♔ A HAPPY FEAST OT ST. JOSEPH TO EVERYONE! ♔

♔ ST. JOSEPH PATRON OF THE CHURCH ♔

 

O Glorious Saint Joseph, you were chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus, the most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, and the head of the Holy Family. You have been chosen by Christ's Vicar as the heavenly Patron and Protector of the Church founded by Christ.

 
Protect the Sovereign Pontiff and all bishops and priests united with him. Be the protector of all who labor for souls amid the trials and tribulations of this life; and grant that all peoples of the world may be docile to the Church without which there is no salvation.

 
Dear Saint Joseph, accept the offering I make to you. Be my father, protector, and guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me purity of heart and a love for the spiritual life. After your example, let all my actions be directed to the greater glory of God, in union with the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and your own Chaste Heart. Finally, pray for me that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. + Amen

♔ ST. JOSEPH AGAINST COMMUNISM ♔ - Pope Pius XI, Divini Redemptoris

♔ Pope Pius XI, Divini Redemptoris ♔  To hasten the advent of that "peace of Christ in the kingdom of Christ" so ardently desired by all, We entrust the vast campaign of the Church against world Communism under the standard of St. Joseph, her mighty Protector. He belongs to the working-class, and he bore the burdens of poverty for himself and the Holy Family, whose tender and vigilant head he was. To him was entrusted the Divine Child when Herod loosed his assassins against Him. In a life of faithful performance of everyday duties, he left an example for all those who must gain their bread by the toil of their hands. He won for himself the title of "The Just," serving thus as a living model of that Christian justice which should reign in social life.

Read more: http://princeofthechurch.yolasite.com/patron-against-communism.php

♔ THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD - ST. JOSEPH PRESENTS HIS SON ♔

♔ THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD ♔

The holy spouse Saint Joseph was, by these prophecies (of Simeon), made to see many of the mysteries of the Redemption and of the labors and sufferings of Jesus. … However Saint Joseph was not to be an eyewitness of them during his mortal life. — Venerable Maria de Agreda 

ST. JOSEPH PRESENTS HIS SON

Joseph fulfills the Law’s requirement to present his son to God to be redeemed by a sacrifice of two turtledoves. St. Joseph had just fulfilled his second official act as father to Jesus, having presented and consecrated him at the Temple of Jerusalem. Just as with the circumcision of Jesus, the Law required that the first-born son be redeemed. Joseph brought Jesus into the Inner Court of the Temple, in which women were not allowed, Our Lady waiting outside. He carried into the temple the True High Priest though no one would recognize the child as such nor would they pay him homage. In the midst of the temple was the Messiah Himself—the one’s arrival the Jews were earnestly praying for, though it was only the venerable Simeon and Anna who saw the Redeemer in this child. Jesus was to become the Sacrificial Lamb who years later would carry the cross upon which he would die for the redemption of the world. At the Presentation, his burden is not yet apparent as he is carried into the temple by his most faithful servant Joseph, consecrated to his Heavenly Father.

The Lord spoke to Moses and said, “Consecrate to me every firstborn that opens the womb . . . for it belongs to me.” — Exodus 13:1-2

♔ REVERENCE TO ST. JOSEPH - St. Bernardino of Sienna ♔

♔ St. Bernardino of Sienna ♔ What then is Joseph’s position in the whole Church of Christ? Is he not a man chosen and set apart? Through him and, yes, under him, Christ was fittingly and honorably introduced into the world. Holy Church in its entirety is indebted to the Virgin Mother because through her it was judged worthy to receive Christ. But after her we undoubtedly owe special gratitude and reverence to Saint Joseph. 

♔ THE WEDDING RING GIVEN BY ST. JOSEPH TO OUR BLESSED LADY ♔

This quartz ring (the Santo Anello) is said to have served as the wedding ring given by Good St Joseph to the Blessed Virgin Mary.   According to an 11th century account, a Jewish dealer in precious stones in Rome gave it to a jeweler from Chiusi called Ainerio in the late 10th century.  He doubted its authenticity until his newly deceased young son was temporarily restored to life in order to vouch for it.  It was then transferred to the Basilica di Santa Mustiola, outside the walls of Chiusi.  In 1251, it was moved for greater security to the Duomo of Chiusi, which was administered by the canons of Santa Mustiola.  It was moved again, this time to San Francesco, Chiusi in 1420.

