An Ancient Prayer to St. Joseph

Holy Mother Church honors St. Joseph during the month of March with a feast day on March 19 but also by devoting the entire month to him.  Many Saints throughout the history of the Church have spoken on the virtuous life of St. Joseph.  

St. Francis de Sales stated, "Truly, I doubt not that the angels, wondering and adoring, came thronging in countless multitudes to that poor workshop to admire the humility of him who guarded that dear and divine child, and labored at his carpenter’s trade to support the son and the mother who were committed to his care."

And following a similar thought, St. Madeleine Sophia Barat spoke of St. Joseph.  "Let us love Jesus above all, let us love Mary as our mother; but then, how could we keep from loving Joseph, who was so intimately united to both Jesus and Mary? And how can we honor him better than by imitating his virtues? Now, what else did he do in all his life but contemplate, study, and adore Jesus, even in the midst of his daily labors? Behold, therefore, our model."

During this month of March and throughout Lent, may we also look to St. Joseph for his example of virtue and love of our Lord and our Lady.  May we strive to imitate him in his service to God and beg his intercession to help us on our journey to heaven.

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An 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 thee all my interests and desires. 

O St. Joseph, assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me all spiritual blessings through thy foster Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer thee my thanksgiving and homage. 

O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thine arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near thy 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.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer for a Catholic Family

                                              

Prayer for a Catholic Family 

God of goodness and mercy, we commend to thy all-powerful protection our home, our family and all that we possess. Bless us all as thou didst bless the holy family of Nazareth. O Jesus, our most holy Redeemer, by the love with which thou didst become man in order to save us, by the mercy through which thou didst die for us upon the cross, we entreat thee to bless our home, our family, our household. Preserve us from all evil and from the snares of men; preserve us from lightning and hail and fire, from flood and from the rage of the elements; preserve us from thy wrath, from all hatred and from the evil intentions of our enemies, from plague, famine and war. Let no one of us die without the Holy Sacraments. Bless us, that we may always openly confess our faith which is to sanctify us, that we may never falter in our hope, even amid pain and affliction, that we may ever grow in love for Thee and in charity toward our neighbor. O Jesus, bless us, protect us. 

O Mary, Mother of grace and mercy, bless us, protect us against the evil spirit; lead us by the hand through this vale of tears; reconcile us with thy divine Son; commend us to Him, that we may be made worthy of his promises. 

Saint Joseph, reputed father of our Saviour, guardian of his most holy Mother, head of the holy family, intercede for us, bless and protect our home always. 

Saint Michael, defend us against all the wicked wiles of hell. Saint Gabriel, obtain for us that we may understand the holy will of God. Saint Raphael, preserve us from ill health and all danger to life. Holy Guardian Angels, keep us day and night in the way to salvation. 

Holy Patrons, pray for us before the throne of God. 

Bless this house, Thou, God our Father, who didst create us; Thou, divine Son, who didst suffer for us on the cross; Thou, Holy Spirit, who didst sanctify us in baptism. May God, in his three Divine Persons, preserve our body, purify our soul, direct our heart, and lead us to life everlasting. Glory be to the Father, glory be to the Son, glory be to the Holy Ghost. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

For the Feast of the Holy Family

 Holy Mother Church commemorates the Holy Family of Nazareth on the Sunday within the Octave of Epiphany, this year January 12. Pope Leo XIII instituted this feast in 1893. He spoke of the Holy Family in his Apostolic Letter Neminem Fugit, saying,

“When a merciful God determined to complete the work of human reparation which the world had awaited throughout long ages, He so established and designed the whole, that from its very inception, it would show to the world the sublime pattern of a divinely constituted family. In this all men should see the perfect example of domestic unity, and of all virtue and holiness. Such was the Holy Family of Nazareth.... There is no doubt that all those virtues of ordinary home life, those acts of mutual love, holy behavior and pious practices shone forth in the highest degree in this Holy Family, destined to be a model for all others. Accordingly, the benign dispositions of Providence fashioned that Family so that every individual Christian, whatever his condition or station, by turning his attention to it, could find in it easily, reason and incentive for the exercise of every virtue.

