Prayers and Litany of Saint Joseph
1. Litany of Saint Joseph
2. Prayer ‘Ad te, beatae Ioseph’ after the rosary or litany
3. For Employment
4. For Purity
5. For a Happy Death
6. For a Respect for Life
7. For the Family and the Home
8. Thanksgiving for a Newborn Child
9. Angelus of Saint Joseph
10. Chaplet of Saint Joseph
11. Devotion of 7 Joys and 7 Sorrows of Saint Joseph
12. Chaplet of the Holy Spouses, Mary and 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, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us
Illustrious Scion of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster-father of the Son of God,
Watchful defender of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most valiant,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of workmen,
Example to parents,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the afflicted,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of the Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
℣. He made him lord over his house,
℟. And the ruler of all his possessions.
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ,
by your ineffable providence
you chose saint Joseph
to be the spouse of your most holy Mother:
grant, we beseech you,
that we may have him for an intercessor in heaven,
as we venerate him as our protector on earth.
You who live and and reign forever and ever. R. Amen.
PRAYERS
PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH AFTER THE ROSARY/LITANY
To you, O Blessed Joseph, we come in our trials, and having asked the help of your most holy spouse, we confidently ask your patronage also. Through that sacred bond of charity which united you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the fatherly love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you to look graciously upon the beloved inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by his blood, and to aid us in our necessities with your power and strength.
O most provident guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ. Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin. Our most mighty protector, graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness. And just as you once saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your help, we may be able to live a virtuous life, to die a holy death, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.
FOR EMPLOYMENT
Saint Joseph, you were yourself once faced with the responsibility of providing the necessities of life for Jesus and Mary. Look down with fatherly compassion upon me in my anxiety over my present inability to support my family. Please help me to find gainful employment very soon, so that this heavy burden of concern will be lifted from my heart and that I am soon able to provide for those whom God has entrusted to my care. Help us to guard against bitterness and discouragement, so that we may emerge from this trial spiritually enriched and with even greater blessings from God. Amen.
FOR THE GRACE OF PURITY
Saint Joseph, father and guardian of virgins, to whose faithful keeping Christ Jesus, innocence itself, and Mary, the virgin of virgins was entrusted, I pray and beseech you by that twofold and most precious charge, to save me from all uncleanness, to keep my mind untainted, my heart and body pure in my vocation; and to help me always to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect purity. Amen.
FOR A HAPPY DEATH
O Glorious Saint Joseph, I choose you today for my special patron in life and at the hour of my death. Preserve and increase in me the spirit of prayer and fervor in the service of God. Remove far from me every kind of sin; obtain for me that my death may not come upon me unawares, but that I may have time to confess my sins sacramentally and to bewail them with a most perfect understanding and a most sincere and perfect contrition, in order that I may breathe forth my soul into the hands of Jesus and Mary. Amen.
FOR RESPECT FOR LIFE
Saint Joseph, you are the chaste and loving spouse of the Virgin Mary, the foster father of Jesus, the protector and provider of the Holy Family and of all families. We have complete confidence in your loving care for new life and in your fidelity to the family. We commend our efforts to your prayers and protection. Help us always to defend the gift of human life that it may grow to the abundance of eternal life promised and bestowed on us by your son, our brother, Jesus Christ. Amen.
FOR THE FAMILY AND THE HOME
Saint Joseph, protect our home. Pour forth from heaven blessings on our family. Remain in our midst. Help us to live in love and harmony, in peace and joy. May the wholesome fear of God strengthen us that virtue may adorn what we do and our way may lead to heaven.
To you this day I give the key to our dwelling place. Lock out all things that could do us harm. Lock my home and my loved ones with me in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. This I beg of you, that our days may be like your days in the holy home at Nazareth. Amen.
THANKSGIVING PRAYER FOR A NEWBORN CHILD
O Saint Joseph, you witnessed the miracle of birth, seeing the infant Jesus born of your most holy spouse, the Virgin Mary. With wonder and awe, you took into your arms the Savior. With gratitude that only a parent can know, you glorified God for the birth of his Son, entrusted to your fatherly care.
