Thursday, 11 November 2021

Novena to St. Joesph

 

INTRODUCTION

The scripture spoke of St. Joseph as an upright man (Mtt. 1:19). Otherwise nothing much is known about him. However, the role of St. Joseph in the protection of the Holy Family, from incarnation to the early childhood of the divine Son, is very visible. Mary could have been a single mother if St. Joseph had sent her away on finding out that she was with a child before they lived together, but the grace of God informing the decision of St. Joseph, and St. Joseph’s heed to divine counsel never allowed that to happen. St. Joseph is especially privileged and chosen by God to be the foster-father of His divine Son, and as the most chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The silence of St. Joseph is very eloquent, teaching us a fundamental attitude; a call for openness to God’s will. These are the basic foundation of the honour paid to St. Joseph by the Church.

The intercession of St. Joseph has been sought for centuries. The earliest recognition, of a public character, of the sanctity of St. Joseph can be traced back to the East. The feast of St. Joseph was kept by the Copts as early as the beginning of the fourth century. There is a gorgeous oratory dedicated to the honour of St. Joseph in the great Basilica erected at Bethlehem by St. Helena. In the West, the name of St. Joseph appears in the local Martyrologies of the ninth and tenth centuries, and in 1129 a Church was dedicated to the honour of St. Joseph in Bologna. The devotion to St. Joseph gained a great impetus owing to the influence and zeal of saintly persons like St. Bernard, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Gertrude, and St. Bridget of Sweden. However, the effort of these men and women were rewarded by the Roman calendar (19 March) under the pontificate of Sixtus IV (1471-84). From that time on, the devotion to St. Joseph gained popularity.

The righteous St Joseph is a powerful patron saint of husbands and fathers, the universal church, unborn children, immigrants, workers, employment, pilgrims, travelers, carpenters, and of a happy death. St Joseph was the guardian of our Redeemer during his childhood and youth at Bethlehem, in Egypt and at Nazareth. He was chosen by the eternal father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasure; His divine Son and His mother, Joseph’s wife. He humbly accepted his role as guardian, husband and father in the Holy Family. St Joseph carried out this vocation with fidelity until God called His faithful servant back to Himself. St. Joseph’s intercession has been sought for centuries.

St. Joseph was clearly very close to our Lord and so we come to him with this novena with a sense of humility because of his great humility. The novena to St. Joseph can be prayed for finding employment, finding your spouse, for purity, for overcoming lust and for many other needs we may have.

Muogbo Michael, ssp

 

 

 

DAY ONE: FOSTER FATHER OF THE DIVINE SON

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

O saint Joseph, most pure spouse of Mary, you are the provident guardian of the Holy Family, and the faithful protector and intercessor of the chosen people of God. I venerate you and pray through your intercession, that I may obtain all the graces I stand in need of. With your strength and power help me in my urgent needs.

DAILY PRAYER

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of having been chosen by God to be the foster-father of His Divine Son. As a token of your own gratitude to God for this your 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 you had while on this earth with Him. Grant that through your intercession with Jesus, your foster-Son, I may reach the degree of holiness God has destined for me, and save my soul.

NOVENNA PRAYER

Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants.

Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your 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 you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your 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 your prayers on my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be…

 

 MEMORARE

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

 

DAY TWO: MOST CHASTE SPOUSE OF MARY

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

O saint Joseph, most pure spouse of Mary, you are the provident guardian of the Holy Family, and the faithful protector and intercessor of the chosen people of God. I venerate you and pray through your intercession, that I may obtain all the graces I stand in need of. With your strength and power help me in my urgent needs.

DAILY PRAYER

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

NOVENNA PRAYER (see page…)

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be…

 

MEMORARE

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

 

DAY THREE: THE CHOSEN MAN OF THE BLESSED TRINITY

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

O saint Joseph, most pure spouse of Mary, you are the provident guardian of the Holy Family, and the faithful protector and intercessor of the chosen people of God. I venerate you and pray through your intercession, that I may obtain all the graces I stand in need of. With your strength and power help me in my urgent needs.

DAILY PRAYER

Saint Joseph, I thank God for having made you the man specially chosen by Him. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to imitate your 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 you are.

