Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker

St. Teresa of Avila: Prayers to Saint Joseph

“Would that I could persuade all men to be devoted to this glorious Saint [St. Joseph], for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain for us from God. I have never known anyone who was truly devoted to him and honored him by particular services who did not advance greatly in virtue: for he helps in a special way those souls who commend themselves to him. It is now very many years since I began asking him for something on his feast, and I have always received it. If the petition was in any way amiss, he rectified it for my greater good . . .

" I ask for the love of God that he who does not believe me will make the trial for himself—then he will find out by experience the great good that results from commending oneself to this glorious Patriarch and in being devoted to him.”

~ St. Teresa of Avila ~

A Prayer to St. Joseph for the Church Militant

O glorious Saint Joseph, chosen by God to be the foster-father of Jesus, the chaste spouse of Mary ever Virgin, the head of the Holy Family and then appointed by the Vicar of Christ to be the heavenly patron and defender of the Church founded by Jesus, most confidently do I implore at this moment thy powerful aid for all the Church militant on earth. Do shield with thy truly paternal love especially the Supreme Pontiff and all the Bishops and priests who are in union with the Holy See of Peter. Be the defender of all who labor for souls amidst the trials and tribulations of this life, and cause all the peoples of the earth to submit themselves in a docile spirit to that Church which is the ark of salvation for all men.

Be pleased also, dear Saint Joseph, to accept this dedication of myself which I now make unto you. I dedicate myself wholly to you, that you may ever be my father, my patron and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent devotion to the interior life. Grant that, following your example, I may direct all my actions to the greater glory of God, in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate heart of Mary and in union with you. Finally pray for me that I maybe a partaker in the peace and joy which were yours at the hour of your holy death. Amen.

Fr. Lallemant's Powerful Novena to St. Joseph

This powerful novena has proven especially effective in obtaining favors through the intercession of St. Joseph. The novena was devised by the celebrated Fr. Louis Lallemant, S.J. (1588-1635) of France, a saintly priest and master of spiritual life, to whom St. Joseph never denied any request. Urging two young priests to make this novena, he promised their every request would be fulfilled through St. Joseph s intercession in return for their display of special honor and devotion.

 One priest, who requested grace to speak and write worthily of the Lord, returned after reflection saying he wished to request a different grace. Fr. Lallemant replied: It is too late now to ask for another grace. The first has already been granted. In deed, the priest became one of the most noted preachers and writers of his day, through this novena to St. Joseph.

(Video added and text edited 3-18-11)

 No specific prayers are necessary. Each day for 9 days, turn to St. Joseph in spirit honoring him 4 times throughout the day. During each visit, consider one of the following aspects of St. Joseph, remembering to thank God for honoring St. Joseph and, through his intercession, request a similar grace:

- 1st Visit: St. Joseph's Fidelity to Grace; the Holy Ghost's action in his soul.

- 2nd Visit: St. Joseph's Fidelity to the Interior Life; his Spirit of Recollection.

- 3rd Visit: St. Joseph's Love for Our Lady.

- 4th Visit: St. Joseph's Love for the Divine Child.
 

How to Make this Novena

 (These “visits” may be made anywhere – at home, at work, on the street, in the car or bus – and at any time.)

During the first visit, consider St. Joseph’s fidelity to grace. Reflect upon the action of the Holy Ghost in his soul. At the conclusion of this brief meditation, thank God for so honoring St. Joseph, and ask, through his intercession, for a similar grace.

Later in the day, consider St. Joseph’s fidelity to the interior life. Study his spirit of recollection. Think, thank God, and ask.

Later still, consider St. Joseph’s love for Our Lady. Think, thank God, and ask.

Finally, in a fourth visit, reflect upon St. Joseph’s love for the Divine Child. Think, thank God, and ask.

Prayer Which May Be Said at the Conclusion of the Visits

(These prayers are adapted from Reflections for a Novena to St. Joseph, by Sister Emily Joseph, C.S.J.)

O My God, I thank Thee and bless Thee for St. Joseph’s great faithfulness to grace. Grant that, through his loving intercession and the power of his example, I too may be faithful to grace. O St. Joseph, intercede for me, and obtain for me the favor I ask. (Name your request).

O My God, I thank Thee and bless Thee for St. Joseph’s great faithfulness to the interior life. Grant that, through his loving intercession and the power of his example, I too may be faithful to the interior life. O St. Joseph, intercede for me, and obtain for me the favor I ask. (Name your request).

O My God, I thank Thee and bless Thee for St. Joseph’s great love for Our Lady. Grant that, through his loving intercession and the power of his example, I too may truly love the Blessed Virgin Mary. O St. Joseph, intercede for me, and obtain for me the favor I ask. (Name your request).

