In the magazine, "Liguorian," (March ’97) author Richard Bauman wrote beautifully of this mystery. He asks : "Was it St. Joseph or simply a wood-working genius who gave his time, talents, and materials to the Sisters of Lorretto? Who can say. And does it really matter?… It is definitely amazing. There is no doubt that the prayers of those nuns were answered and in a most remarkable way."
And many of the Sisters of Loretto also believed that St. Joseph himself built these stairs. And why not? Does not the unknown carpenter fit the description of the St. Joseph we know from the Holy Scripture and tradition? He came to Sante Fe as he lived on earth two thousand years ago, a silent stranger known only as a carpenter. It was not until he was gone that he was recognized at St. Joseph, a "son of David" and therefore a king, the chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin and foster father of Our Lord.
Today, then, let us not fail to recognize him as our patron and intercessor in his unchanged position as "Head of the Holy Family." Have you a need? "Go to Joseph" as the Sisters of Loretto did, and see what happens!.
Devotions to St. Joseph
Some Teachings of Saints and Popes
St. Lawrence, Doctor of the Church has this to say about St. Joseph: "He who choose Joseph as his Patron and Protector is most fortunate, Joseph will protect him in this world and accompany him to the next." And again, he says : "To be spouse of the Blessed Virgin, the true mother of God the Saviour of the world … is a dignity too exalted for words."
Pope Pius XI tells us : "In the case of Jesus and Mary, the angles offer them respect and veneration and in their turn Jesus and Mary obey and offer their homage to Joseph, respecting his authority God has given, namely, the authority of Spouse and the authority of Father."
St. Bernard praises Joseph as a fortunate man, to whom it was given to see the God whom many kings yearned to see and did not see, to hear the God whom many yearned to hear but did not hear, whereas Blessed Joseph was not only able to hear and see but also to carry, to kiss, to clothe and protect Him."
Bernadine of Sienna asserts "because the Virgin knew how great was the unity of marriage in its spiritual love, she also knew was that Joseph had been given to her by the Holy Spirit as her Spouse and trustworthy guardian of her virginity, to share with her the love of the Divine Son and also to share the merits of her service to Him." And again Bernadine asserts, "Mary loved Joseph most sincerely with all her heart."
BI. Joseph’s Mission in the words of Pope Pius XI "was to fulfill the most exalted Mandate of God, the incomparable Mission of guarding the purity of Mary and to protect the Divinity of Jesus Christ. It was also his Mission to be co-operator in the work of Redemption a secret that was known only to the most Holy Trinity’.
According to the great Theologian Francis Suarez (1617) first Christ was in the Hypostatic order; Mary was second, and Joseph was third in descending order. Since Mary helped Jesus to assume human nature, she was second in rank and Joseph was third in that he gave his free consent to Mary his spouse to be the Mother of God for Incarnation and he himself consented to nourish and cherish the child as his own, with affection, care, and education and thereby contribution his share in his Mission to be co-operator in the work of Redemption, a secret that was known only to the most Holy Trinity".
According to the great Theologian Francis Suarez (1617) first Christ was in the Hypostatic order; Mary was second, and Joseph was third in descending order. Since Mary helped Jesus to assume human nature, she was second rank and Joseph was third in that he gave his free consent to Mary his spouse to be the Mother of God for Incarnation and he himself consented to nourish and cherish the child as his own, with affection, care, and education and thereby contribution his share in the work of Incarnation and Redemption, with Jesus and Mary.
St. Thomas asserts that there can be no doubt that God fitted "Joseph to carry out his responsibility to perfection." This is the opinion of Pope Pius IX who declared Joseph Patron of the Universal Church in 1870. The Pope spoke that "St. Joseph was enriched with holiness filling him to overflowing".
In his Encyclical Quamquam pluriis of August 15, 1889, regarding the dignity and excellence of Joseph and Mary, Pope Leo stated, "The dignity of the Mother of God is certainly so sublime that nothing can surpass it. Nonetheless since the bond of marriage existed between Joseph and Mary, there can be no doubt that more than any other person, he approached that supereminent dignity by which the Mother of God is raised far above all created natures".
