, for Thou art especially powerful with God and will never abandon Thy faithful servants. Therefore, I humbly invoke Thee and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to Thy intercession. I beg of Thee, by Thy love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as Thou did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to Thee to implore Thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that Thy prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to Thy protection or asked for Thy aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in Thy goodness, I come before Thee and humbly implore Thee. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.


Day Four: Faithful Servant

Saint Joseph, Thou lived for one purpose -- to be the personal servant of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Thy noble birth and ancestry, the graces and gifts, so generously poured out on Thee by God -- all this was Thine to serve our Lord better. Every thought, word, and action of Thine was a homage to the love and glory of the Incarnate Word. Thou fulfilled most faithfully the role of a good and faithful servant who cared for the House of God.

How perfect was Thy obedience! Thy position in the Holy Family obliged Thee to command, but besides being the foster-father of Jesus, Thou were also His disciple. For almost thirty years, Thou watched the God-Man display a simple and prompt obedience, and Thou grew to love and practice it very perfectly Thyself. Without exception Thou submitted to God, to the civil rulers, and to the voice of Thy conscience.

When God sent an angel to tell Thee to care for Mary, Thou obeyed in spite of the mystery which surrounded Her motherhood. When Thou were told to flee into Egypt under painful conditions, Thou obeyed without the slightest word of complaint. When God advised Thee in a dream to return to Nazareth, Thou obeyed. In every situation Thy obedience was as simple as Thy faith, as humble as Thy heart, as prompt as Thy love. It neglected nothing; it took in every command.

Thou had the virtue of perfect devotedness, which marks a good servant. Every moment of Thy life was consecrated to the service of our Lord: sleep, rest, work, pain. Faithful to Thy duties, Thou sacrificed everything unselfishly, even cheerfully. Thou would have sacrificed even the happiness of being with Mary. The rest and quiet of Nazareth was sacrificed at the call of duty. Thy entire life was one generous giving, even to the point of being ready to die in proof of Thy love for Jesus and Mary. With true unselfish devotedness Thou worked without praise or reward.

But God wanted Thee to be in a certain sense a cooperator in the Redemption of the world. He confided to Thee the care of nourishing and defending the Divine Child. He wanted Thee to be poor and to suffer because He destined Thee to be the foster-father of His Son, who came into the world to save men by His sufferings and death, and Thou were to share in His suffering. In all of these important tasks, the Heavenly Father always found Thee a faithful servant!

Saint Joseph, I thank God for Thy privilege of being God's faithful servant. As a token of Thy own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to be a faithful servant of God as Thou were. Help me to share, as Thou did, the perfect obedience of Jesus, who came not to do His Will, but the Will of His Father; to trust in the Providence of God, knowing that if I do His Will, He will provide for all my needs of soul and body; to be calm in my trials and to leave it to our Lord to free me from them when it pleases Him to do so. And help me to imitate Thy generosity, for there can be no greater reward here on earth than the joy and honor of being a faithful servant of God.

Saint Joseph, I, Thy unworthy child, greet Thee. Thou art the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate Thee. Thou knowest that I have special confidence in Thee and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in Thee, for Thou art especially powerful with God and will never abandon Thy faithful servants. Therefore, I humbly invoke Thee and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to Thy intercession. I beg of Thee, by Thy love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as Thou did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to Thee to implore Thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that Thy prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to Thy protection or asked for Thy aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in Thy goodness, I come before Thee and humbly implore Thee. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.


Day Five: Patron of the Church

Saint Joseph, God has appointed Thy patron of the Catholic Church because Thou were the head of the Holy Family, the starting-point of the Church. Thou were the father, protector, guide and support of the Holy Family. For that reason Thou belong in a particular way to the Church, which was the purpose of the Holy Family's existence.

I believe that the Church is the family of God on earth. Its government is represented in priestly authority which consists above all in its power over the true Body of Christ, really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, thus continuing Christ's life in the Church. From this power, too, comes authority over the Mystical Body of Christ, the members of the Church -- the power to teach and govern souls, to reconcile them with God, to bless them, and to pray for them.

Thou hast a special relationship to the priesthood because Thou possessed a wonderful power over our Savior Himself. Thy life and office were of a priestly function and are especially connected with the Blessed Sacrament. To some extent Thou were the means of bringing the Redeemer to us -- as it is the priest's function to bring Him to us in the Mass -- for Thou reared Jesus, supported, nourished, protected and sheltered Him. Thou were prefigured by the patriarch Joseph, who kept supplies of wheat for his people. But how much greater than he were Thee! Joseph of old gave the Egyptians mere bread for their bodies. Thou nourished, and with the most tender care, preserved for the Church Him who is the Bread of Heaven and who gives eternal life in Holy Communion.

