Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary

Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary

Feast day: March 19

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Work was the daily expression of love in the life of the Family of Nazareth.

Biography

According to the canonical Gospels, Joseph was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. Joseph is venerated as Saint Joseph in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglicanism and Lutheranism. In Catholic traditions, Joseph is regarded as the patron saint of workers and is associated with various feast days. The month of March is dedicated to Saint Joseph. Pope Pius IX declared him to be both the patron and the protector of the Catholic Church, in addition to his patronages of the sick and of a holy death, due to the belief that he died in the presence of Jesus and Mary. Joseph has become patron of various dioceses and places. Being a patron saint of virgins, he is venerated as "most chaste". The veneration of the pure and most Chaste Heart of Joseph has, in contrast to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, no liturgical cultus, but is a private devotion. Several venerated images of Saint Joseph have been granted a decree of canonical coronation by a pontiff. Religious iconography often depicts him with lilies or spikenard. With the present-day growth of Mariology, the theological field of Josephology has also grown and since the 1950s centers for studying it have been formed. The first appearance of Joseph is in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, often dated from around 80-90 AD. Each contains a genealogy of Jesus showing ancestry from King David, but through different sons; Matthew follows the major royal line from Solomon, while Luke traces another line back to Nathan, another son of David and Bathsheba. Consequently, all the names between David and Joseph are different. Like the two differing genealogies, the infancy narratives appear only in Matthew and Luke and take different approaches to reconciling the requirement that the Messiah be born in Bethlehem with the tradition that Jesus in fact came from Nazareth.

Prayers

  • Intercessory Prayer

    intercession

    Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary, patron of fathers, pray for those who seek your intercession. Lead us closer to Christ, our Lord. Amen.

    — Original composition (intercessory formula)

  • Prayer to Saint Joseph (Memorare)

    intercession

    Remember, most pure spouse of Mary ever-Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that never has it been heard that anyone ever invoked thy protection, or besought aid of thee, without being consoled. In this confidence I come before thee, I fervently recommend myself to thee. Despise not my prayer, foster-father of our Redeemer, but do thou in thy pity receive it. Amen.

    — The Raccolta, 1910 edition, p. 278 (no. 303)

  • Prayer to Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church

    intercession

    Most powerful Patriarch, Saint Joseph, Patron of that universal Church which has always invoked thee in anxieties and tribulations; from the lofty seat of thy glory lovingly regard the Catholic world. Let it move thy paternal heart to see the mystical Spouse of Christ and his Vicar weakened by sorrow and persecuted by powerful enemies. We beseech thee, by the most bitter suffering thou didst experience on earth, to wipe away in mercy the tears of the revered Pontiff, to defend and liberate him, and to intercede with the Giver of peace and charity, that every hostile power being overcome and every error being destroyed, the whole Church may serve the God of all blessings in perfect liberty. Amen.

    — The Raccolta, 1910 edition, p. 279 (no. 305)

  • Prayer of Consecration to Saint Joseph

    intercession

    Glorious Saint Joseph, chosen by God to be the reputed father of Jesus, the most pure spouse of Mary ever Virgin, and the head of the Holy Family, and then elected by the Vicar of Christ to be the heavenly Patron and Protector of the Church founded by Jesus Christ; with the greatest confidence I implore at this time thy powerful aid for the entire Church militant. Protect in a special manner with thy truly paternal love the Supreme Pontiff and all the bishops and priests united to the See of Saint Peter. Defend all those who labour for souls in the midst of the afflictions and tribulations of this life, and obtain the willing submission of every nation throughout the world to the Church, the necessary means of salvation for all. O dearest Saint Joseph, be pleased to accept the consecration which I make to thee of myself. I dedicate myself entirely to thee that thou mayest ever be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent love of the interior life. Grant that after thy example all my actions may be directed to the greater glory of God, in union with the divine Heart of Jesus and the immaculate heart of Mary, and with thee. Finally, pray for me that I may be able to share in the peace and joy of thy most holy death. Amen.

    — The Raccolta, 1910 edition, p. 280 (no. 306)

  • Novena to Saint Joseph

    novena

    Illustrious Saint! inheritor of the virtues of all the patriarchs! Good and faithful guardian of the Holy Family! Thou art my glorious protector, and shalt ever be, after Jesus and Mary, the object of my most profound veneration and tender confidence. Thou art the most hidden saint, and particularly the patron of those who serve God with the greatest purity of intention and fervor of devotion. O thou model and guardian of pure souls, who hast given us so illustrious an example of purity, unselfish devotedness to duty, fidelity, humility, patience, obedience, and trust in divine Providence, be moved with the confidence I place in thy intercession, and obtain for me the grace to practise every virtue which will make me pleasing to God. I thank God for the signal favors He has bestowed upon thee, and I beg through thy intercession grace to imitate thy virtues. In union with all those who have ever been most devoted to thee, I now dedicate myself to thy service, beseeching thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Who vouchsafed to love and obey thee as a son, to become a father to me, and to obtain for me the filial respect, confidence, and love of a child toward thee. O powerful advocate of all Christians! whose intercession, as Saint Teresa assures us, has never been found to fail, deign to intercede for me now, and to obtain for me the particular object of this novena. (Specify it.) Present me, O great saint, to the adorable Trinity, with Whom thou hadst so glorious and so intimate a correspondence. Obtain that I may never efface by sin the sacred image according to the likeness of which I was created. Beg for me that my divine Redeemer may enkindle in my heart, and in all hearts, the fire of His love, and infuse therein the virtues of His adorable infancy, His purity, simplicity, obedience, and humility. Obtain for me likewise a lively devotion to thy virgin spouse, and protect me so powerfully in life and death that I may have the happiness of dying as thou didst, in the friendship of my Creator, and under the immediate protection of the Mother of God. Amen.

