His intercession is very powerful in Heaven for all our needs. May he, who refused nothing to Christ on earth, ask Jesus for our needs in Heaven, who will refuse his foster father nothing if it is in accordance with God’s Holy and Divine will.
Read the St Joseph staircase story here
Many years ago, two Franciscan friars found themselves shipwrecked. By clinging to a plank of wood they kept their heads just above water as the storm continued.Both monks had a devotion to St Joseph, the spouse of Mary, and they sought his help from Heaven in their desperate plight calling out and praying to him.
After a little while the storm died down and the men saw a radiant shining figure just ahead of them standing on the water.
The figure greeted them and guided them miraculously to the shore so that when they got to land the two monks threw themselves at the feet of the stranger to thank him for helping them.
The stranger said to them: ‘I am Joseph, if you wish to do something pleasing to me, never let a day pass without saying the Our Father and the Hail Mary seven times in honour of the seven joys that consoled me whilst I was on earth in the company of Jesus and Mary.’
He then vanished leaving the monks in awe and wonder.
Since St Joseph himself has declared how pleasing these prayers are too him it is an excellent way of honouring him and also of gaining his help and protection.
Jesus is our one true mediator but Jesus wills that we share in his Ministry and who better than his beloved foster father, St Joseph and his Holy Mother Mary to intercede for us.St Jose ph more than any other Saint in Heaven (apart from Mary) has a special bond with Jesus’ Heart and access to the Divine ear so to speak!
It really is very powerful when used to implore Joseph’s aid. Remember as on earth as Jesus’ foster father so too it is in Heaven. There is no limit to St Joseph’s generosity and intercession and he is a great Patron Saint to have!
You can use these prayers for: marriage difficulties, exams, illness, house sales etc.
The Devotion of the Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys of St. Joseph
1. O chaste Spouse of Mary most holy, glorious St. Joseph, great was the trouble and anguish of thy heart when thou wert minded to put away privately thine inviolate Spouse, yet thy joy was unspeakable when the surpassing mystery of the Incarnation was made known to thee by the Angel!
By this sorrow and this joy, we beseech thee to comfort our souls, both now and in the sorrows of our final hour, with the joy of a good life and a holy death after the pattern of thine own, in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Our Father, Hail Mary
2. O most blessed Patriarch, glorious St. Joseph, who was chosen to be the foster father of the Word made flesh, thy sorrow at seeing the Child Jesus born in such poverty was suddenly changed into heavenly exultation when thou didst hear the angelic hymn and beheld the glories of that resplendent night.
By this sorrow and this joy, we implore thee to obtain for us the grace to pass over from life’s pathway to hear the angelic songs of praise, and to rejoice in the shining splendor of celestial glory.
Our Father, Hail Mary
3. O glorious St. Joseph, thou faithfully obeyed the law of God, and thy heart was pierced at the sight of the Precious Blood that was shed by the Infant Savior during His Circumcision, but the Name of Jesus gave thee new life and filled thee with quiet joy.
By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us the grace to be freed from all sin during life, and to die rejoicing, with the Holy Name of Jesus in our hearts and on our lips.
Our Father, Hail Mary
4. O most faithful Saint who shared the mysteries of our Redemption, glorious St. Joseph, the prophecy of Simeon regarding the sufferings of Jesus and Mary caused thee to shudder with mortal dread, but at the same time filled thee with a blessed joy for the salvation and glorious which, he foretold, would be attained by countless souls.
By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us that we may be among the number of those, who through merits of Jesus and the intercession of Mary the Virgin Mother, are predestined to a glorious resurrection.
Our Father, Hail Mary
5. O most watchful Guardian of the Incarnate Son of God, glorious St. Joseph, what toil was thine in supporting and waiting upon the Son of the most high God, especially in the flight into Egypt! Yet at the same time, how thou didst rejoice to have always near you God Himself, and to see the idols of the Egyptians fall prostrate to the ground before Him.
By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us the grace of keeping ourselves in safety from the infernal tyrant, especially by flight from dangerous occasions; may every idol of earthly affection fall from our hearts; may we be wholly employed in serving Jesus and Mary, and for them alone may we live and happily die.
Our Father, Hail Mary
6. O glorious St. Joseph, an angel on earth, thou didst marvel to see the King of Heaven obedient to thy commands, but thy consolation in bringing Jesus out of the land of Egypt was troubled by the fear of Archelaus; nevertheless, being assured by the Angel, thou dwelt in gladness at Nazareth with Jesus and Mary.
By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us that our hearts may be delivered from harmful fears, so that we may rejoice in peace of conscience and may live in safety with Jesus and Mary and may, like thee, die in their company.
Our Father, Hail Mary
7. O glorious St. Joseph, pattern of all holiness, when thou didst lose, through no fault of thine own, the Child Jesus, thou sought Him sorrowing for the space of three days, until with great joy, thou didst find Him again in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors.
By this sorrow and this joy, we supplicate thee, with our hearts upon our lips, to keep us from ever having the misfortune to lose Jesus through mortal sin; but if this supreme misfortune should befall us, grant that we may seek Him with unceasing sorrow until we find Him again, ready to show us His great mercy, especially at the hour of death; so that we may pass over to enjoy His presence in Heaven; and there in company with thee, may we sing the praises of His Divine mercy forever.
Our Father, Hail Mary
By James J Donohue
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| Joseph and Mary we put our trust in thee |
St Joseph the Worker Feast Day is celebrated on 1st May each year. The title, St Joseph the Worker, was given to St Joseph, the patron of carpenters, builders and all workers by Pope Pius XII in 1955.
For a great novena prayer to St Joseph (asking for help with work) go to EWTN’s website now!
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| A carpenter’s lathe! |
As well as being a patron of fathers, St Joseph is patron of marriages and families too. This is very
useful in our day and age as many marriages need all the help they can get!
Marriage is attacked in many countries.
Adultery is becoming more and more justified in our Western cultures. Egotism is also contributing to
the selfishness which makes a spouse stray or ignore the spouses' needs.
Heavenly warriors are needed in the fight against this spiritual conflict of sin and selfishness.
A great warrior is the powerful St Joseph! A silent, humble yet courageous Saint who protected Mary and the Christ child from the rage, anger and jealousy of Herod and who never let them down!
O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interest and desires.
O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
O St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him close in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me. Amen.
St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of Jesus, worked as a humble carpenter by trade. He was a very devout and ‘righteous’ man. His primary feast day in the Church is celebrated on March 19th. On May 1st each year there is also the great Feast of St Joseph the worker as he was a highly skilled carpenter by trade teaching Jesus himself and is patron of workers everywhere.
St Teresa of Avila was a great advocate of praying to St Joseph and she said that he frequently obtained for her from His Divine Son, Jesus, far greater favours than she had originally asked for. She urged everyone to pray to St Joseph in their necessities saying that she could not remember asking St Joseph for anything that he refused to her.
Here is a short prayer composed by St Clement Hofbauer to ask for St. Joseph’s intercession;
“St Joseph, my loving father, I place myself and (…) under your protection. Look on me as your child and keep me from all sin. I take refuge in your arms, so that you may lead me in the path of virtue and assist me in the following (problem) and at the hour of my death. Amen”
Teacher and catechist