God has appointed Thee patron of the Church because the glorious title of patriarch also falls by special right to Thee. The patriarchs were the heads of families of the Chosen People, and theirs was the honor to prepare for the Savior's incarnation. Thou belonged to this line of patriarchs, for Thou were one of the last descendants of the family of David and one of the nearest forebears of Christ according to the flesh. As husband of Mary, the Mother of God, and as the foster-father of the Savior, Thou were directly connected with Christ. Thy vocation was especially concerned with the Person of Jesus; Thy entire activity centered about Him. Thou art, therefore, the closing of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, which took its rise with the Holy Family of Nazareth. Because the New Testament surpasses the Old in every respect, Thou art the patriarch of patriarchs, the most venerable, exalted, and amiable of all the patriarchs.

Through Mary, the Church received Christ, and therefore the Church is indebted to Her. But the Church owes Her debt of gratitude and veneration to Thou also, for Thou were the chosen one who enabled Christ to enter into the world according to the laws of order and fitness. It was by Thee that the patriarchs and the prophets and the faithful reaped the fruit of God's promise. Alone among them all, Thou saw with Thy own eyes and possessed the Redeemer promised to the rest of men.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for Thy privilege of being the Patron of the Church. As a token of Thy own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to live always as a worthy member of this Church, so that through it I may save my soul. Bless the priests, the religious, and the laity of the Catholic Church, that they may ever grow in God's love and faithfulness in His service. Protect the Church from the evils of our day and from the persecution of Her enemies. Through Thy powerful intercession may the church successfully accomplish its mission in this world -- the glory of God and the salvation of souls!

Saint Joseph, I, Thy unworthy child, greet Thee. Thou art the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate Thee. Thou knowest that I have special confidence in Thee and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in Thee, for Thou art especially powerful with God and will never abandon Thy faithful servants. Therefore, I humbly invoke Thee and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to Thy intercession. I beg of Thee, by Thy love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as Thou did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to Thee to implore Thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that Thy prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to Thy protection or asked for Thy aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in Thy goodness, I come before Thee and humbly implore Thee. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.


Day Six: Patron of Families

Saint Joseph, I venerate Thee as the gentle head of the Holy Family. The Holy Family was the scene of Thy life's work in its origin, in its guidance, in its protection, in Thy labor for Jesus and Mary, and even in Thy death in their arms. Thou lived, moved, and acted in the loving company of Jesus and Mary. The inspired writer describes Thy life at Nazareth in only a few words: 'And (Jesus) went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them' (Luke, 2:51). Yet these words tell of Thy high vocation here on earth, and the abundance of graces which filled Thy soul during those years spent in Nazareth.

Thy family life at Nazareth was all radiant with the light of divine charity. There was an intimate union of heart and mind among the members of Thy Holy Family. There could not have been a closer bond than that uniting Thee to Jesus, Thy foster-Son and to Mary, Thy most loving wife. Jesus chose to fulfill toward Thee, His foster-father, all the duties of a faithful son, showing Thee every mark of honor and affection due to a parent. And Mary showed Thee all the signs of respect and love of a devoted wife. Thou responded to this love and veneration from Jesus and Mary with feelings of deepest love and respect. Thou had for Jesus a true fatherly love, enkindled and kept aglow in Thy heart by the Holy Spirit. And Thou could not cease to admire the workings of grace in Mary's soul, and this admiration caused the holy love which Thou had consecrated to Her on the day of Thy wedding grow stronger every day.

God has made Thee a heavenly patron of family life because Thou sanctified Thyself as head of the Holy Family and thus by Thy beautiful example sanctified family life. How peacefully and happily the Holy Family rested under the care of Thy fatherly rule, even in the midst of trials. Thou were the protector, counselor, and consolation of the Holy Family in every need. And just as Thou were the model of piety, so Thou gave us by Thy zeal, Thy earnestness and devout trust in God's providence, and especially by Thy love, the example of labor according to the Will of God. Thou cherished all the experiences common to family life and the sacred memories of the life, sufferings, and joys in the company of Jesus and Mary. Therefore, the family is dear to Thee as the work of God, and it is of the highest importance in Thy eyes to promote the honor of God and the well-being of man. In Thy loving fatherliness and unfailing intercession Thou are the patron and intercessor of families, and Thou deserve a place in every home.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for Thy privilege of living in the Holy Family and being its head. As a token of Thy own gratitude to God, obtain God's blessing upon my own family. Make our home the kingdom of Jesus and Mary -- a kingdom of peace, of joy, and love.

