Prayers to St. Joseph

St. Joseph Church
New Kensington, Pennsylvania

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust
A Parish of the Diocese of Greensburg

The Reverend Richard P. Karenbauer The Reverend Alan W. Grote
Pastor Parochial Vicar

Prayers to St. Joseph

In addition to the many prayers to St. Joseph listed below, St. Joseph Church also has devotional pamphlets available in the Parish Office. Two of free devotional pamphlets available are the Thirty Days' Prayer to St. Joseph in honor of the 30 years he spend with Jesus and Mary as well as a Novena in honor of St. Joseph and other prayers.

Prayer to St. Joseph by Pope Pius IX

"Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously by placing love of duty above my inclinations; to gratefully and joyously deem it an honor to employ and to develop by labor the gifts I have received from God, to work methodically, peacefully, and in moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from it through weariness or difficulty to work; above all, with purity of intention and unselfishness, having unceasingly before my eyes death and the account I have to render of time lost, talents unused, good not done, and vain complacency in success, so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, O patriarch St. Joseph! This shall be my motto for life and eternity."

Litany of St. Joseph by Pope St. Pius X

Lord have mercy.
        Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
        Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
        Lord have mercy.
God our Father in heaven,
        have mercy on us. (after each invocation)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world
God the Holy Spirit
Holy Trinity, one God
Holy Mary
        pray for us (after each invocation)
St. Joseph
Noble son of the House of David
Light of Patriarchs
Husband of the Mother of God
Guardian of the Virgin
Foster father of the Son of God
Faithful guardian of Christ
Head of the holy family
Joseph, chaste and just
Joseph, prudent and brave
Joseph, obedient and loyal|
Pattern of patience
Lover of poverty
Model of workers
Example of parents
Guardians of virgins
Pillar of family life
Comfort of the troubled
Hope of the sick
Patron of the dying
Terror of evil spirits
Protector of the Church

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us. (after each invocation)
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
V. God made him master of his household.
R. And put him in charge of all that he owned.

Let us pray.
Almighty God, in your infinite wisdom and love you chose Joseph to be the husband of Mary, the mother of your Son. As we enjoy his protection on earth may we have the help of his prayers in heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Private Prayer to St. Joseph

Remember, O most gentle Joseph, your work is never done. You always help those who seek your guidance. Be my guardian and protector. Hear my prayer, and grant me the graces I now as of you (mention your intentions here). Saint Joseph, protect me. Amen.

The Memorare of Saint Joseph

Remember, most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, my protector, Saint Joseph, that no one has ever had recourse to your protection or implored your assistance without obtaining relief.

Confiding in your goodness, I come to you and humbly ask you to hear my petitions, gentle foster father of the Redeemer. In your love, hear and answer me.

Amen.

Novena for a Special Need

Glorious Saint Joseph, tenderhearted father, faithful guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God, I ask you to join with me in praising God the Father 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 me that we may obtain from the eternal Father the favor we ask. (Here state your intention.)

Prayer of a Husband

Saint Joseph, I ask you to help me to be a good husband to my wife. Many are the difficulties that daily surround me as I work to provide for my family. Through your intercession, help me to listen to my wife's concerns. Because you experienced all the joys and challenges of family life, I know you can help me and teach me how to act toward those I love and cherish. In my times of discouragement, direct me to turn to you for help and protection. Join the power of your prayers to mine in asking God for assistance in my desire to be a good husband. Saint Joseph, pray for me. Amen.

A Father's Prayer for His Children

Saint Joseph, I come to you with my concerns for the welfare of my children. I recall your anxiety when, to your surprise and Mary's, Jesus was not among your relatives and friends on your return from Jerusalem. I too worry about my children. Many dangers surround the youth of today. Sometimes, in my loving concern for them, I may seem to them to be difficult or even harsh. Help me to remove the barriers that may come between my children and myself. I love my children and desire good and wholesome things for them. Good Saint Joseph, watch over my children and inspire me to know how to speak and act in love. Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for me. Amen.

Novena to St. Joseph

Nine-Day Novena to St. Joseph

Prayer to St. Joseph

Blessed Joseph, husband of Mary, be with us this day.
You protected and cherished the Virgin;
loving the Child Jesus as your Son,
you rescued Him from the danger of death.
Defend the Church, the household of God,
purchased by the blood of Christ.

Guardian of the Holy Family,
be with us in our trials.
May your prayers obtain for us
the strength to flee from error
and wrestle with the powers of corruption
so that in life we may grow in holiness
and in death rejoice in the crown of victory.
Amen.

Prayer to Saint Joseph Before Mass

O Blessed Joseph, happy man, to whom it was given not only to see and to hear that God Whom many kings longed to see, and saw not, to hear, and heard not; but also to carry Him in your arms, to embrace Him, to clothe Him, and guard and defend Him.

V Pray for us, O Blessed Joseph.
R That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O God, Who has given us a royal priesthood, we beseech Thee, that as Blessed Joseph was found worthy to touch with his hands, and to bear in his arms, Thy only-begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary, so may we be made fit, by cleanness of heart and blamelessness of life, to minister at Thy holy altar; may we, this day, with reverent devotion partake of the Sacred Body and Blood of Your Only-begotten Son, and may we in the world to come be accounted worthy of receiving an everlasting reward. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Roman Missal

Prayer to Saint Joseph for the Whole 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 you example, let all my actions be directed to the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and your own paternal heart. Finally, pray for me that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death.

