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novena To ST JoSeph

Nine nights of Prayer,Spiritual Oration,

and Devotion to our Patron

March 11-19, 2012

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Cathedral of St. JoSeph 521 N. duluth ave. Sioux fallS, Sd 57104 www.StJoSephCathedral.Net

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Novena to St. Joseph

Sunday, March 11 Solemn vespers

Monday, March 12 page 6 tuesday, March 13 page 10

wednesday, March 14 page 14

thursday, March 15 page 21

friday, March 16 Stations of the Cross

Saturday, March 17 page 25

Sunday, March 18 Pontifical Solemn Vespers

Monday, March 19 holy Mass

Please leave this program in the Cathedral to be used on consecutive evenings.


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Vespers

Celebrant: o God, † come to my assistance.

r: o lord, make haste to help me. Glory to the father, and to the Son, and to the holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. amen.

A brief pause is made for an examination of conscience.

hymn

holy Joseph, intercessor, unto thee God’s children sing; Be our patron and protector, to God’s throne our praises bring.

faithful Spouse of faithful virgin, lover of God’s purity; from thy worthy place in heaven, pray that we may faithful be.

Guardian of the word incarnate, Silent guide of God’s own Son; Guard our hearts and lead us onward to the life that Christ has won.

humble man in lofty station, God has shed his grace on thee; pray such grace to us be given, that we live eternally.

text: fr. Christopher G. phillips, 1991Music: "Stuttgart" adapted by C. f. witt, 1715

Please be seated and turn to the Daily Psalmody


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Sunday

Solemn vespers - follow separate booklets

Conclude with Novena prayer on page 31.

Monday

antiphon 1

Our eyes are fixed intently on the Lord, waiting for his merciful help.

Psalm 123 to you i have lifted up my eyes, you who dwell in the heavens: my eyes, like the eyes of slaves on the hand of their lords.

like the eyes of a servant on the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the lord our God till he shows us his mercy.

have mercy on us, lord, have mercy. we are filled with contempt. indeed all too full is our soul with the scorn of the rich, with the proud man’s disdain.

Our eyes are fixed intently on the Lord, waiting for his merciful help.

antiphon 2

our help is in the name of the lord who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124 “if the lord had not been on our side,” this is israel’s song.

Daily Psalmody


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“if the lord had not been on our side when men rose against us, then would they have swallowed us alive when their anger was kindled. then would the waters have engulfed us, the torrent gone over us; over our head would have swept the raging waters.” Blessed be the lord who did not give us a prey to their teeth! our life, like a bird, has escaped from the snare of the fowler. indeed the snare has been broken and we have escaped. our help is in the name of the lord, who made heaven and earth.

our help is in the name of the lord who made heaven and earth.

antiphon 3

God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children.

Canticle Ephesians 1:3-10

praised be the God and father of our lord Jesus Christ, who has bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens. God chose us in him before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight. he predestined us to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ, such was his will and pleasure, that all might praise the glorious favor he has bestowed on us in his beloved.


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in him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, and our sins forgiven, so immeasurably generous is God’s favor to us.

God has given us the wisdom to understand fully the mystery, the plan he was pleased to decree in Christ.

a plan to be carried out in Christ, in the fullness of time, to bring all things into one in him, in the heavens and on earth. God chose us in his Son to be his adopted children.

reading Romans 12: 1-2

Brothers, I beg you through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, your spiritual worship. do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.

Novena homily

responsory

to you, o lord, i make my prayer for mercy.- to you, o lord, i make my prayer for mercy.

heal my soul, for i have sinned against you.- i make my prayer for mercy.

Glory to the father, and to the Son, and to the holy Spirit.- to you, o lord, i make my prayer for mercy.

StandCanticle of Mary

antiphonJesus walked through the crowd and went away.


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My soul proclaims the greatness of the lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. from this day all generations will call me blessed: the almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. he has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. he has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. he has come to the help of his servant israel or he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to abraham and his children for ever.

Jesus walked through the crowd and went away.

intercessions

Celebrant: our lord Jesus Christ has saved us from our sins. as his people, let us call out to him:

r. Jesus, Son of david, have mercy on us.

v. lord Christ, we pray for your holy Church: you gave yourself up to make it holy, washing it clean by water and the life-giving word,

r. renew it constantly, and purify it by penance.

v. Good Master, show young people the way you have chosen for each of them,

R. may they walk in it, and find fulfillment.

v. in your compassion you healed all forms of sickness, bring hope to the sick and raise them up.

r. teach us to love and care for them.