NOVENNA PRAYER (see page…)

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be…

 

MEMORARE

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

 

DAY FOUR: FAITHFUL SERVANT OD GOD

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

O saint Joseph, most pure spouse of Mary, you are the provident guardian of the Holy Family, and the faithful protector and intercessor of the chosen people of God. I venerate you and pray through your intercession, that I may obtain all the graces I stand in need of. With your strength and power help me in my urgent needs.

DAILY PRAYER

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being God’s faithful servant. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to be a faithful servant of God as you were. Help me to share, as you 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 your generosity, for there can be no greater reward here on earth than the joy and honor of being a faithful servant of God.

NOVENNA PRAYER (see page…)

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be…

 

MEMORARE

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

 

DAY FIVE: PATRON OF THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

O saint Joseph, most pure spouse of Mary, you are the provident guardian of the Holy Family, and the faithful protector and intercessor of the chosen people of God. I venerate you and pray through your intercession, that I may obtain all the graces I stand in need of. With your strength and power help me in my urgent needs.

DAILY PRAYER

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being the Patron of the Church. As a token of your 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 your powerful intercession may the church successfully accomplish its mission in this world ;  the glory of God and the salvation of souls!

NOVENNA PRAYER (see page…)

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be…

 

MEMORARE

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

 

DAY SIX: PATRON OF FAMILIES

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

O saint Joseph, most pure spouse of Mary, you are the provident guardian of the Holy Family, and the faithful protector and intercessor of the chosen people of God. I venerate you and pray through your intercession, that I may obtain all the graces I stand in need of. With your strength and power help me in my urgent needs.

DAILY PRAYER

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of living in the Holy Family and being its head. As a token of your 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.

NOVENNA PRAYER (see page…)

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be…

 

MEMORARE

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

 

 

DAY SEVEN: PATRON OF WORKERS

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

O saint Joseph, most pure spouse of Mary, you are the provident guardian of the Holy Family, and the faithful protector and intercessor of the chosen people of God. I venerate you and pray through your intercession, that I may obtain all the graces I stand in need of. With your strength and power help me in my urgent needs.

DAILY PRAYER

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being able to work side by side with Jesus in the carpenter shop of Nazareth. As a token of your 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 you 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.

NOVENNA PRAYER (see page…)

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be…

 

MEMORARE

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

 

DAY EIGHT: FRIEND OF THE SUFFERING

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

O saint Joseph, most pure spouse of Mary, you are the provident guardian of the Holy Family, and the faithful protector and intercessor of the chosen people of God. I venerate you and pray through your intercession, that I may obtain all the graces I stand in need of. With your strength and power help me in my urgent needs.

DAILY PRAYER

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being able to suffer for Jesus and Mary. As a token of your 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 you in Mary’s spirit of sacrifice.

NOVENNA PRAYER (see page…)

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be…

 

MEMORARE

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

 

DAY NINE: PATRON OF A HAPPY DEATH

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

O saint Joseph, most pure spouse of Mary, you are the provident guardian of the Holy Family, and the faithful protector and intercessor of the chosen people of God. I venerate you and pray through your intercession, that I may obtain all the graces I stand in need of. With your strength and power help me in my urgent needs.

DAILY PRAYER

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being able to die in the arms of Jesus and Mary. As a token of your 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 you 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!

NOVENNA PRAYER (see page…)

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory be…

 

MEMORARE

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

PRAYER TO ST JOSEPH

We come to you, O Blessed Joseph, in our distress. And having sought the help of your most holy spouse, we confidently implore your assistance too. We humbly beg you to remember the dutiful affection which bound you to the immaculate Virgin Mother of God and your fatherly love for the child Jesus. Watch over the souls which Jesus Christ bought with His blood, and with your strength and power help us in our urgent need.

O most provident guardian of the divine family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ. Drive far from us, most loving father, every pest of error and corrupting sin.

From your place in heaven, most powerful deliverer, graciously come to our aid in this conflict with the powers of darkness. And as you delivered the child Jesus from the great perils of life, so now defend the holy church of God from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Have each of us always in your keeping, that following your example and borne up by your strength, we may be able to live holily, die happily and so enter into the everlasting bliss of heaven. Amen

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