Fathers of families, for example, have in St. Joseph a shining pattern for watchfulness and foresight. Mothers have in the most Holy Virgin Mother of God an extraordinary model of love, of modesty, of submissiveness of mind, and of perfect faith. Children of the family have in Jesus, Who was subject to Joseph and Mary, a divine example of obedience to admire, cultivate and imitate.... Nothing truly can be more salutary or efficacious for Christian families to meditate upon than the example of the Holy Family, which embraces the perfection and completeness of all domestic virtues. When Jesus, Mary and Joseph are invoked in the home, there They foster charity, there They exert a good influence over conduct, set an example of virtue, and make more bearable the hardships of every life.”

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The following prayer, “Consecration to the Holy Family,” is a fitting prayer to recite on this feast day. As we consecrate ourselves and our families to this most Holy Family, may we grow in virtue and love of God, helping one another reach our ultimate goal of heaven.

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Consecration to the Holy Family

O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with Thy teaching and
example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home in Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou defend us, guard us and establish amongst us Thy holy fear, true peace, and concord in Christian love: in order that, by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Thy family, we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal happiness.

Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by thy kindly intercession make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings.

O Saint Joseph, most holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal necessities; that so we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and thee, for all eternity.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be (three times each)

+ Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, save souls! +

God bless!

+JMJ+

For the Month of the Holy Family

 The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family of Nazareth, a fitting example for all families today.  Saint John Paul II spoke on families, saying, 

“To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others...."

The Holy Family lived in this way, serving one another in virtue and truly following God' Will in all things.  Families today are called to this life:  a life of charity, humility, obedience, patience, and simplicity, among numerous other virtues.  As St. John Paul II stated, each member of the family is called to help the other members through loving service, which includes service in daily tasks, but most importantly service in the spiritual life.  Too often the cares of the world overshadow this special call from God, the call to help our family members truly follow God's Will and attain our heavenly goal.

During the month of February, may we remember to ask for the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth for our own families and families throughout the world.  May we look toward them, seeing in them an example to imitate to help our own family grow in holiness.  May we also strive to be that example to the world of God's love within the family through faithfulness to God and cheerful kindness to all we meet.

The following beautiful prayer is a fitting one to say during this month of the Holy Family; through it we ask Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to intercede for our family and help us grow in the virtues that illuminated their daily lives and work.

Prayer to the Holy Family

O most loving Jesus, Who by Thy sublime and beautiful virtues of humility, obedience, poverty, modesty, charity, patience and gentleness, and by the example of Thy domestic life, didst bless with peace and happiness the family Thou didst choose on earth, in Thy clemency look down upon this household, humbly prostrate before Thee and imploring Thy mercy. Remember that this family belongs to Thee; for to Thee we have in a special way dedicated and devoted ourselves. Look upon us in Thy loving kindness; preserve us from danger; give us help in time of need, and grant us the grace to persevere to the end in the imitation of Thy Holy Family; that having revered Thee and loved Thee faithfully on earth, we may bless and praise Thee eternally in heaven.

O Mary, most sweet Mother, to thy intercession we have recourse, knowing that thy Divine Son will hear thy prayers.

And do thou, O glorious Patriarch, St. Joseph, assist us by thy powerful mediation, and offer, by the hands of Mary, our prayers to Jesus. Amen.
--Prayer Book for Religious by Fr. Lasance

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"Nothing truly can be more salutary or efficacious for Christian families to meditate upon than the example of this Holy Family, which embraces the perfection and completeness of all domestic virtues."  --Pope Leo XIII

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer for Christian Families

 “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.”  --St. John Paul II

With February's dedication to the Holy Family and the rapidly approaching Lenten season (in fact it begins tomorrow), this is a fitting time to take to heart St. John Paul II's words and offer sacrifices and prayers for the sanctification of family life.  It is also vital to pray for the intention that the entire world will grasp and embrace the significance of holy families.  May we also pray for the families throughout the world that they may strive to imitate the faith-filled, loving, and virtuous example provided by the Holy Family of Nazareth, just as Pope Pius XII penned in the following prayer.