I also pray for all Christian families. Thy help is needed in our day when God's enemy has directed his attack against the family in order to desecrate and destroy it. In the face of these evils, as patron of families, be pleased to help; and as of old, Thou arose to save the Child and His Mother, so today arise to protect the sanctity of the home. Make our homes sanctuaries of prayer, of love, of patient sacrifice, and of work. May they be modeled after Thy own at Nazareth. Remain with us with Jesus and Mary, so that by Thy help we may obey the commandments of God and of the Church; receive the holy sacraments of God and of the Church; live a life of prayer; and foster religious instruction in our homes. Grant that we may be reunited in God's Kingdom and eternally live in the company of the Holy Family in heaven.

Saint Joseph, I, Thy unworthy child, greet Thee. Thou art the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate Thee. Thou knowest that I have special confidence in Thee and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in Thee, for Thou art especially powerful with God and will never abandon Thy faithful servants. Therefore, I humbly invoke Thee and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to Thy intercession. I beg of Thee, by Thy love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as Thou did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to Thee to implore Thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that Thy prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to Thy protection or asked for Thy aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in Thy goodness, I come before Thee and humbly implore Thee. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.


Day Seven: Patron of Workers

Saint Joseph, Thou devoted Thy time at Nazareth to the work of a carpenter. It was the Will of God that Thee and Thy foster-Son should spend Thy days together in manual labor. What a beautiful example Thou set for the working classes!

It was especially for the poor, who compose the greater part of mankind, that Jesus came upon earth, for in the synagogue of Nazareth, He read the words of Isaiah and referred them to Himself: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Wherefore he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor...' (Luke 4:18). It was God's Will that Thou should be occupied with work common to poor people, that in this way Jesus Himself might ennoble it by inheriting it from Thee, His foster-father, and by freely embracing it. Thus our Lord teaches us that for the humbler class of workmen, He has in store His richest graces, provided they live content in the place God's Providence has assigned them, and remain poor in spirit for He said, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven' (Matt. 5:3).

The kind of work to which Thou devoted Thy time in the workshop of Nazareth offered Thee many occasions of practicing humility. Thou were privileged to see each day the example of humility which Jesus practiced -- a virtue most pleasing to Him. He chose for His earthly surroundings not the courts of princes nor the halls of the learned, but a little workshop of Nazareth. Here Thou shared for many years the humble and hidden toiling of the God-Man. What a touching example for the worker of today!

While Thy hands were occupied with manual work, Thy mind was turned to God in prayer. From the Divine Master, who worked along with Thee, Thou learned to work in the presence of God in the spirit of prayer, for as He worked He adored His Father and recommended the welfare of the world to Him, Jesus also instructed Thy in the wonderful truths of grace and virtue, for Thou were in close contact with Him who said of Himself, 'I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.'

As Thou were working at Thy trade, Thou were reminded of the greatness and majesty of God, who, as a most wise Architect, formed this vast universe with wonderful skill and limitless power.

The light of divine faith that filled Thy mind, did not grow dim when Thou saw Jesus working as a carpenter. Thou firmly believed that the saintly Youth working beside Thee was truly God's own Son.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for Thy privilege of being able to work side by side with Jesus in the carpenter shop of Nazareth. As a token of Thy own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to respect the dignity of labor and ever to be content with the position in life, however lowly, in which it may please Divine Providence to place me. Teach me to work for God and with God in the spirit of humility and prayer, as Thou did, so that I may offer my toil in union with the sacrifice of Jesus in the Mass as a reparation for my sins, and gain rich merit for heaven.

Saint Joseph, I, Thy unworthy child, greet Thee. Thou art the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate Thee. Thou know that I have special confidence in Thee and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in Thee, for Thou art especially powerful with God and will never abandon Thy faithful servants. Therefore, I humbly invoke Thee and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to Thy intercession. I beg of Thee, by Thy love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as Thou did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to Thee to implore Thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that Thy prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to Thy protection or asked for Thy aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in Thy goodness, I come before Thee and humbly implore Thee. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.


Day Eight: Friend In Suffering

Saint Joseph, Thy share of suffering was very great because of Thy close union with the Divine Savior. All the mysteries of His life were more or less mysteries of suffering. Poverty pressed upon Thee, and the cross of labor followed Thee everywhere. Nor were Thee spared domestic crosses, owing to misunderstandings in regard to the holiest and most cherished of all beings, Jesus and Mary, who were all to Thee. Keen must have been the suffering caused by the uncertainty regarding Mary's virginity; by the bestowal of the name of Jesus, which pointed to future misfortune. Deeply painful must have been the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the disappearance of Jesus at the Paschal feast. To these sufferings were surely added interior sorrow at the sight of the sins of Thy own people.

Thou bore all this suffering in a truly Christ-like manner, and in this Thou art our example. No sound of complaint or impatience escaped Thee -- Thou were, indeed, the silent saint! Thou submitted to all in the spirit of faith, humility, confidence, and love. Thou cheerfully bore all in union with and for the Savior and His Mother, knowing well that true love is a crucified love. But God never forsook Thee in Thy trials. The trials, too, disappeared and were changed at last into consolation and joy.

