Pray for us. Most pure in virginity, Most exalted in contemplation, Who was declared to be a "just man by the testimony of the Holy Ghost Himself, Who was the chosen minister of the counsels of the Most High, Who was taught from above the mystery of the Incarnate Word, Who didst journey to Bethlehem with Mary, thy spouse being great with child, Who, finding no place in the inn, didst betake thyself to a stable, Who was thought worthy to be present Who didst bear in thine arms the Son of Who didst receive the blood of Jesus at Who didst present Him to the Lord Who, at the warning of the Angel, didst fly into Egypt with the Child and His Mother, Pray for us. Who, when Herod was dead, didst return\ Who hadst the Lord of lords subject to Who was the happy witness of His Who didst die in the arms of Jesus and Whose praise is in the Gospel: "The Humbler imitator of the Incarnate Powerful support of the Church, Our Advocate, St. Joseph, hear us. Our Patron, St. Joseph, graciously hear us. In all our necessities, In all our distresses, St. Joseph help us. In the hour of death, Through thy most chaste Espousals, Through thy paternal care and fidelity, Through all thy virtues, St. Joseph, help us. Through thy exalted honour and eternal blessedness, St. Joseph, help us. Through thy faithful intercession, St. Joseph, help us. We, thy clients, Beseech thee, hear us. That thou wouldst vouchsafe to obtain\ That thou wouldst vouchsafe to obtain That thou wouldst vouchsafe to direct all rulers and prelates in the government of their subjects, That thou wouldst vouchsafe to assist all parents in the Christian education of their children, That thou wouldst vouchsafe to protect all those who rely upon thy patronage, That thou wouldst vouchsafe to support with thy paternal help all congregations instituted under thy name and patronage, That thou wouldst vouchsafe to visit and stand by us, with Jesus and Mary, in the last moment of our life, We beseech thee, hear us. That thou wouldst vouchsafe to succour, by thy prayers and intercession, all the faithful departed, O chaste Spouse of Mary, O faithful Nursing-father of Jesus, We beseech, &c. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. V. Pray for us, O blessed Joseph. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us Pray. "O God, who didst choose St. Joseph to be the Spouse of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, and to be the Guardian and Nursing-father of Thy beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly beseech Thee to grant us, through his patronage and merits, such purity of mind and body, that being clean from every stain, and clothed with the true marriagegarment, we may, by Thy great mercy, be admitted to the heavenly nuptials. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. PRACTICE. Amen." To-day frequently ask of Jesus the grace of a special, tender devotion, during thy whole life, for St. Joseph. ASPIRATION. O Jesus! grant me the grace of a fervent devotion to thy foster-father St. Joseph. Mary Immaculate, obtain for me from Jesus the grace to love St. Joseph. We conclude the month of St. Joseph by the following indulgenced Devotion: "The Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys of St. Joseph." THE SEVEN SORROWS AND SEVEN JOYS OF ST. JOSEPH. The First Sorrow and First Joy. St. Joseph, pure Spouse of most holy Mary, the trouble and anguish of thy heart were great, when, being in sore perplexity, thou wast minded to put away thy stainless Spouse, and thy joy was inexpressible when the Archangel revealed to thee the high mystery of the Incarnation |