Like you, Saint Joseph, I too give praise and glory to God for the birth of my child. This child’s life is such a miraculous testimony of God's loving presence. My heart is filled with grateful joy. Join me dear Saint Joseph, in offering thanks to God for the gift of my child.
What great trust and confidence God placed in you, Saint Joseph, by entrusting his only Son into your fatherly care. This inspires me to entrust the spiritual care and protection of my newborn child into your competent and loving hands. Teach, guide, and support me to fulfill well my awesome vocation to be a worthy parent to this child. Amen.
PRAYER OF SAINT JOSEPH MARELLO
O Glorious Saint Joseph, after the Blessed Virgin, you were the first to hold in your arms the Redeemer. Be our exemplar in our ministry, which like your own, is a ministry of intimate relationship with the Divine Word. May you teach us; may you assist us; may you make us worthy members of the Holy Family. Amen.
℣. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
℟. “Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, into your home.”
℣. “For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
℟. “And she shall bring forth a son.”
℣. “And you shall call his name Jesus.”
℟. “Because He is the one who is to save his people from their sins.”
℣. Pray for us, O virgin father of Jesus.
℟. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Pour forth we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts;
that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son
was made known by the message of an angel,
may by his passion and cross
be brought to the glory of his resurrection.
Through the same Christ our Lord
℟. Amen.
This chaplet may be prayed using a Marian rosary. On each large bead, the Lord’s Prayer is said. On each small bead the following prayer is said:
Joseph, son of David, and husband of Mary;
we honor you, guardian of the Redeemer,
and we adore the child you named Jesus.
Saint Joseph, patron of the universal church,
pray for us, that like you
we may live totally dedicated to the interests of the Savior. Amen.
This chaplet may be concluded with any suitable prayer to St. Joseph, such as the following:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that by Saint Joseph’s intercession
your Church may constantly watch over
the unfolding of the mysteries of human salvation,
whose beginnings you entrusted to his faithful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. R. Amen.
MYSTERIES FOR EACH DECADE
Betrothal of Saint Joseph to the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Mt 1:18) Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit.
Annunciation to Saint Joseph
(Mt 1:19-21) Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
Birth and Naming of the Lord Jesus
(Mt 1:22-25) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.
Flight into Egypt of the Holy Family
(Mt 2:13-15) When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son."
Hidden Life at Nazareth
(Mt 2:19-23) When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazorean."
(Lk 2:51-52)He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
DEVOTION OF THE 7 JOYS AND 7 SORROWS OF SAINT JOSEPH
Mediation: Chaste Lover of Mary, how overwhelmed you were when you thought that you would have to end your betrothal to her. But when the angel of God came to you in a dream, you were filled with awe to realize that Mary would be your wife, and you would be the guardian of the Messiah.
Prayer:
Help us Saint Joseph,
help our families and all our loved ones
to overcome all sadness of heart
and develop an absolute trust in God’s goodness.
[optional: Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other suitable prayer]
Mediation: Faithful guardian of Jesus, what a failure you thought you were when you could only provide a stable for the birth of the Holy Child. And then what a wonder it was when shepherds came to tell of angel choirs, and wise men came to adore the King of Kings.
Prayer:
Through your example and prayers,
help us Saint Joseph and all we love
to become like sinless mangers
where the Savior of the world may be received
with absolute love and respect.
[optional: Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other suitable prayer]
Mediation: Tender-hearted Joseph, you too felt pain when the blood of Jesus was first shed at His circumcision. Yet how proud you were to be the one privileged to give the name Jesus, Savior, to the very Son of God.
Prayer:
Pray for us Saint Joseph,
that the sacred blood of Christ,
poured out for our salvation,
may guard our families,
so the Divine Name of Jesus
may be written in our hearts forever.
[optional: Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other suitable prayer]
Mediation: Joseph, loving husband, how bewildered you were when Simeon spoke the words of warning that the hearts of Jesus and Mary would be pierced with sorrows. Yet his prediction that this would lead to the salvation of innumerable souls filled you with consolation.
