Welcome dear brothers and sisters in Christ, to the LENTEN REFLECTION SERIES. The Novena to our Beloved Saint Father Joseph, Good and Kind Spouse of the Virgin Mary. This Novena will be for the unemployed, for the reconciliation of separated families. For our own Spiritual Lenten Retreat. For the Blessed Souls of Purgatory. And for our own personal Intentions, Amen. -------- DAY FOUR. The Birth of our Lord in the Cave, or Stable where He was Born, Saddened Greatly Saint Joseph and His Bride Mary. But when His Eyes Saw for the First Time the Baby Jesus, His Sacred Heart was Filled with the Joy of Heaven Itself. Please Meditate and Contemplate on each Sorrow and Joy of our Beloved Father Saint Joseph. May He Bless us all and our families, Amen. ---------- Among the many exercises of piety practiced in honor of St. Joseph, there is one generally known, namely, that of meditating on his Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys. This devotion owes its origin to a celebrated event, never omitted by any historian of the Saint. It is as follows: Two Fathers of the Franciscan order were sailing along the coast of Flanders, when a terrible tempest arose, which sank the vessel, with its three hundred passengers. The two Fathers had sufficient presence of mind to seize hold of a plank, upon which they were tossed to and fro upon the waves, for three days and nights. In their danger and affliction, their whole recourse was to St. Joseph, begging his assistance in their sad condition. The Saint, thus invoked, appeared in the habit of a young man of beautiful features, encouraged them to confide in his assistance, and, as their pilot, conducted them into a safe harbor. They, desirous to know who their benefactor was asked his name, that they might gratefully acknowledge so great a blessing and favor. He told them he was St. Joseph, and advised them daily to recite the Our Father and Hail Mary seven times, in memory of his seven dolors or griefs, and of his seven joys, and then disappeared. 1. St. JOSEPH, Chaste Spouse of the Holy Mother of God, by the SORROW with which thy heart was pierced at the thought of a cruel separation from Mary, and by the deep JOY that thou didst feel when the angel revealed to thee the ineffable mystery of the Incarnation, obtain for us from Jesus and Mary, the grace of surmounting all anxiety. Win for us from the Adorable Heart of Jesus the unspeakable peace of which He is the Eternal Source. Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . . O my Jesus, Forgive us our sins, Save us from the fires of hell and Lead all Souls to Heaven, especially the ones in most of Your Mercy who are in Purgatory, Amen. 2. St. JOSEPH, Foster-Father of Jesus, by the bitter SORROW which thy heart experienced in seeing the Child Jesus lying in a manger, and by the JOY which thou didst feel in seeing the Wise men recognize and adore Him as their God, obtain by thy prayers that our heart, purified by thy protection, may become a living crib, where the Savior of the world may receive and bless our homage. Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . . O my Jesus, Forgive us our sins, Save us from the fires of hell and Lead all Souls to Heaven, especially the ones in most of Your Mercy who are in Purgatory, Amen. 3. St. JOSEPH, by the SORROW with which thy heart was pierced at the sight of the Blood which flowed from the Infant Jesus in the Circumcision, and by the JOY that inundated thy soul at thy privilege of imposing the sacred and mysterious Name of Jesus, obtain for us that the merits of this Precious Blood may be applied to our souls, and that the Divine Name of Jesus may be engraved forever in our hearts. Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . . O my Jesus, Forgive us our sins, Save us from the fires of hell and Lead all Souls to Heaven, especially the ones in most of Your Mercy who are in Purgatory, Amen. 4. St. JOSEPH, by the SORROW when the Lord declared that the soul of Mary would be pierced with a sword of sorrow, and by thy JOY when holy Simeon added that the Divine Infant was to be the resurrection of many, obtain for us the grace to have compassion on the sorrows of Mary, and share in the salvation which Jesus brought to the earth. Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . . O my Jesus, Forgive us our sins, Save us from the fires of hell and Lead all Souls to Heaven, especially the ones in most of Your Mercy who are in Purgatory, Amen. 5. St. JOSEPH, by thy SORROW when told to fly into Egypt, and by thy JOY in seeing the idols overthrown at the arrival of the living God, grant that no idol of earthly affection may any longer occupy our hearts, but being like thee entirely devoted to the service of Jesus and Mary, we may live and happily die for them alone. Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . . O my Jesus, Forgive us our sins, Save us from the fires of hell and Lead all Souls to Heaven, especially the ones in most of Your Mercy who are in Purgatory, Amen. 6. St. JOSEPH, by the SORROW of thy heart caused by the fear of the tyrant Archelaus and by the JOY in sharing the company of Jesus and Mary at Nazareth, obtain for us, that disengaged from all fear, we may enjoy the peace of a good conscience and may live in security, in union with Jesus and Mary, experiencing the effect of thy salutary assistance at the hour of our death. Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . . O my Jesus, Forgive us our sins, Save us from the fires of hell and Lead all Souls to Heaven, especially the ones in most of Your Mercy who are in Purgatory, Amen. 7. St. JOSEPH, by the bitter SORROW with which the loss of the Child Jesus crushed thy heart, and by the holy JOY which inundated thy soul in recovering thy Treasure on entering the Temple, we supplicate thee not to permit us to lose our Saviour Jesus by sin. Yet, should this misfortune befall us, grant that we may share thy eagerness in seeking Him, and obtain for us the grace to find Him again, ready to show us His great mercy, especially at the hour of death; so that we may pass from this life to enjoy His presence in heaven, there to sing with thee His divine mercies forever. Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . . O my Jesus, Forgive us our sins, Save us from the fires of hell and Lead all Souls to Heaven, especially the ones in most of Your Mercy who are in Purgatory, Amen. Let Us Pray O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence has vouchsafed to choose Blessed Joseph to be the Spouse of Thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector: Who lives and reigns forever and ever, Amen. THE DEVOTION OF THE SEVEN SUNDAYS. The Seven Sundays in honor of St. Joseph are observed in the following manner: Holy Communion is received in his honor on seven consecutive Sundays, and on each Sunday the prayers in honor of the Seven Sorrows and the Seven Joys of St. Joseph are recited. An excellent means of obtaining special favors through the intercession of St. Joseph is to honor his seven sorrows and seven joys by the devotion of the Seven Sundays. This devotion may be practiced at any time of the year. St. Joseph - Prayer Gracious St. Joseph, protect me and my family from all evil as you did the Holy Family. Kindly keep us ever united in the love of Christ, ever fervent in the imitation of the virtue of our Blessed Lady, your sinless spouse, and always faithful in devotion to you. amen “Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death. LITANY OF SAINT 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 Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us. Holy Mary, spouse of St. Joseph, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, confirmed in grace, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, guardian of the Word Incarnate, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, favorite of the King of Heaven, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, ruler of the family of Jesus, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, spouse of the ever-blessed Virgin, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, foster father to the Son of God, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, example of humility and obedience, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, mirror of silence and resignation, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, patron of innocence and youth, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, exited with Christ into Egypt, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, intercessor for the afflicted, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, advocate of the humble, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, model of every virtue, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, honored among men, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, in whom is the union of all Christian perfections, Pray for us. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. V. Pray for us, O holy Saint Joseph, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let Us Pray Assist us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, by the merits of the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, that what our unworthiness cannot obtain, may be given us by his intercession with Thee, Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. Prayer to Saint Joseph O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O thou Saint Joseph, do assist me by thy powerful intercession, and obtain for me from thy Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee, and Jesus asleep in thy arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near thy 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. Saint Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for me. Amen. Dearest Saint Joseph, Please Kiss Mary and Jesus for us and tell Them that we Love Them and we cannot wait to be with You and Them. God Loves those who Love and Venerate His Holy Ones, especially His Own Family, Amen.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 02:43:24 +0000