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v. Make us mindful of the dignity you gave us in baptism,

r. may we live for you at every moment.

v. May the dead rise to glory in your peace,

r. grant us with them a share in your kingdom.

our father . . . prayer

Celebrant: May your unfailing compassion, o lord, cleanse and protect your Church, and, since without you she cannot stand secure, may she be always governed by your grace. 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.


Tuesday

antiphon 1

the lord surrounds his people with his strength. Psalm 125 those who put their trust in the lord are like Mount Zion, that cannot be shaken, that stands for ever.

Jerusalem! the mountains surround her, so the lord surrounds his people both now and for ever.


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for the scepter of the wicked shall not rest over the land of the just for fear that the hands of the just should turn to evil.

do good, lord, to those who are good, to the upright of heart; but the crooked and those who do evil, drive them away!

on israel, peace!

the lord surrounds his people with his strength.

antiphon 2

unless you acquire the heart of a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Psalm 131

o lord, my heart is not proud nor haughty my eyes. i have not gone after things too great nor marvels beyond me.

truly i have set my soul in silence and peace. as a child has rest in its mother’s arms, even so my soul.

o israel, hope in the lord both now and for ever.

unless you acquire the heart of a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.

antiphon 3

lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our father. Canticle Revelation 4: 11; 5:9, 10, 12

o lord our God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power.


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for you have created all things; by your will they came to be and were made.

worthy are you, o lord. to receive the scroll and break open its seals.

for you were slain; with your blood you purchased for God men of every race and tongue, of every people and nation.

You made of them a kingdom, and priests to serve our God, and they shall reign on the earth.

worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise.

lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our father.

reading James 2: 14, 17, 18b

My brothers, what good is it to profess faith without practicing it? Such faith has no power to save one, has it? So it is with the faith that does nothing in practice. it is thoroughly lifeless. Show me your faith without works, and i will show you the faith that underlies my works!

Novena homily

responsory




Stand


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Canticle of Mary

antiphon

this is how my heavenly father will treat each one of you, unless you forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. from this day all generations will call me blessed: the almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. he has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. he has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. he has come to the help of his servant israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to abraham and his children for ever.

this is how my heavenly father will treat each one of you, unless you forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.

intercessions

Celebrant: Christ our lord has warned us to watch and pray to avoid temptation. with our whole heart let us pray to him:

r. turn to us, lord, and have mercy.

v. Jesus, our Christ, you promised to be with those who pray in your name,

r. help us always to pray with you to the father in the holy Spirit.

v. Bridegroom of the Church, cleanse her from every stain,

r. teach her to walk in hope and in the power of the holy Spirit.


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v. friend of the human race, teach us concern for our neighbor as you have commanded,

r. that all may see you more clearly as the light of the world.

v. King of peace, give your peace in the world,

r. that your presence may reveal your saving power in every place.

v. open the door of eternal happiness to all the dead,

r. welcome them into the glory of unending life.


Celebrant: May your grace not forsake us, o lord, we pray, but make us dedicated to your holy service and at all times obtain for us your help. 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.


Wednesday

antiphon 1

those who sow in tears will reap in joy.

Psalm 126

when the lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs.

the heathens themselves said: “what marvels the lord worked for them!” what marvels the lord worked for us! indeed we were glad.


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deliver us, o lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land. those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

they go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing; they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves.

those who sow in tears will reap in joy.

antiphon 2

May the lord build our house and guard our city.

Psalm 127

if the lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor; if the lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.

in vain is your earlier rising, your going later to rest, you who toil for the bread you eat; when he pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber.

truly sons are a gift from the lord, a blessing, the fruit of the womb. indeed the sons of youth are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.

o the happiness of the man who has filled his quiver with these arrows! he will have no cause for shame when he disputes with his foes in the gateways.

May the lord build our house and guard our city.

antiphon 3

He is the first-born of all creation; in every way the primacy is his.


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Canticle Colossians 1: 12-20 let us give thanks to the father for having made you worthy to share the lot of the saints in light.

he rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son. through him we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.

he is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creatures. in him everything in heaven and on earth was created, things visible and invisible.

all were created through him; all were created for him. he is before all else that is. in him everything continues in being.

it is he who is head of the body, the church! he who is the beginning, the first-born of the dead, so that the primacy may be his in everything.

it pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person, both on earth and in the heavens, making peace through the blood of his cross.