    — My Prayer Book (F.X. Lasance), 1908 edition, p. 589 (Prayer for a Novena to St. Joseph)

  • Devout Exercise in Honor of the Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys of St. Joseph

    devotion

    1. Pure husband of most holy Mary, glorious St. Joseph, great was the travail and anguish of thy heart when, in sore perplexity, thou didst feel inclined to put away thy stainless spouse; but unspeakable was thy joy when the angel revealed to thee the high mystery of the Incarnation. By this thy sorrow and thy joy, we pray thee, comfort our souls now and in their dying agony with the sweet consolation of a well-spent life, and a death like unto thine own, in the embrace of Jesus and of Mary. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father. 2. Thrice happy patriarch, glorious St. Joseph, chosen to be the foster-father of the Word made man, keen was the pain thou didst feel when thou didst see the infant Jesus born in abject poverty; but thy pain was suddenly changed into heavenly joy when upon thee burst the harmony of the angel choirs, and thou didst behold the glory of that refulgent night. By this thy sorrow and thy joy, we pray thee, obtain for us that, when the journey of our life is over, we too may pass to that blessed land where we shall hear the angel-chants, and enjoy the brightness of celestial glory. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father. 3. O thou who wast ever most obedient in fulfilling the law of God, glorious St. Joseph! when, at His circumcision, the infant Saviour's precious blood was shed, thy heart was pierced through and through; but with the name of Jesus came again to thee new life and heavenly joy. By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain for us that, freed in life from the vile yoke of sin, we too may die with joy, with the sweet name of Jesus in our hearts and on our lips. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father. 4. Faithful saint, who wast admitted to take part in man's redemption, glorious St. Joseph, Simeon's prophecy of the coming woes of Jesus and of Mary filled thy soul with agony like death; but thy soul was filled with blessedness when he foretold salvation and glorious resurrection to innumerable souls. By this thy sorrow and thy joy, help us with thy prayers to be of those who, by the merits of Jesus and His virgin Mother, shall be partakers of the glorious resurrection. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father. 5. Watchful guardian, bosom friend of the incarnate Son of God, glorious St. Joseph, how didst thou toil to nurture and to serve the Son of the Most High, especially in the flight into Egypt; but far greater was thy joy in having with thee God Himself, and in seeing Egypt's idols fall to the earth! By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain for us to keep aloof from the infernal tyrant, quitting all dangerous occasions, that all earthly idols may be cast out from our hearts, and that, employed in the service of Jesus and Mary, we may ever live for them alone, and with them calmly die. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father. 6. Angel on earth, glorious St. Joseph, while thou didst marvel at seeing the King of heaven obedient to thy bidding, fear of the tyrant mingled with thy joy when thou didst bring him back from Egypt; but, reassured by the angel, thou didst dwell at Nazareth with glad heart, in the sweet company of Jesus and Mary. By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain for us that, with hearts set free from every hurtful fear, we too may taste the quiet of a tranquil conscience, safely dwelling with Jesus and with Mary, and one day die within their loving arms. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father. 7. Pattern of all holiness, glorious St. Joseph, without fault of thine, thou didst lose the holy child Jesus, and for three days, to thy great sorrow, didst seek for Him, until, with joy unspeakable, thou didst find thy Life amid the Doctors in the Temple. By this thy sorrow and thy joy, we pray thee with all our heart, stand between us and danger, that we may never lose Jesus by mortal sin; but if, to our shame and disgrace, we lose Him, may we seek Him with such ceaseless grief that we may find Him propitious to us, especially at the hour of our death, and thus go to enjoy Him in heaven, and there with thee sing His divine mercy forever! Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father. Ant. Jesus was about thirty years old, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph. V. Pray for us, blessed Joseph. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. O God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be made worthy to receive him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

    — My Prayer Book (F.X. Lasance), 1908 edition, p. 582 (Devout Exercise in Honor of the Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys of St. Joseph)

Patronages

Sources: Catholic Encyclopedia 1913 (2) · Catholic Encyclopedia 1913; Wikipedia (1) · Wikipedia; declared by Pius XII in 1955 (1) · Wikipedia (1). Wikipedia content used under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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