Theft of the Relic

An inscription in the cloister of the Palazzo delle Canoniche records that a certain Fra Wintherius (Winterio) brought the ring to Perugia in 1473 and arranged through an intermediary to donate it to the city.  He was imprisoned for two years while charges against him were investigated, but was then released and settled in Perugia.  (He served as rector of San Giovanni del Mercato (now the Cappella di San Giovanni Battista of the Collegio di Cambio) until his death in 1506.  He was buried in the Cappella del Santo Anello in the Duomo.

What the inscription does not say is that Fra Wintherius had stolen the relic during his stay in the Franciscan convent at Chiusi.  The Sienese, who controlled Chiusi, appealed to the Pope Sixtus IV, but he arbitrated in favour of the Perugians, and the ring was duly secured in a trunk with seven keys inside a metal grating in Palazzo dei Priori.  Tortuous negotiations continued until 1486, when Pope Innocent VIII ruled in favour of Perugia.

Cult in Perugia

In 1487, the Observant Franciscan Bernardino da Feltre preached in Perugia on the importance of the cult of St Joseph (whose feast had been introduced into the calendar in 1479) and the Santo Anello.  He formed the Compagnia di San Giuseppe, which was mandated to support these cults, and was inscribed as its first member. Fra. Bernardino also obtained permission for what was the Cappella di San Bernardino da Siena to be re-dedicated to St Joseph.  His feast was celebrated in Perugia for the first time on July 31st, 1487.  Bishop Dionisio Vagnucci translated the Santo Anello from Palazzo dei Priori to the new chapel in the Duomo (commonly called the Cappella del Santo Anello) a year later.

The relic is housed in a reliquary (1498-1511) by Federico and Cesarino Roscetto, in which it hangs from a gilded silver crown (1716) that was donated by Ippolito della Corgna.  The reliquary is usually behind curtains above the present altarpiece in this chapel.  However, it is exhibited on the altar each July 31st, the anniversary of its translation to this location.  It is traditionally venerated by pilgrims en route for Santa Maria degli Angeli, Assisi to celebrate the Festa di Perdono there on August 2nd. 

 

♔ Jan 23: Feast of the Holy Espousals of Mary and Joseph ♔

Pope Leo XIII, Quamquam Pluries: There are special reasons why Blessed Joseph should be explicitly named Patron of the Church and why the Church should in turn expect much from his patronage and guardianship. For he, indeed, was the husband of Mary and the father, as was supposed, of Jesus Christ. From this arises all his dignity, grace, holiness, and glory. The dignity of the Mother of God is certainly so sublime that nothing can surpass it; but none the less, since the bond of marriage existed between Joseph and the Blessed Virgin, there can be no doubt that, more than any other person, he approached that supereminent dignity by which the Mother of God is raised far above all created natures. For marriage is the closest possible union and relationship whereby each spouse mutually participates in the goods of the other. Consequently, if God gave Joseph as a spouse to the Virgin he assuredly gave him not only as a companion in life, a witness of her virginity, and the guardian of her honor, but also as a sharer in her exalted dignity by reason of the conjugal tie itself.

For more on the Holy Espousals, please visit click HERE.

The Feast of the Holy Espousals was approved in 1546 by Pope Paul III.

 

 

 

 

♔ POPE FRANCIS SPEAKS OF THE SLEEPING ST. JOSEPH ♔ - MANILA, PHILIPPINES

16 January 2015 - The Scriptures seldom speak of Saint Joseph, but when they do, we often find him resting, as an angel reveals God’s will to him in his dreams. ...  Joseph’s rest revealed God’s will to him. In this moment of rest in the Lord, as we pause from our many daily obligations and activities, God is also speaking to us. He speaks to us in the Gospel, in our prayer and witness, and in the quiet of our hearts. Let us reflect on what the Lord is saying to us. ...

