Saint Joseph

Publish a Prayer

NOVENA TO SAINT JOSEPH

PRAYERS TO BE SAID EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA

O glorious Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to thee do we raise our hearts and hands to implore thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the benign Heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special favour we now implore. (Here mention your request.)

O Guardian of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that thy prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.

O glorious Saint Joseph, through the love thou bearest to Jesus Christ, and for the glory of His Name. Hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.

PRAYER

O glorious Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble and charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the Divine will. Be my guide, father, and model through life, that I may merit to die, as thou didst, in the arms of Jesus and Mary. O glorious Saint Joseph, I most humbly beg of thee, by the love and care thou hast for Jesus and Mary, to take my affairs, spiritual and temporal, into thy hands. Draw from them the greater glory of God and obtain for me the grace to do His holy will.

FIRST DAY

Saint Joseph’s Great Trial (Matt. 1:18-19)

Joseph had no knowledge of Mary’s Divine Motherhood and he was perplexed and uncertain. He did not know what to do about his proposed marriage. Being "a just man" he did not wish to turn Mary over to the Law or to expose her for reproach. He decided to put her away quietly. He was convinced of her innocence, but he had no way of proving it to himself.

SECOND DAY

Message of the Angel to Joseph Concerning Mary’s Innocence (Matt. 1:20-25)

The Angel said to him: "Fear not, Joseph, son of David, to take to thee Mary thy wife, for that which is begotten of her is of the Holy Ghost". Further, it was made know to him that the child to be born of Mary was to be named Jesus by Joseph, because He would save His people from their sins.

THIRD DAY

The Census (Luke 2:1-3)

Picture Saint Joseph and Mary living quietly in Nazareth expecting the birth of the Christ Child. Suddenly notice is received that a census is to be taken and everyone must return to his own city to be enrolled. This means great hardship to Joseph and to Mary who was with Child. Nevertheless, Joseph and Mary started out on the long journey to Bethlehem despite the hardships and difficulties they know would be theirs.

FOURTH DAY

Joseph and the Birth of Christ (Luke 2:4-7)

Consider Saint Joseph’s inability to find a place of lodging – the need of going to a cave outside of the town – then the birth of the Christ Child. It is very easy to see the four points of the meditation in this wonderful scene, picturing Joseph’s love and devotion as he worships the Christ Child.

FIFTH DAY

Joseph and the Shepherds and the Magi (Luke 2:8-20; Matt. 2:1-12)

See the shepherds hastening to Bethlehem to see the Christ Child and to tell the message of the Angels, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will". It is easy to imagine the happiness of these simple shepherds, their joy and their exultation as they worship the new-born King. With the visit of the shepherds can be associated the visit of the Magi, Wise Men from the West, who have come to adore the Christ Child and to offer Him the precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

SIXTH DAY

Joseph and the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-38)

Call to mind the strong Saint Joseph carrying the Christ Child to the crowded Temple where Mary takes the Divine Infant and presents Him to the Lord. Joseph realizes that Jesus is the Light of the World and that this is the initial offering of Christ in His life of sacrifice. He hears, too, with great sorrow, the words of Simeon to Mary, "…and thy own soul a sword shall pierce…"

SEVENTH DAY

Joseph and the Flight into Egypt (Matt. 2:13-15; 19-21)

Reflect on the anxiety of Saint Joseph as he is told by and Angel to take Mary and the Child and fly into Egypt. Joseph obeys at once and the Holy Family departs under the cover of night. The journey is long, over four hundred miles, and difficult. For almost two years the Holy Family must remain in Egypt surrounded by strangers and in great sorrow.

EIGHTH DAY

Joseph and the Loss of Christ Child in the Temple (Luke 2:41-50)

The natural anxiety of Saint Joseph for the Christ Child when it is discovered that He is not with the friends of the Holy Family can hardly be described. Frantically Joseph and Mary look for Him and after three days they find Him in the Temple talking to the Doctors of the Law and instructing them. Mary and Joseph rejoice to find Jesus again, but they hear from His lips the mysterious words: "Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business".

NINTH DAY

The Death of Saint Joseph

Sacred Scripture says nothing about the death of Saint Joseph and we must supply what took place as best as we can. See Saint Joseph on his death bed realizing the graces which God gave to him during his life, fully conscious of the value of the life of grace and virtue over that of the life of the world. One can presume that Jesus and Mary were at his death bed and that they comforted him. Saint Joseph is the Patron of a Happy Death for this reason – that he died in the presence of Jesus and Mary.