He is the first-born of all creation; in every way the primacy is his.

reading Philippians 2: 12b-15a

work with anxious concern to achieve your salvation. it is God who, in his good will toward you, begets in you any measure of desire or achievement. in everything you do, act without grumbling or arguing; prove yourselves innocent and straightforward, children of God without reproach.

Novena homily


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responsory




Stand

Canticle of Mary

antiphon

the one who obeys God’s law and teaches others to do so will be great in the kingdom of heaven.


the one who obeys God’s law and teaches others to do so will be great in the kingdom of heaven.

intercessions


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Sunday, March 11Solemn vespers and introduction to Novenavery reverend thomas M. fitzpatrick, rector

Monday, March 12St. Joseph and the three theological virtues, part ireverend Monsignor richard J. Mahowald

tuesday, March 13St. Joseph and the three theological virtues, part iireverend Monsignor richard J. Mahowald

wednesday, March 14St. Joseph, Most prudentvery reverend thomas M. fitzpatrick, rector

thursday, March 15St. Joseph, Most Chastereverend russell homic

Novena to Saint JosephCathedral of St. Joseph March 11 – 19, 2012

6 pM

Explore nine nights of prayer to Saint Joseph, who promises abundant graces to those who call on his intercession with this Novena.


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Novena to Saint JosephCathedral of St. Joseph March 11 – 19, 2012

6 pM

Explore nine nights of prayer to Saint Joseph, who promises abundant graces to those who call on his intercession with this Novena.

friday, March 16Stations of the Cross

Saturday, March 17St. Joseph, Most obedientreverend Jeff Norfolk

Sunday, March 18Pontifical Solemn VespersSt. Joseph, patron and protector of holy ChurchMost reverend paul J. Swain, Bishop of Sioux falls

Monday, March 19feast of St. Joseph6 pM holy Mass with Bishop Swain7 pM Soup and Bread


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Celebrant: Blessed be almighty God, who watches over us as a father; he knows all our needs but wants us to seek first his kingdom. Let us cry out to him as his people:

r. May your kingdom come, that justice may reign.

v. father of all holiness, you gave us Christ as the shepherd of our souls; stay with your shepherds and the flock entrusted to them, do not leave the flock without the loving care of its shepherd,

R. do not leave your shepherds without an obedient flock to follow them.

v. teach Christians to help the weak with loving care, r. and in serving them to serve your Son. v. Gather into your Church those who do not yet believe r. and help them to build it up by good deeds done for love of you v. help us to turn to you for forgiveness, r. and, as you forgive us, reconcile us also with your Church. v. May the dead pass from this world to eternal life, r. to be with you for ever.


Celebrant: Grant, we pray, o lord, that, schooled through lenten observance and nourished by your word, through holy restraint we may be devoted to you with all our heart and be ever united in prayer. 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.



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Thursday

antiphon 1

let your holy people rejoice, o lord, as they enter your dwelling place.

Psalm 132

o lord, remember david and all the hardships he endured, the oath he swore to the lord, his vow to the Strong one of Jacob.

“i will not enter my house, nor go to the bed where i rest; i will give no sleep to my eyes, to my eyelids i will give no slumber, till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Strong one of Jacob.”

at ephrata we heard of it; we found it in the plains of Yearim. “let us go to the place of his dwelling; let us bow down at his footstool.”

Go up, lord, to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your strength. Your priests shall be clothed with justice; your faithful shall ring out their joy. for the sake of david your servant, do not reject your anointed.

let your holy people rejoice, o lord, as they enter your dwelling place.

antiphon 2

the lord has chosen Zion as his sanctuary.

the lord swore an oath to david; he will not go back on his word: “a son, the fruit of your body, will i set upon your throne.


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if your sons hold fast to my covenant, and my laws that i have taught them, their sons, in turn, shall sit on your throne from age to age.”

for the lord has chosen Sion; he has desired it for his dwelling: “this is my resting place from age to age; here have i chosen to dwell.

i will greatly bless her produce; I will fill her poor with bread. i will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful shall ring out their joy.

i will make a stock sprout up for david; i will prepare a lamp for my anointed. i will cover his enemies with shame, but on him my crown shall shine.”

the lord has chosen Zion as his sanctuary.

antiphon 3

the father has given Christ all power, honor and kingship; all people will obey him.

Canticle Revelation 11: 17-18; 12: 10b-12a

we praise you, the lord God almighty, who is and who was. You have assumed your great power, you have begun your reign.

the nations have raged in anger, but then came your day of wrath and the moment to judge the dead:

the time to reward your servants the prophets and the holy ones who revere you, the great and the small alike.