Prayer:
Help us, Saint Joseph,
to see with eyes of faith
that even the sorrows and pains of those we deeply love
can become the pathway to salvation and eternal life.
[optional: Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other suitable prayer]
Mediation: Courageous protector of the Holy Family, how terrified you were when you had to make the sudden flight with Jesus and Mary to escape the treachery of King Herod and the cruelty of his soldiers. But when you reached Egypt, what satisfaction you had to know that the Savior of the world had come to replace the pagan idols.
Prayer:
Teach us by your example, Saint Joseph,
to keep far from the false idols of earthly attractions,
so that like you,
we may be entirely devoted to the service of Jesus and Mary.
[optional: Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other suitable prayer]
Mediation: Ever-obedient Joseph, you trustingly returned to Nazareth at God’s command, in spite of your fear that King Herod’s son might still be a threat to Jesus’ life. Then what fatherly pride you had in seeing Jesus grow in wisdom and grace before God and men under your care.
Prayer:
Show us St. Joseph,
how to be free from all useless fear and worry,
so we may enjoy the peace of a tranquil conscience,
living safely with Jesus in our hearts.
[optional: Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other suitable prayer]
Mediation: Dependable father and husband, how frantic you and Mary were when, through no fault of yours, you searched for three days to find Jesus. What incredible relief was yours when you found Him safe in the Temple of God.
Prayer:
Help us Saint Joseph,
never to lose Jesus through the fault of our own sins.
But if we should lose him,
lead us back with unwearied sorrow,
until we find Him again;
so that we, like you, may finally pass from this life,
dying safely in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Final Prayer
O blessed Saint Joseph, tender-hearted father,
faithful guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God,
I pray and beseech you to offer to God the Father
my praise to him through his divine Son,
who died on the cross and rose again
to give us sinners new life.
Through the holy name of Jesus, pray with us
that we may obtain from the eternal Father,
the favor we ask . . . (Pause) . . .
We have been unfaithful to the unfailing love of God the Father;
beg of Jesus mercy for us.
Amid the splendors of God’s loving presence,
do not forget the sorrows of those who suffer,
those who pray, those who weep.
By your prayers and those of your most holy spouse, our Blessed Lady,
may the love of Jesus answer our call of confident hope. Amen.
Ant. And Jesus himself, when he began his work, was about thirty years old being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph.
℣. Pray for us, holy Joseph.
℟. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Father,
you entrusted our Savior to the care of Saint Joseph.
By the help of his prayers
may your Church continue to serve its Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. R. Amen.
This chaplet may be prayed using a Marian rosary. On each large bead, the Lord’s Prayer is said. On each small bead the following prayer is said:
Mary, full of grace, and Joseph, son of David;
honor to you, Mother of God,
and to you, guardian of the Redeemer.
Eternal praise to the Child
with whom you formed a family, Jesus.
Holy spouses, pray for us sinners,
our families and communities,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
This chaplet may be concluded with any suitable prayer to Holy Spouses, such as the following:
Holy Father,
you joined together by a virginal bond
the glorious Mother of your Son and the just man, Saint Joseph,
that they might be faithful cooperators
in the mystery of the Word Incarnate.
Grant that we who are united with you by the bond of baptism
may live more intimately our union with Christ
and may walk more joyfully in the way of love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ , your Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. R. Amen.
MYSTERIES
Betrothal of Mary and Joseph
(Mt 1:18) Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit.
Annunciation to Mary
(Lk 1:28-35, 38) In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Annunciation to Joseph
(Mt 1:19-21) Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
Joseph takes Mary as his wife
(Mt 1:22-25) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.
Birth of Jesus
(Lk 2:3-7,15-16) Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
Circumcision and Naming of Jesus
(Lk 2:21) When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Presentation of Jesus
(Lk 2:22-40) When the days were completed for purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; He said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Escape into Egypt
(Mt 2:13-15) When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son."
Finding of Jesus in the Temple
(Lk 2:41-50) Each year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them.
Hidden Life at Nazareth
(Lk 2:51-52) Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.