Novena to St Joseph – Day 8

Wonderful things have happened in the long annals of mankind, but none have been more wonderful than what occurred in the little house and shop of Joseph in Nazareth.

The earnings of a laborer provided the food for the creator of heaven and earth.  Into the little carpenter shop comes the young Jesus, apprenticed to a trade. Joseph guides the hands that guided the course of the stars; he teaches the maker of sun, stars, and planets the craft of making tables and chairs for peasants and yokes for oxen.

The Trinity looks down to the lovely trinity of earth – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit beautifully mirrored in Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.

Modern Christian homes receive their design and pattern from this model.  Modern Catholic marriage is here given its lovely example.  The hearts of Mary and Joseph create a union close and dear and intimate and utterly beautiful; together they live and think and plan and work for the Child, who has been given into their keeping.  Their’s was a beautiful family.

Remembering the happiness of Joseph in Nazareth, we pray:

The Prayer of Saint Joseph
O God, who in thine ineffable providence was pleased to choose blessed Joseph for the spouse of thy most holy Mother, grant we beseech thee, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate as our protector on earth. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

The Litany of Saint Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us.
     Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
     Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of 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 the patriarchs,
   pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God,
 pray for us.
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
 pray for us.
Foster-father of the Son of God,
pray for us.
Watchful defender of Christ,
 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 valiant,
 pray for us.
Joseph most obedient,
pray for us.
Joseph most faithful,
 pray for us.
Mirror of patience,
 pray for us.
Lover of poverty,
   pray for us.
Model of workmen ,
pray for us.

Glory of domestic life,
 pray for us.
Guardian of virgins,
pray for us.
Pillar of families,
   pray for us.
Solace of the afflicted,
pray for us.
Hope of the sick,
   pray for us.
Patron of the dying,
   pray for us.
Terror of demons,
 pray for us.
Protector of Holy Church,
 pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
 Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. He made him the lord of His household,
R. And prince over all His possessions.

Let Us Pray.
O God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant that as we venerate him as our protector on earth, we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever. R. Amen.