O My God, I thank Thee and bless Thee for St. Joseph’s great love for the Divine Child. Grant that, through his loving intercession and the power of his example, I too may truly love the Child Jesus. O St. Joseph, intercede for me, and obtain for me the favor I ask. (Name your request). (Source)

Prayer to Live and Die in the Love of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

0 Great and good St. Joseph, chaste spouse of the Immaculate Mary, and guardian of the Word Incarnate, we place ourselves with confidence under your protection, and beg of you to teach us to practise the virtues of the Child Jesus.

We thank God for the singular favours He was pleased to bestow upon thee, and we earnestly desire to become pure, and humble, and patient, like unto thee.

Pray, then, for us, St. Joseph, and through that love which thou hast for Jesus and Mary, and which they have for thee, obtain for us the invaluable blessing of living and dying in the love of Jesus, Mary, and thee. Amen.

Holy Joseph, patron of a happy death, pray for us.

Dear Saint Joseph, Pure and Gentle

Dear St. Joseph, pure and gentle,

Guardian of the Saviour child,

Treading with the virgin mother,

Egypt's deserts rough and wild.

Hail, St. Joseph, spouse of Mary,

Blessed above all saints on high,

When the death shades round us gather,

Teach, oh, teach us how to die.

He who rested on thy bosom

Is by countless saints adored;

Prostrate angels in His presence

Sing hosannas to their Lord.

Hail, St. Joseph, ...

Now to thee no gift refusing,

Jesus stoops to hear thy prayer;

Then, dear saint, from thy fair dwelling,

Give to us a father's care.

Hail, St. Joseph, ...

 Dear St. Joseph, kind and loving,

Stretch to us a helping hand;

Guide us through life's toils and sorrows,

Safely to the distant land.

Hail, St. Joseph, ...

Pope St. Pius X: Prayer to St. Joseph the Workman

O glorious St. Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor,

obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously,

putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations,

to work with gratitude and joy, in a spirit of penance for the remission of my sins,

considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God,

to work with order, peace, moderation and patience,

without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties,

to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self,

having always death before my eyes and the account that I must render of time lost,

of talents wasted, of good omitted, of vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God.

All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thine example, O Patriarch, St. Joseph.

Such shall be my watchword in life and in death. Amen.

~ St. Pius X ~

Prayer to St. Joseph for Employment

Miraculous Prayer to St. Joseph in Any Urgent Need

This Miraculous Prayer from the 16th century has brought help to many in their hours of greatest need. Jesus listened to St. Joseph while on earth and still listens to him now when he intercedes for our needs.

Hymn to St. Joseph

Prayer Choosing St. Joseph as Special Patron and Advocate

O blessed Joseph,

faithful guardian of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ,

protector of thy chaste spouse, the virgin Mother of God,

I choose thee this day to be my special patron and advocate

and I firmly resolve to honor thee all the days of my life.

Therefore I humbly beseech thee to receive me as thy client,

to instruct me in every doubt,

to comfort me in every affliction,
to obtain for me and for all the knowledge and love of the Heart of Jesus,
and finally to defend and protect me at the hour of my death.

Amen.

Litany of St. Joseph

Ancient Prayer to Saint Joseph

O St Joseph,

whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God,
I place in you all my interests 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 contemplating you
and Jesus asleep in your arms;
I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart.
Press Him 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.

Novena to St. Joseph

*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.

MEMORARE
Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked for your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.

~ Source of novena and remaining novena prayers are here. ~

Invocations to St. Joseph

INVOCATIONS TO ST. JOSEPH
By Father Olier

Hail Joseph, image of God the Father.
Hail Joseph, father of God the Son.
Hail Joseph, temple of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Joseph, beloved of the Holy Trinity.
Hail Joseph, most faithful helper in the great plan of Redemption.
Hail Joseph, most worthy spouse of the Virgin Mother.
Hail Joseph, father of all the faithful.
Hail Joseph, guardian of holy virgins.
Hail Joseph, greatest lover of poverty.
Hail Joseph, example of meekness and patience.
Hail Joseph, mirror of humility and obedience.

Blessed art thou among all men.

And blessed are thine eyes, which have seen what thou hast seen.
And blessed are thine ears, which have heard what thou hast heard.
And blessed are thy hands, which have touched the Word Incarnate.
And blessed are thine arms, which have carried the One Who carries all things.
And blessed is thy breast, on which the Son of God most sweetly reposed.
And blessed is thy heart, kindled with most ardent love.
And blessed be the Eternal Father, Who chose thee.
And blessed be the Son, Who loved thee.
And blessed be the Holy Ghost, Who sanctified thee.
And blessed be Mary, thy spouse, who loved thee as a spouse and a brother.
And blessed be the Angel who guarded thee.
And blessed be forever all who bless thee and who love thee.