Now have salvation and power come, the reign of our God and the authority of his anointed one.


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for the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who night and day accused them before God.

they defeated him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. So rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell therein!

the father has given Christ all power, honor and kingship; all people will obey him.

reading James 4: 7-8, 10

Submit to God; resist the devil and he will take flight. Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you backsliders. Be humbled in the sight of the lord and he will raise you on high.

Novena homily

responsory




Stand

Canticle of Mary

antiphon

a woman in the crowd called out: how happy your mother must be, she bore you and fed you at her breast. But Jesus answered: happier still those who hear the word of God and live by it.


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a woman in the crowd called out: how happy your mother must be, she bore you and fed you at her breast. But Jesus answered: happier still those who hear the word of God and live by it.

intercessions

Celebrant: Christ the lord gave us a new commandment, of love for each other. let us pray to him:

r. lord, build up your people in love.

v. Good Master, teach us to love you in our neighbor,

r. and in serving them to serve you.

v. on the cross you asked pardon for your executioners,

r. give us strength to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

v. through the mystery of your body and blood, deepen our love, our perseverance and our trust,


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r. strengthen the weak, console the sorrowful, and give hope to the dying.

v. light of the world, you gave sight to the man born blind when he had washed in the pool of Siloam,

r. enlighten catechumens through the water of baptism and the word of life.

v. Give to the dead the perfect joy of your eternal love,

r. and number us also among your chosen ones.


Celebrant: we implore your majesty most humbly, o lord, that, as the feast of our salvation draws ever closer, so we may press forward all the more eagerly towards the worthy celebration of the paschal Mystery. 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.


Friday

Stations of the Cross – follow separate booklets


Saturday antiphon 1

let us go to God’s house with rejoicing.

Psalm 122

i rejoiced when they said to me, “let us go to the house of the lord.”


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and now our feet are standing within your gates, o Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built as a city bonded as one together. it is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the lord. for israel’s witness it is to praise the name of the lord. there were set the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of david.

for the peace of Jerusalem pray, “May they prosper, those who love you.” May peace abide in your walls, and security be in your towers.

for the sake of my family and friends, let me say, “peace upon you.” for the sake of the house of the lord, our God, i will seek good things for you.

let us go to God’s house with rejoicing.

antiphon 2

awake from your sleep, rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.

Psalm 130

out of the depths i cry to you, o lord; lord, hear my voice! o let your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.

if you, o lord, should mark iniquities, lord, who could stand? But with you is found forgiveness, that you may be revered.

i long for you, o lord, my soul longs for his word.


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My soul hopes in the lord more than watchmen for daybreak. More than watchmen for daybreak, let israel hope for the lord.

for with the lord there is mercy, in him is plentiful redemption. it is he who will redeem israel from all its iniquities.

awake from your sleep, rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.

antiphon 3

So great was God’s love for us that when we were dead because of our sins, he brought us to life in Christ Jesus.

Canticle Philippians 2: 6-11

though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at.

rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men.

he was known to be of human estate, and it was thus that he humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!

Because of this, God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name above every other name,

So that at Jesus’ name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the father: Jesus Christ is lord!


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So great was God’s love for us that when we were dead because of our sins, he brought us to life in Christ Jesus.

reading 2 Corinthians 6: 1-4a

we beg you not to receive the grace of God in vain. for he says, “in an acceptable time i have heard you; on a day of salvation i have helped you.” Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation! we avoid giving anyone offense, so that our ministry may not be blamed. on the contrary, in all that we do we strive to present ourselves as minis-ters of God.

Novena homily

responsory

listen to us, o lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.- listen to us, o lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against you.

Christ Jesus, hear our humble petitions, - for we have sinned against you.


Stand

Canticle of Mary

antiphon

God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son to save all who have faith in him and to give them eternal life.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. from this day all generations will call me blessed: the almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. he has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. he has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.


29

he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. he has come to the help of his servant israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to abraham and his children for ever.

God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son to save all who have faith in him and to give them eternal life.

intercessions

Celebrant: let us give glory to God, who has concern for us all. let us call upon him and say:

r. lord, save the people you have redeemed.

v. Giver of all gifts and source of all truth, give the fullness of your blessing to the college of bishops,

r. and keep all those entrusted to their care faithful to the teaching of the apostles.

v. pour your love into the hearts of all who share the one bread of life,

r. that they may grow in unity in the body of your Son.

v. help us to strip off our sinful selves,

r. and to be clothed with Christ, your Son, the new adam.

