Prayers to Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph Leading the Christ Child, Bartolome Esteban Murillo, 1670s
- St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Link to download a copy of this Prayer
Remember, oh most pure Spouse of the Virgin Mary, my sweet Protector Saint Joseph, never was it heard that anyone who implored thy help nor sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I come to thee and to thee do I fervently commend myself. Despise not my petitions, I beseech thee, foster Father of the Redeemer, but graciously hear them. Amen.
Memorare, o purissime Sponse Virginis Mariae, o dulcis Protector mi, sancte Ioseph, non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquem ad tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia, esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus confidentia ad te venio, tibique fervide me commendo. Noli, quaeso, o Pater putative Redemptoris, verba mea despicere, sed audi propitius. Amen.
Christ Crowning Saint Joseph, Francisco de Zurbaran, 1640
Saint Joseph and the Christ Child, Cusco School Artist, late 17-18th century
BEHOLD a faithful and wise servant, whom the Lord hath set over His household.
V. Glory and riches shall be in his house.
R. And his justice shall endureth for ever and ever.
Let us pray:
O God, who by Thine unspeakable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose
Blessed Joseph to be the Spouse of Thy most holy Mother: mercifully
grant that as we venerate him for our Protector on earth, we may be
found worthy to be aided by his intercession in heaven. Thou who livest
and reignest... Amen.
ECCE fidelis servus et prudens, quem constituit Dominus super familiam suam.
V. Gloria et divitiae in domo eius.
R. Et iustitia eius manet in saeculum saeculi.
Oremus
Deus, qui ineffabili providentia beatum Ioseph sanctissimae Genetricis
tuae sponsum eligere dignatus es: praesta quaesumus, ut quem protectorem
veneramur in terris, intercessorem habere mereamur in caelis. Qui vivis
et regnas... Amen.
Be mindful of us, O Blessed Joseph, and intercede for us with thy foster-Son by the pleading of thy prayer: do thou, in like manner, render the blessed Virgin Mary, thy Spouse, gracious unto us, for she is the Mother of Him, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.
- St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)
Memento nostri, beate Ioseph, et tuae orationis suffragio apud tuum putativum Filium intercede; sed et beatissimam Virginem Sponsam tuam nobis propitiam redde, quae Mater est Eius, qui cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivit et regnat per infinita saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Saint Joseph the Carpenter, Georges de La Tour, c. 1642
The Flight Into Egypt, Domenico Fiasella, 1650
Grant us, dear Joseph, to run life's pathway in innocent fashion:
May we ever be safe under thy blest patronage.
Fac nos innocuam, Ioseph, decurrere vitam
Sitque tuo semper tuta patrocinio.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may be helped by the merits of the Spouse of Thy most holy Mother: so that what we cannot obtain of ourselves, may be given to us through his intercession: Who livest and reignest.
(Roman Missal, Feast of St Joseph, 19 March, Collect)
Sanctissimae Genitricis tuae Sponsi, quaesumus, Domine, meritis adjuvemur: ut, quod possibilitas nostra non obtinet, ejus nobis intercessione donetur: Qui vivis et regnas.
St Joseph and the Christ Child, El Greco, c.1597-1599
Holy Family, Modesto Faustini, 1890
To thee, O Blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our tribulations, and while imploring the aid of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. By that love which united thee to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and by the fatherly affection with which thou didst embrace the Infant Jesus, we humbly beseech thee graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased with His Blood and to help us in our necessities, by thy powerful intercession.
Protect, O most provident Guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen children of Jesus Christ; ward off from us, O most loving Father, all taint of error and corruption; graciously assist us from Heaven, O most powerful protector, in our struggle with the powers of darkness; and as thou didst once rescue the Child Jesus from imminent peril to His life, so now defend the Holy Church of God from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity.
Shield each one of us with thy unceasing patronage that, imitating thy example and supported by thy aid, we may be enabled to live a good life, die a holy death, and secure everlasting happiness in Heaven. Amen.
- Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) and attached to his Encyclical, Quamquam Pluries
Ad te beate Ioseph, in tribulatione nostra confugimus, atque, implorato
Sponsae tuae sanctissimae auxilio, patrocinium quoque tuum fidenter
exposcimus.
Per eam, quaesumus quae te cum immaculata Virgine
Dei Genetrice coniunxit, caritatem, perque paternum, quo Puerum Iesum
amplexus es, amorem, supplices deprecamur, ut ad hereditatem, quam Iesus
Christus acquisivit Sanguine suo, benignus respicias, ac necessitatibus
nostris tua virtute et ope succurras.
Tuere, o Custos providentissime divinae Familiae, Iesu Christi sobolem electam; prohibe a nobis, amantissime Pater, omnem errorum ac corruptelarum luem; propitius nobis, sospitator noster fortissime, in hoc cum potestate tenebrarum certamine e caelo adesto; et sicut olim Puerum Iesum e summo eripuisti vitae discrimine, ita nunc Ecclesiam sanctam Dei ab hostilibus insidiis atque ab omni adversitate defende: nosque singulos perpetuo tege patrocinio, ut ad tui exemplar et ope tua suffulti, sancte vivere, pie emori, sempiternamque in caelis beatitudinem assequi possimus. Amen.
The Dream of St Joseph, Anton Raphael Mengs, c. 1773-1774
Prayer to Saint Joseph for Protection
O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so prompt, so strong, before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.
O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers.
O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart.
Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen.
Prayer of Confidence in St. Joseph
With childlike confidence I present myself before thee, O holy Joseph, faithful foster father of Jesus! I beg thy compassionate intercession and support in this, my present necessity. [Name your petition.]
I firmly believe that thou art most powerful near the throne of God, who chose thee for the foster father of his well-beloved son, Jesus Christ. O blessed Saint, who saved that treasure of heaven, with his virginal mother, from the fury of his enemies, who with untiring industry supplied his earthly wants and with paternal care accompanied and protected him in all the journeys of his childhood, take me also, for the love of Jesus, as thy child. Assist me in my present difficulty with thy prayers before God. The infinite goodness of our savior, who loved and honored thee as his father upon earth, cannot refuse thee any request now in heaven.
How many pious souls have sought help, from thee in their needs and have experienced, to their joy, how good, how ready thou art to assist. How quickly thou dost turn to those who call upon thee with confidence! How powerful thou art in bringing help and restoring joy to anxious and dejected hearts! Therefore, do I fly to thee, O most worthy father of Jesus, most chaste spouse of Mary! Good St. Joseph, I pray thee by the burning love thou hadst for Jesus and Mary upon earth, console me in my distress and present my petition, through Jesus and Mary, before the throne of God! One word from thee will move him to assist my afflicted soul. Then most joyfully shall I praise him and thee, and more earnest shall be my thanksgiving! Amen.
Saint Joseph and the Christ Child, Mexican Retablo, c. 1850s
Immaculate Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Immaculata Regina Pacis, ora pro nobis.