Amen.

Prayer to Saint Joseph for the Spirit of Work

Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all who pass their life in labor, obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance to atone for my many sins; to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my own inclinations; to work with gratitude and joy, considering it an honor to use and develop by my labor the gifts I have received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever recoiling before weariness or difficulties.

Help me to work, above all, with purity of intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must render of time lost, talents wasted, good omitted, and vain complacency in success, which is so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all after your example, O Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my watchword in life and in death. Amen

Prayer to Saint Joseph to Know One's Vocation

O Great Saint Joseph, you were completely obedient to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Obtain for me the grace to know the state of life that God in his providence has chosen for me. S ince my happiness on earth, and perhaps even my final happiness in heaven, depends on this choice, let me not be deceived in making it.

Obtain for me the light to know God's Will, to carry it out faithfully, and to choose the vocation which will lead me to a happy eternity.

Prayer to Saint Joseph for a Happy Death

O Blessed Joseph, you gave your last breath in the loving embrace of Jesus and Mary. When the seal of death shall close my life, come with Jesus and Mary to aid me. Obtain for me this solace for that hour - to die with their holy arms around me. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I commend my soul, living and dying, into your sacred arms. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Joseph by the Josephites

            Ever blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and loving father, and helpful friend of all in sorrow. You are the good father and protector of orphans, the defender of the defenseless, the patron of those in need and sorrow. Look kindly on my and my need. My sins have drawn down on me the just displeasure of our God, and so I am surrounded by unhappiness. To you, loving guardian of the Family of Nazareth, do I go for help and protection. Listen, I beg you, with fatherly concern of my earnest prayers, and obtain for me the help I ask, if it is the will of our God.

            I ask it by the infinite mercy of the eternal Son of God, which moved Him to take our nature and be born into this world of sorrow.

            I ask it by the weariness and suffering you endured when you found no shelter at the inn of Bethlehem for the holy Virgin, nor a place where the Son of God could be born. Then, being everywhere refused, you had to allow the Queen of Heaven to give birth to the world's Redeemer in a cave.

            I ask it by the loveliness and power of that sacred Name, Jesus, which you conferred on the adorable Infant.

            I ask it by that painful torture you felt at the prophecy of holy Simeon, which declared the Child Jesus and His holy Mother future victims of our sins and of their great love for us.

            I ask it through your sorrow and pain of soul when the angel declared to you that the life of the Child Jesus was sought by His enemies. From their evil plan you had to flee with Him and His Blessed Mother into Egypt. I ask it by all the suffering, weariness, and labors of that long and dangerous journey.

            I ask it by all your care to protect the sacred Child and His Immaculate Mother during your second journey, when you were ordered to return to your own country. I ask it by your peaceful life in Nazareth where you met with so many joys and sorrows.

            I ask it by your great distress when the adorable Child was lost to you and His Mother for three days. I ask it by your joy at finding Him in the Temple, and by the comfort you found at Nazareth, while living in the company of the Child Jesus. I ask it by the wonderful submission He showed in His obedience to you.

            I ask it by the perfect love and conformity you showed in accepting the Divine order to depart from this life, and from the company of Jesus and Mary. I ask it by the joy while filled your soul, when the Redeemer of the world, triumphant over death and hell, entered into the possession of His kingdom, and led you into it with special honors.

            I ask it through Mary's glorious Assumption, and through that endless happiness you share with her in the presence of God.

            O good father, I beg you, by all your sufferings, sorrows and joys, to hear me and obtain for me the help I need. Obtain for all those who have asked my prayers everything that is useful to them in the plan of God. Finally, my dear patron and father, be with me and all who are dear to me in our last moments, that we may eternally sing the praises of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

The Josephites

Prayer of a Wife

Saint Joseph, I honor you as a faithful spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and loving guardian and foster father of Jesus Christ, our Savior. I ask your intercession in my daily life as a wife. You were devoted to your wife, Mary of Nazareth, with whom you faced many difficulties and mysteries. In your loving kindness, hear my request for your assistance in my vocation. Help me to model my life on your spouse, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Give me your spirit of love and devotion toward the members of my family. I ask you, good Saint Joseph, to surround those I love with your powerful protection. Amen.

A Mother's Prayer for Her Children

Saint Joseph, you understand the worries and concerns that come with parenting children. Come to my aid and help me to care for my children's needs with love and reverence. As I grow through the years with my children, help me to listen to their concerns, and obtain for me the gifts of wisdom and good counsel. Gentle guardian of Mary and foster father of the Son of God, assist me in my vocation as a mother. I ask you to protect my children and to surround them in your fatherly care. Saint Joseph, pray for me! Amen.

Prayer of a Single Parent

Saint Joseph, I come to your asking your help. I know that you understand the fears that arise in my heart as I strive to provide for the needs of my children, because you experienced many problems as you tried to provide for Jesus and Mary. As I face the responsibilities and challenges of living as a single parent, surround me in your fatherly concern. Draw into my life those people who will help and support me. Show me how to encourage my children, and give me patience and understanding in forming them into responsible adults. Saint Joseph, pray for me, and surround my children with your loving protection. Saint Joseph, pray for us! Amen.