Resting in the Lord. Rest is so necessary for the health of our minds and bodies, and often so difficult to achieve due to the many demands placed on us. But rest is also essential for our spiritual health, so that we can hear God’s voice and understand what he asks of us. Joseph was chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus and the husband of Mary. As Christians, you too are called, like Joseph, to make a home for Jesus. You make a home for him in your hearts, your families, your parishes and your communities.

... I would like to tell you something very personal. I like St Joseph very much. He is a strong man of silence. On my desk I have a statue of St Joseph sleeping. While sleeping he looks after the Church. Yes, he can do it! We know that. When I have a problem or a difficulty, I write on a piece of paper and I put it under his statue so he can dream about it. This means please pray to St Joseph for this problem.
 

... Those precious moments of repose, of resting with the Lord in prayer, are moments we might wish to prolong. But like Saint Joseph, once we have heard God’s voice, we must rise from our slumber; we must get up and act (cf. Rom13:11). Faith does not remove us from the world, but draws us more deeply into it. Each of us, in fact, has a special role in preparing for the coming of God’s kingdom in our world. Just as the gift of the Holy Family was entrusted to Saint Joseph, so the gift of the family and its place in God’s plan is entrusted to us so we can carry it forward. 

... The angel of the Lord revealed to Joseph the dangers which threatened Jesus and Mary, forcing them to flee to Egypt and then to settle in Nazareth. So too, in our time, God calls upon us to recognize the dangers threatening our own families and to protect them from harm. We must be attentive to the new ideological colonization.
 

... Joseph listened to the angel of the Lord and responded to God’s call to care for Jesus and Mary. In this way he played his part in God’s plan, and became a blessing not only for the Holy Family, but a blessing for all of humanity. With Mary, Joseph served as a model for the boy Jesus as he grew in wisdom, age and grace (cf. Lk 2:52). When families bring children into the world, train them in faith and sound values, and teach them to contribute to society, they become a blessing in our world. God’s love becomes present and active by the way we love and by the good works that we do. We extend Christ’s kingdom in this world. And in doing this, we prove faithful to the prophetic mission which we have received in baptism.

To read a previous article on Pope Francis' devotion to the "Sleeping St. Joseph" click here.

♔ HOLY CLOAK OF ST. JOSEPH ♔

It is natural and worthy that as the Blessed Joseph ministered to all the needs of the family at Nazareth and girt it about with his protection, he should now cover with the cloak of his heavenly patronage, and defend, the Church of Jesus Christ.  -  Pope Leo XIII, Quamquam Pluries

In the name of the + Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

I give Thee my heart and my soul.

(Recite the “Glory Be” 3 times in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity For having exalted St. Joseph to a position of such exceptional dignity.)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning it is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

OFFERING

O Glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, I humbly prostrate myself before Thee. I beg the Lord Jesus, thine Immaculate Spouse, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the Angels and Saints in the Heavenly Court, to join me in this devotion. I offer thee this precious cloak, while pledging my sincerest faith and devotion. I promise to do all in my power to honor thee throughout my lifetime to prove my love for thee.

Help me, St. Joseph. Assist me now and throughout my lifetime, but especially at the moment of my death, as thou wert assisted by Jesus and Mary, that I may join thee one day in Heaven and there honor thee for all eternity. Amen.

 PRAYER I

 
Hail O Glorious St. Joseph, thou who art entrusted with the priceless treasures of Heaven and Earth and virgin-father of Him Who doth nourish all the creatures of the universe. Thou art, after Mary, the Saint most worthy of our love and devotion. Thou alone, above all the Saints, wert chosen for that supreme honor of rearing, guiding, nourishing and even embracing the Messiah, Whom so many kings and prophets would have so desired to behold.

St. Joseph, save my soul and obtain for me from the Divine Mercy of God that petition for which I humbly pray. And for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, grant a great comfort from their pain.

  (Recite the “Glory Be” 3 times in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity For having exalted St. Joseph to a position of such exceptional dignity.)