And again Pope Leo XIII states that he could note "the Faith, the foundation of all virtues was perishing in the world, charity was fading, youth was growing corrupt in morals and doctrines, the church was attacked with violence and a vicious was waged against Papacy. These sort of evils have grown too great for human remedies and therefore, the only alternative was to seek a total cure through Divine power imploring the aid of Almighty God through the intercession of Virgin Mary the Mother of God and through St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse". Leo XIII exhorts us to resort to the intercession of St. Joseph when the Faith of our society or the morals of our individual members are in danger.
Pope Benedict XV exhorted the faithful on July 25, 1920, to assist in every possible manner the Pius association, instituted to obtain the intercession of St. Joseph for the dying, such as the "Association for a happy death established for the benefit of those in their last agony."
According to St. Lawrence, Christ as Man and Mary are the first and second of the Pre-destined for the supreme glory of God. The Lawrence speaks about the exalted position of Joseph after Jesus and Mary and his participation in the absolute primacy according to which Joseph was in the original plan of creation next to Jesus as Man, and Mary His Mother. According to this plan, Joseph was predestined like Jesus and Mary before the Angels. By pre-destination of Joseph, Lawrence means that God prepared him with grace and glory, holiness and happiness before his birth. Lawrence held that Joseph was pre-destined to a greater glory in heaven like Mary, above the Angels and Saints and therefore, his holiness in this world surpassed even of the angels in heaven.
This opinion of Lawrence is accepted by the Church as we find the Encyclicals is issued at a later date by Pope Pius IX in 1870, where he asserts "Blessed Joseph now crowned with Glory and honour in Heaven whom Almighty God in preference to all his Saints willed on earth to be the chaste and true Spouse of the Immaculate Virgin Mary."
Ven. Mary of Agreda (1602 - 1666) writes in the Mystical City of God Vol. III page 161 "St. Joseph was sanctified in his mother’s womb."
St. Teresa of Avila tells us "it seems that to other saints Our Lord has given power to help us only in one kind of necessity. But glorious St. Joseph, I know by my experience, assists us in all kinds of our need."
The outstanding contribution concerning the devotion to St. Joseph during the Medieval period are the writing of the Father of the Franciscan order basing the thoughts of St. Bonaventure (1274). Bonaventure based his writings on the Gospel of St. Luke. According to him the union of Mary and Joseph was the purest form of Marriage guided by the Holy Spirit. Bonaventure speaks very highly in praise of St. Joseph, particularly about the interior life of the Saint.
Bernadine of Siena tells us that if the Church is indebted to Mary for receiving Christ worthily, it is also indebted to Joseph for possessing Christ bodily, a grace which was his exclusive privilege. His book, "Sermon on St. Joseph", requires our attention. His writings vie with those of St. Augustine and St. Bernard in praising St. Joseph. His Book on the sermons was a major influence to stimulate the Devotion to the Saint in different parts of Italy where Bernadine was working as a missionary.
Pope Benedict XV issued an encyclical condemning evils of naturalism which were creeping into the society, extinguishing the flame of divine love in man without any of the healing and elevating grace of Christ, throwing man as a slave of the unbridled human passion, so the Pope exhorted the faithful to follow the example of St. Joseph as their special guide and to honor him as their heavenly patron because the Heavenly Father had adorned Joseph with numerous virtues and among them none was wanting to ennoble him to be the husband of Mary and to be though as the Father of our Lord Jesus. "With increase of devotion to St. Joseph among the faithful, there will necessarily result an increase in their devotion towards the Holy Family of Nazareth, of which he was the August head, for these devotions spring spontaneously one from the other. By St. Joseph, we are led directly to Mary and both of them to the fountain of all Holiness, Jesus Christ, who sanctified the domestic virtues by His obedience towards St. Joseph and Mary. We desire then that these marvellous exemplars of virtue should serve as inspiration and models for all Christian families. Even as the family constitutes the foundation of the human race, so by strengthening the domestic society with bonds of purity, fidelity and concord, a new vigor and a new life blood will be diffused through all the members of human society under the vivifying influence of the virtues of Christ. Therefore, full of confidence in the patronage of St. Joseph to whose providence and vigilence, if pleased God to entrust His only begotten Son as well as the Virgin most holy, we exhort all the Bishops of the Catholic world that in the present need of the Church, they should induce the faithful to implore more earnestly the powerful intercession of St. Joseph."
