SAINT JOSEPH

The (short) Little Office of Saint Joseph

Hail, glory of the Patriarchs, steward of God's holy Church, who didst preserve the Bread

of Life and the Wheat of the Elect.

Versicle: Thou, 0 Lord, wilt open my lips.

Responsory: And my tongue shall announce thy praise.

V: Incline unto mine aid, 0 God!

R: 0 Lord, make haste to help me.

V: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

SAY THE APPROPRIATE HYMN & ANTIPHON.

V: Pray for us, most blessed Joseph.

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

O Lord, we beseech Thee, may we be assisted by the merits of the Spouse

of thy most holy Mother, that what of ourselves we cannot possibly obtain,

may through his intercession be granted to us by Thee, who livest and reignest God for ever and ever.

Amen.

V: Lord, hear my prayer,

R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

V: Let us bless the Lord.

R: Thanks be to God.

V: May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

R: Amen.

HYMN

Mighty Joseph, son of David!

High and glorious is thy state-

Of our Lord the Foster-father,

Mary's spouse Immaculate.

The Almighty's faithful servant,

Of the Holy Family

Head and father. Oh! I pray thee

Be a father unto me.

Antiphon: He made him master of his house, and ruler over all his possessions (Psalm civ.).

PRIME

HYMN.

Sorely was thy bosom troubled

Till the mystery was revealed

Which the Lord had wrought in Mary,

Who in patience all concealed.

But an angel soon from heaven

Bids thy loving doubts to cease

So may every care and trial

Turn for me to joy and peace.

Antiphon: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy spouse, for what is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost (MATT. 1:20).

TERCE

HYMN

With the Virgin, young and tender

In the winter-time forlorn,

Thou to Bethlehem didst journey

That our Lord might there be born.

As thy God thou didst adore Him,

While He in the manger lay,

Now is He in heaven exalted-

Turn to Him for us and pray!

Antiphon: Joseph went up out of Galilee from Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, with Mary his espoused wife who was with child.

SEXT

HYMN

Fleeing at the angel's warning,

Far from Herod's fury wild,

Long in Egypt didst thou tarry

With the Virgin and the Child.

By thy toil, and pain, and sadness,

In that exile dark and drear,

Help me in the cares and sorrows

Which may be my portion here.

Antiphon: Rise and take the Child and his Mother, and fly into Egypt, and be there until I tell thee; for it will come to pass that Herod will seek the Child to destroy Him. (Matt. 2:13).

.

NONE

HYMN

Home from Egypt's land returning

Thou wouldst rest in Galilee,

But to Nazareth art bidden,

That the Child secure may be.

Souls retiring, sweet, and humble,

Thou doest still for Jesus seek:

That my heart may be his garden,

Make it humble, pure and meek.

Antiphon: And rising up out of Egypt, he took the Child and his Mother and came into the land of Israel . . . and he dwelt in a city which is called Nazareth (Matt. 2:23).

VESPERS

HYMN

Thou didst search with loving anguish

For the little Jesus lost,

But, in finding Him, what rapture

Purchased at that sorrow's cost!

Thee, my light, my life, my Jesus,

May I never lose by sin!

May my heart be pure and simple,

So that thou may'st rest therein.

Antiphon: Son, why hast Thou done this to us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing. (Luke 2:48).

.

COMPLIN

HYMN

Jesus, Mary, hung above thee,

On that sad, but happy day

When, with their fond arms around thee,

Passed thy gentle soul away.

Oh! when death shall come to take me,

All its terrors I'll defy,

If, with Jesus and with Mary,

Thou, dear Joseph, wilt be nigh.

Antiphon: I will sleep in peace, and I will rest, for Thou, 0 Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope (Psalm 4:9).

Commendation

Thus, 0 glorious saint, my homage

I thy grateful client pay.

Hear my prayer and smile upon me,

Guide and guard me on my way,

May I 'neath thy kind protection

Safely reach my journey's close,

And with thee in heaven's bright palace

Through eternity repose. .

Amen