Prayer for Christian Families

O Lord, God of goodness and mercy, Who in the midst of an evil and sinful world hast presented to the society of the redeemed the Holy Family of Nazareth as a spotless mirror of piety, justice and love, behold how the family is being undermined on all sides, every effort being made to desecrate it by stripping it of faith, religion and morals.

Regard the work of Thy own hands. Safeguard in our homes the domestic virtues, for these alone will ensure us harmony and peace. Come and stir up the champions of the family. Bestir the modern apostles so that in Thy Name, bearing the message of Jesus Christ and exhibiting holiness of life, they may revive the doctrines of conjugal fidelity for married couples, the exercise of authority by parents, obedience on the part of children, and modesty on the part of girls. Grant also through the efforts of these apostles, that the home favored by Thee with many blessings may again become an object of esteem and love in the minds and hearts of all.

It is through the examples of the Divine model of Nazareth that the Christian family is to be restored in Jesus Christ and to recover its former respect and dignity. Then every home will again become a sanctuary and in every household will be rekindled the flame of faith to teach patience in adversity and moderation in prosperity and to promote order, peace, and harmony in all things.

Under Thy paternal gaze, O Lord, and with confidence in Thy Providence and in the loving patronage of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the family will become a sanctuary of virtue and a school of wisdom. It shall prove, as Christ has promised, a haven of rest against life's burdens. In the sight of the world it shall render glory to Thee, O Father, and to Thy Son, Jesus, until the day when, through Him, we shall, together with all His members, sing the Divine praises in the eternal ages to come. Amen.

--By Pope Pius XII

In 2013 Pope Francis addressed families, saying,

"Dear families, you know very well that the true joy which we experience in the family is not superficial; it does not come from material objects, from the fact that everything seems to be going well... True joy comes from a profound harmony between persons, something which we all feel in our hearts and which makes us experience the beauty of togetherness, of mutual support along life’s journey. But the basis of this feeling of deep joy is the presence of God in the family and his love, which is welcoming, merciful, and respectful towards all. God alone knows how to create harmony from differences. But if God’s love is lacking, the family loses its harmony, self-centeredness prevails and joy fades. But the family which experiences the joy of faith communicates it naturally. That family is the salt of the earth and the light of the world, it is the leaven of society."

May we use this Lenten season to work toward the sanctification of our families, and through example, prayer, and sacrifice, the sanctification of families everywhere!

God bless!  I pray each of you have a blessed, holy Lent!

+JMJ+

Consecration to the Holy Family

 Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of February to the Holy Family. This special devotion, which gives the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the model of virtue for all families, began in the seventeenth century. Placed in February, the devotion falls between the Christmas season, during which we focus our meditation on the Infant Jesus, and the season of Lent, when our focus is changed to the public life of Christ and His Passion. Thus the days between these two seasons finds our hearts looking at the Holy Family of Nazareth. In the words of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, "Nothing truly can be more salutary or efficacious for Christian families to meditate upon than the example of this Holy Family, which embraces the perfection and completeness of all domestic virtues."

The Holy Family by Murillo

During this month of the Holy Family, may we strive to imitate Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in their devotion, love, and service of God and one another. As Paul VI suggests, “May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simple beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character....” The following prayer, Consecration to the Holy Family, is a fitting prayer to recite during February. As we consecrate ourselves and our families to this most Holy Family, may we grow in our own virtues and love of God, helping one another reach our ultimate goal of heaven.

Consecration to the Holy Family

O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with Thy teaching and
example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home in Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou defend us, guard us and establish amongst us Thy holy fear, true peace, and concord in Christian love: in order that, by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Thy family, we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal happiness.


Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by thy kindly intercession make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings.

O Saint Joseph, most holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal necessities; that so we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and thee, for all eternity.
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be (three times each)

+  Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, save souls!  +

God bless! 

 +JMJ+