V. Grant that all may do penance and find forgiveness,

r. and so share in the fruits of Christ’s redeeming death.

v. May those who have died in your peace give you everlasting glory in heaven,

r. where we, too, hope to praise you for ever.

our father . . .


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prayer

Celebrant: rejoicing in this annual celebration of our lenten observance, we pray, o lord, that, with our hearts set on the paschal Mysteries, we may be gladdened by their full effects. 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.


Sunday

Pontifical Solemn Vespers - follow separate booklets


Monday

holy Mass



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NOVENA PRAYER(prayer to be said at the end of each day's devotion)

Saint Joseph, i, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that i have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. therefore i humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. i beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the immaculate virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that i may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, i raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the divine heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace i now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. amen.


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LITANY OF ST. JOSEPH lord, have mercy. lord, have mercy.Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.lord, have mercy. lord, have mercy.

Jesus, hear us. Jesus, 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.St. Joseph, pray for us.renowned offspring of david, pray for us.light of patriarchs, pray for us.Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.Chaste guardian of the virgin, pray for us.foster father of the Son of God, pray for us.diligent protector of Christ, pray for us.head of the holy family, pray for us.Joseph most just, pray for us.Joseph most chaste, pray for us.Joseph most prudent, pray for us.Joseph most strong, pray for us.Joseph most obedient, pray for us.Joseph most faithful, pray for us.Mirror of patience, pray for us.lover of poverty, pray for us.Model of artisans, pray for us.Glory of home life, pray for us.Guardian of virgins, pray for us.pillar of families, pray for us.Solace of the wretched, pray for us.hope of the sick, pray for us.patron of the dying, pray for us.terror of demons, pray for us.protector of holy 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.


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v. he made him the lord of his household.

r. and prince over all his possessions.

v. let us pray. . . o God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beseech you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector: You who live and reign forever and ever.

r. amen.

V. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, ┼ and the Holy Spirit.

r. amen.

v. Go in peace.

r. thanks be to God.


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On the Feast of St. Joseph, a patronal feast for our beloved Pope who, before taking the name Benedict, was Joseph Ratzinger. The following address was given by the Pope on December 18, 2005: in an Angelus Address:

Pope Benedict XVI on St. Joseph, The Just Man

“I would like today to turn my attention to the figure of St. Joseph. In today’s Gospel pages, St. Luke presents the Virgin Mary as “engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David” (Lk 1:27). However it is the evangelist Matthew who gives the greatest prominence to the putative father of Jesus,

pointing out that, through him, the Child was legally inserted in David’s line and thus he realized the Scriptures, in which the Messiah was prophesied as the “son of David”.

“But Joseph’s role certainly cannot be reduced to this aspect. He is the model of the “just” man (Mt 1:19), who in perfect sympathy with his spouse, welcomes the Son of God made man and guards over his human growth. For this reason, the days leading up to Christmas are as good a time as ever to establish a sort of spiritual conversation with St. Joseph, because he helps us to live to the full this great mystery of faith.

“The beloved Pope John Paul II, who was very devoted to St. Joseph, left us an awesome meditation dedicated to him in the Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos, “Guardian of the Redeemer”. Among the many aspects it highlights, particular emphasis is placed on the silence of St. Joseph. His is a silence permeated by contemplation of the mystery of God, in an attitude of total availability to his divine wishes. In other words, the silence of St. Joseph was not the sign of an inner void, but on the contrary, of the fullness of faith he carried in his heart, and which guided each and every one of his thoughts and actions.

A silence thanks to which Joseph, in unison with Mary, could be the guardian of the Word of God, known through the Sacred Scriptures, coming face to face with it continuously in the events of the life of Jesus; a silence interwoven with constant prayer, prayer of the blessing of the Lord, of adoration of his holy will and of unreserved trust in his providence. It is no exaggeration to say that it was from his ‘father’ Joseph that Jesus acquired – on the human level – that robust interiority which presupposes authentic justice, the “superior justice” which He would one day teach to his disciples (cfr Mt 5:20).

Let us allow ourselves to be “infected” by the silence of St. Joseph! We have much need of it in a world which is often too noisy, which does not encourage reflection and listening to the voice of God.”


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acknowledgmentsvespers prayers © 1970, 1973, 1975 iCel, inc. all rights reserved. the texts of all Biblical readings and Canticles are reproduced with permission from the New american Bible, © 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian doctrine, washington, d.C. all rights reserved. psalm texts © the Grail (england) 1963 and the revised Grail © 2010 Conception abbey, administered by Gia publications, inc. all rights reserved.

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