The same Pope honoured St. Joseph in the year 1921 permitting his name to be included in the Divine Praises as "Blessed be St. Joseph her most chaste spouse". In 1922, Pius XI approved the name of the Saint to be included in the official prayers of the Church for the dying. Pope John XXII exalted the Saint by declaring him to be the Heavenly protector of the Second Vatican Council in 1961. The pope announced in the month of November 1962, the name of the Saint to be included in the Cannon of the Mass after the name of Our Lady.
Devotion of the Seven Sundays
(Taken from Devotion to St. Joseph Book brought out by the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration, Clyde, Missouri with Nihil Obstat : Gulielmus J. Blacet J.C.L. and Imprimatur : + Joannes P. Cody, S.T.D. Administrator Apostolicus et Ordinarius Sancti Joseph).
An excellent means to obtain special favours 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, but fervent clients of St. Joseph delight to venerate him especially on the seven Sundays preceding his feast. Then they more confidently hope to obtain some particular favour; often the favours they receive are greater than they had expected. St. Teresa of Avila tells us that St. Joseph frequently obtained for her much greater favours than those for which she had petitioned.
The seven Sundays in honour of St. Joseph are observed in the following manner : Holy Communion is received in his honour 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.
It is related that two Fransciscan friais once suffered shipwreck during a voyage across the ocean. By clinging to a plank, they kept themselves above water for three days, but were so violently tossed and buffeted by the waves that they were in grave danger of being drowned. Having always faithfully venerated St. Joseph, they now fervently invoked his aid in their extreme peril. Their confidence was soon rewarded. The fury of the storm abated, the sky became clear and the sea calm, and their joy was unspeakable when they suddenly beheld a man of celestial beauty, who greeted them kindly and guided them safely to the shore. When they reached land, the two religious cast themselves at the feet of their rescuer to thank him, for they supposed him to be an angel. But the celestial visitor replied : "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 honor of the seven sorrows I endured and the seven joys that consoled me during the days I spent on earth in the company of Jesus and Mary." After these words he vanished.
Dear clients of St. Joseph, if you desire to serve him according to his wishes, prefer this devotion to every other in his honor, since he himself designated it and declared how pleasing it is to him. Comply with his wishes in this regard and rest assured that this devotion will be an excellent means to obtain precious graces and favours through his intercession. We can best recognize our friends by their sympathy for us in our joys and sorrows, for it is here true charity manifests itself. And for this reason Holy church so frequently reminds us of the joyful and sorrowful mysteries in the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Clients of St. Joseph have joyfully received and practiced the devotion of the seven Sundays.
Those who are desirous of obtaining a special request may also have seven Masses said in honour of St. Joseph, or assist at seven Masses, give alms or fast seven times, make seven visits to a chapel or to an image of the saint. A novena may be made by daily saying the prayers of the seven sorrows and seven joys of St. Joseph; or this devotion may be performed for thirty days, and ended with the reception of the sacraments. It is very pleasing to St. Joseph and a great act of charity in his honor, to aid those souls in purgatory who during life practiced special devotion to him. In our various necessities, we might promise St. Joseph that if he comes to our aid we will have one or more Masses said for the poor souls or offer Holy Communion for them.
St. Teresa who experienced the power and aid of St. Joseph in an astonishing manner, exhorts everyone, for love of God, to make a trial of practicing devotion to this glorious saint. She tells us that she cannot remember ever having asked St. Joseph for anything at any time without receiving it.
THIRTY DAYS’ PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH IN HONOUR OF THE YEARS HE SPENT WITH JESUS AND MARY
For Any special Intention
Ever blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and loving father, and helped 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 request. My sins have drawn down on me the just displeasure of my God, and so I am surround with unhappiness. To you, loving guardian of the Family of Nazareth, do I go for help and protection.
