Feast of St. Joseph

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.

V.  He made him the lord of His house:

R.  And ruler of all His substance.

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 beg 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.  Amen.

Ave Maria!  Today we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, spouse of Our Lady and foster-father of the Child Jesus.  I am particularly fond of the above icon of St. Joseph because he looks so virile -- and that he was!  There was absolutely nothing about him that was lackluster or wishy-washy.  As we prayed in the Offertory Antiphon at the Traditional Latin Mass this morning:  "My truth and My mercy will be with him: and in My name shall his horn be exalted (Psalm 89[88]:25).  The titles of the beautiful Litany of St. Joseph above tell us much about this just and holy man and why we pray to him with such love and devotion.  Being a consecrated virgin, my favorite and constant invocation to him is:  "Guardian of Virgins, pray for us!"  I beg him to vigorously and assiduously assist me in faithfully living out these words from "The Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity for Women Living in the World" that Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza spoke to me as he slipped my wedding band on my finger:  "Receive the ring that marks you as a bride of Christ. Keep unstained your fidelity to your Bridegroom, that you may one day be admitted to the wedding feast of everlasting joy."  Dear St. Joseph, please pray for me and for all of us!  Amen!