 PRAYER II

O powerful St. Joseph, thou wert proclaimed the Patron of the Universal Church, therefore, I invoke thee, above all the other Saints, as the greatest protector of the afflicted, and I offer countless blessings to thy most generous heart, always ready to help in any need.

To thee, O Glorious St. Joseph, come the widows, the orphans, the abandoned, the afflicted, and the oppressed. There is no sorrow, heartache or anguish which thou hast not consoled. Deign, I beseech thee, to use on my behalf those gifts which God hast given thee, until I too shall be granted the answer to my petition And thou, Holy Souls in Purgatory, pray to St. Joseph for me.

(Recite the “Glory Be” 3 times in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity For having exalted St. Joseph to a position of such exceptional dignity.)

PRAYER III

Countless are those who have prayed to thee before me and have received comfort and peace, graces and favors. My heart, so sad and sorrowful, cannot find rest in the midst of this trial which besets me. O Glorious St. Joseph, thou knowest all my needs even before I set them forth in prayer. Thou knowest how important this petition is for me. I prostrate myself before thee as I sigh under the heavy weight of the problem which confronts me.

There is no human heart in which I can confide my sorrow; and even if I should find a compassionate creature who would be willing to assist me, still he would be unable to help me. Only thou can help me in my sorrow, St. Joseph, and I beg thee to hear my plea. O St. Joseph, comforter of the afflicted, have pity on my sorrow and pity on those Poor Souls who place so much hope in their prayers to thee.

(Recite the “Glory Be” 3 times in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity For having exalted St. Joseph to a position of such exceptional dignity.)

PRAYER IV

O Sublime Patriarch St. Joseph, because of thy perfect obedience to God, thou mayest intercede for me. For thy holy life full of grace and merit, hear my prayer. For thy most sweet name, help me. For your most holy tears, comfort me. For thy seven sorrows, intercede for me. For your seven joys, console me. From all harm of body and soul, deliver me. From all danger and disaster, save me.

Assist me with thy powerful intercession and seek for me, through thy power and mercy, all that is necessary for my salvation and particularly the favor of which I now stand in

such great need.

 (Recite the “Glory Be” 3 times in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity For having exalted St. Joseph to a position of such exceptional dignity.)

 PRAYER V

O Glorious St. Joseph, countless are the graces and favors which thou hast obtained for afflicted souls. Illness of every nature, those who are oppressed, persecuted, betrayed, bereft of all human comfort, even those in need of their life bread - all who imploreth thy powerful intercession are comforted in their affliction.

Do not permit, O dearest St. Joseph, that I alone be the only one of all who hast appealed to thee, to be denied this petition which I so earnestly beg of thee. Show thy kindness and generosity even to me, that I may cry out in thanksgiving, "Eternal glory to our Holy Patriarch St. Joseph, my great protector on Earth and the defender of the Holy

Souls in Purgatory."

 

(Recite the “Glory Be” 3 times in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity For having exalted St. Joseph to a position of such exceptional dignity.)

 PRAYER VI

Eternal Father, Who art in Heaven, through the merits of Jesus and Mary, I beg Thee to grant my petition. In the name of Jesus and Mary I prostrate myself before Thy Divine presence and I beseech Thee to accept my hopeful plea to persevere in my prayers that I may be numbered among the throngs  of  those  who live under the patronage of St. Joseph. Extend Thy blessing on this precious treasury of prayers which I today offer to him as a pledge of my devotion.

 

(Recite the “Glory Be” 3 times in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity For having exalted St. Joseph to a position of such exceptional dignity.)

PRAYER VII

Glorious St Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and virginal father of Jesus, look upon me and watch over me; lead me on the path of sanctifying grace; take heed of the urgent needs which I now beg you to envelop within the folds of your fatherly cloak. Dismiss those obstacles and difficulties standing in the way of my prayer and grant that the happy answer to my petition may serve for the greater glory of God and my eternal salvation. As a pledge of my undying gratitude, I promise to spread the word of your glory while offering thanks to the Lord for having so blessed your power and might in Heaven and Earth.