It seems that God had purposely intended Thy life to be filled with suffering as well as consolation to keep before my eyes the truth that my life on earth is but a succession of joys and sorrows, and that I must gratefully accept whatever God sends me, and during the time of consolation prepare for suffering. Teach me to bear my cross in the spirit of faith, of confidence, and of gratitude toward God. In a happy eternity, I shall thank God fervently for the sufferings which He deigned to send me during my pilgrimage on earth, and which after Thy example I endured with patience and heartfelt love for Jesus and Mary.

Thou were truly the martyr of the hidden life. This was God's Will, for the holier a person is, the more he is tried for the love and glory of God. If suffering is the flowering of God's grace in a soul and the triumph of the soul's love for God, being the greatest of saints after Mary, Thou suffered more than any of the martyrs.

Because Thou hast experienced the sufferings of this valley of tears, Thou art most kind and sympathetic toward those in need. Down through the ages souls have turned to Thee in distress and have always found Thee a faithful friend in suffering. Thou hast graciously heard their prayers in their needs even though it demanded a miracle. Having been so intimately united with Jesus and Mary in life, Thy intercession with Them is most powerful.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for Thy privilege of being able to suffer for Jesus and Mary. As a token of Thy own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to bear my suffering patiently for love of Jesus and Mary. Grant that I may unite the sufferings, works and disappointments of life with the sacrifice of Jesus in the Mass, and share like Thee in Mary's spirit of sacrifice.

Saint Joseph, I, Thy unworthy child, greet Thee. Thou art the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate Thee. Thou knowest that I have special confidence in Thee and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in Thee, for Thou art especially powerful with God and will never abandon Thy faithful servants. Therefore, I humbly invoke Thee and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to Thy intercession. I beg of Thee, by Thy love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as Thou did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to Thee to implore Thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that Thy prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to Thy protection or asked for Thy aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in Thy goodness, I come before Thee and humbly implore Thee. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.


Day Nine: Patron of a Happy Death

Saint Joseph, how fitting it was that at the hour of Thy death Jesus should stand at Thy bedside with Mary, the sweetness and hope of all mankind. Thou gavest Thy entire life to the service of Jesus and Mary; at death Thou enjoyed the consolation of dying in Their loving arms. Thou accepted death in the spirit of loving submission to the Will of God, and this acceptance crowned Thy hidden life of virtue. Thine was a merciful judgment, for Thy foster-Son, for whom Thou had cared so lovingly, was Thy Judge, and Mary was Thy advocate. The verdict of the Judge was a word of encouragement to wait for His coming to Limbo, where He would shower Thee with the choicest fruits of the Redemption, and an embrace of grateful affection before Thou breathed forth Thy soul into eternity.

Thou looked into eternity and to Thy everlasting reward with confidence. If our Savior blessed the shepherds, the Magi, Simeon, John the Baptist, and others, because they greeted His presence with devoted hearts for a brief passing hour, how much more did He bless Thou who have sanctified Thyself for so many years in His company and that of His Mother? If Jesus regards every corporal and spiritual work of mercy, performed in behalf of our fellow men out of love for Him, as done to Himself, and promises heaven as a reward, what must have been the extent of His gratitude to Thee who in the truest sense of the word have received Him, given Him shelter, clothed, nourished, and consoled Him at the sacrifice of Thy strength and rest, and even Thy life, with a love which surpassed the love of all fathers.

God really and personally made Himself Thy debtor. Our Divine Savior paid that debt of gratitude by granting Thy many graces in Thy lifetime, especially the grace of growing in love, which is the best and most perfect of all gifts. Thus at the end of Thy life Thy heart became filled with love, the fervor and longing of which Thy frail body could not resist. Thy soul followed the triumphant impulse of Thy love and winged its flight from earth to bear the prophets and patriarchs in Limbo the glad tidings of the advent of the Redeemer.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for Thy privilege of being able to die in the arms of Jesus and Mary. As a token of Thy own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Help me to spend each day in preparation for death. May I, too, accept death in the spirit of resignation to God's Holy Will, and die, as Thou did, in the arms of Jesus, strengthened by Holy Viaticum, and in the arms of Mary, with Her rosary in my hand and Her name on my lips!

Saint Joseph, I, Thy unworthy child, greet Thee. Thou art the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate Thee. Thou knowest that I have special confidence in Thee and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in Thee, for Thou art especially powerful with God and will never abandon Thy faithful servants. Therefore, I humbly invoke Thee and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to Thy intercession. I beg of Thee, by Thy love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as Thou did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to Thee to implore Thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that Thy prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to Thy protection or asked for Thy aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in Thy goodness, I come before Thee and humbly implore Thee. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.