Listen, then, I beg you, with fatherly concern, to my earnest prayers, and obtain for me the favor I ask.
I ask it by the infinite mercy of the eternal Son of God, which moved Him to take our nature and to 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 which 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 hapiness you have 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 what I ask. (Here name your petitions or think of them).
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
"A blameless life, St. Josph, may we lead, by your kind patronage from danger freed."
This prayer may be said during any 30 days of the year.
PRAYERS IN HONOR OF THE SEVEN SORROWS AND 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 wast 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 thy sorrow and this thy 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, Glory be to the Father …
2. O most blessed Patriarch, glorious St. Joseph, who wast 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 didst behold the glories of that respledent night. By this thy
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father …
3. O glorious St. Joseph, thou who didst faithfully obey the law of God, thy heart was pierced at the sight of the precious Blood that was shed by the Infant Saviour during His Circumcision, but the Name of Jesus gave thee new life and filled thee with quite joy. By this thy sorrow and this thy joy, obtain for us the grace to be freed from all sin during life, and to die rejoicing with the holy Name of Jesus on our hearts and on our lips.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father …
4. O most faithful and glorious St. Joseph, who didst share the mysteries of our redemption, the prophecy of Simeon touching 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 resurrection which, he foretold, would be attained by countless souls.
By this thy sorrow and this thy joy, obtain for us that we may be of the number of those who, through the merits of Jesus and the intercession of Mary, the Virgin Mother, are predestined to a glorious resurrection.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father …
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 near thee always the very God Himself, and to see the idols of the Egyptians fall prostrate to the ground before Him.
By this thy sorrow and this thy joy, obtain for us the grace of keeping ourselves in safety from the infernal tyrant, especially by flight from dangerous occasions; may we be wholly employed in serving Jesus and Mary, and for them alone may we live and happily die.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father …
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 didst dwell in gladness at Nazareth with Jesus and Mary. By this thy sorrow and this thy 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 like thee, may die in their company.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father …
O glorious St. Joseph, pattern of all holiness, when thou didst lose, through no fault of thine, the Child Jesus, thou didst seek 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 thy sorrow and this thy 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, Glory be to the Father …
Antiphon :- And Jesus Himself was beginning His thirtieth year, being (as it was supposed) the Son of Joseph.
Pray for us, O holy Joseph That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray
O God, who in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of thy most holy Mother : grant, we beseech thee, that we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in heaven, whom we venerate on earth as our protector. Who lives and reignest world without end. Amen.
(The prayers of this devotion were composed by the Ven. Januarius Sarnelli, one of the first members of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, founded by St. Alphonsus Liquori in 1732. This devoted client of St. Joseph was penetrated by the spirit of God and an indefatigable zeal for souls. He died in the reputation of eminent sanctity in the year 1744. Holy church has approved the devotion in honor of the seven Sorrows and seven Joys of St. Joseph and has enriched it with indulgences which are enumerated in the "Raccolta,’’ the official collection Or indulgenced prayers, under their respective numbers.)
HYMN – HAIL ST. JOSEPH
Dear St. Joseph pure and gentle Guardian of the saviour child Treading with the virgin Mary Egypt’s desert rough and wild
Chorus :
Hail St. Joseph spouse of Mary
Blest above all saints on high
When the death shades round us gather
Teach O teach us how to die.
HYMN – DEAR HUSBAND OF MARY
Dear husband of Mary, dear nurse of her child Life’s ways are full weary, the desert is wild Bleak sands are all round us, no home can we see Sweet Spouse of Our Lady, we lean upon thee We lean upon, we lean upon thee Sweet Spouse of Our Lady, we lean upon thee
For thou to the pilgrim art father and guide And Jesus and Mary felt safe by the side Ah! Blessed St. Joseph, how safe should I be Sweet Spouse of Our Lady, if thou wert with me If thou wert with me, if thou wert with me Sweet Spouse of Our Lady, if thou wert with me
O blessed St. Joseph, how great was thy worth The one chosen shadow of God upon earth The father of Jesus, ah! Then wilt thou be Sweet Spouse of Our Lady, a father to me A father to me, a father to me Sweet Spouse of Our Lady, a father to me.