(Recite the “Glory Be” 3 times in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity For having exalted St. Joseph to a position of such exceptional dignity.)

SUPPLICATIONS

In honor of St. Joseph's hidden life with Jesus and Mary

St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may come into

my soul and sanctify me.

St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may come into

my heart and inspire it with charity.

St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may come into

my mind and enlighten it.

St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may guide

my will and strengthen it.

St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may direct

my thoughts and purify them.

St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may guide

my desires and direct them.

St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may look upon

my deeds and extend His blessings.

St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may

inflame me with love for Him.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

the imitation of thy virtues.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

true humility of spirit.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

meekness of heart.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

peace of soul.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

a holy fear of the Lord.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

a desire for perfection.

 

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

a gentleness of heart.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

a pure and charitable heart.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

the wisdom of faith.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus His blessing of perseverance in my good deeds.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

the strength to carry my crosses.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus a disdain for the material goods of this world.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the grace to walk on the narrow path toward Heaven.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the grace to avoid all occasion of sin.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

a holy desire for eternal bliss.

St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus

the grace of final perseverance.

St. Joseph, do not abandon me.

St. Joseph, pray that my heart may

never cease to love thee.

St. Joseph, for the love thou didst bear for Jesus, grant that I may learn to love Him.

St. Joseph, graciously accept me

as thy devoted servant.

St. Joseph, I give myself to thee; accept my pleas and hear my prayers.

St. Joseph, do not abandon me

at the hour of my death.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

I give Thee my heart and my soul.

 MEMORARE

Remember O most chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, my good protector St Joseph, that never was it known that anyone who came to your protection, and sought your intercession was left unaided.  Confidently I prostrate myself before you and fervently beg for your powerful intervention.  O Virgin-Father of our dear Redeemer, despise not my petition, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

THE LITANY OF ST. JOSEPH

 Lord, have mercy on us

Christ, 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 Mary, pray for us

St. Joseph, pray for us

Blessed offspring of David, Pray for us

Light of Patriarchs, pray for us

Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us

Chaste custodian of the Virgin Mary, pray for us

Guardian of the Son of God, pray for us

Defender of the Son of God, pray for us

Defender of Christ, pray for us

Head of the Holy Family, pray for us

O Joseph, most just, pray for us

O Joseph, most chase, pray for us

O Joseph, most prudent, pray for us

O Joseph, most forceful, pray for us

O Joseph, most obedient, pray for us

O Joseph, most faithful, pray for us

Mirror of Patience, pray for us

Lover of poverty, pray for us

Model of Labourers, pray for us

Patriarch of the home, pray for us

Protector of virgins, pray for us

Strength of the family, pray for us

Comforter 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 the Church, pray for us,

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

forgive us O Lord

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

hear us O Lord

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, through the merits of the devoted spouse of Your most Holy Mother, help us, we beseech thee, that which we cannot obtain for ourselves, may be granted through the intercession of the Most Holy Patriarch, St Joseph.  You who reign with God, the Father, in unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

 CLOSING PRAYERS OF THE HOLY CLOAK

  (Recite the “Glory Be” 3 times in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity for having exalted St. Joseph to a position of such exceptional dignity.)

 

O Glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, thou who wert chosen by God above all men to be the earthly head of the most holy of families, I beseech thee to accept me within the folds of thy holy cloak, that thou mayest become the guardian and  custodian of my soul.

O Wondrous St. Joseph, from this moment on, I choose thee as my father, my protector, my counselor, my patron and I beseech thee to place in thy custody my body, my soul, all that I am,  all that I  possess, my life and my death.

O Loving St. Joseph, look upon me as one of thy children; defend me from the treachery of my enemies, invisible or otherwise, assist me at all times in all my necessities; console me in the bitterness of my life, and especially at the hour of my death. Say but one word for me to the Divine Redeemer Whom thou wert deemed worthy to hold in thine arms, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, thy most chaste spouse. Request for me those blessings which will lead me to salvation. Include me amongst those who art most dear to thee and I shall set forth to prove myself worthy of thy special patronage. + Amen.