Novena to Saint Joseph
Our Parish Novena to St. Joseph places the future growth of our Parish and the continual finance of the new location of our School in the hands of St. Joseph and under his patronage. Since our parish school has re-located, we must earnestly beg St. Joseph to assist us to do as Divine Providence wills. Our Novena will continue until our prayers are answered.
The novena is comprised of 4 points and the prayer to St. Joseph. The points are taken one by one, all at one sitting or dispersed throughout the day. The soul recollects Itself in prayer, then considers the points as indicated below. The prayer to St. Joseph can be said a any time, for instance, after the family Rosary.
1. His Fidelity to Grace - Think of this for a minute, thank God, and ask for the grace to be faithful to grace.
By this is meant St. Joseph's consciousness of sanctifying grace. It also refers to his cooperation with the actual graces that God sent to him constantly, that is, graces which enlightened his mind and moved his will to do good and to avoid evil.
2. His Fidelity to the Interior Life - Think for a minute, thank God, and ask for the same Grace in your own life.
The interior live is the life of the soul, the life of awareness of God and devotion to duty for the honor and glory of God; It embraces also the practice of virtue which is associated with living the interior life, such as the spirit of prayer, the continual remembrance of the presence of God, resignation to God's Will, humility of heart, the spirit of sacrifice and similar interior acts.
3. His Love of Our Lady - Think, thank God, and ask.
It means thinking about the devotion of St. Joseph to Mary - how he was chosen by her as her spouse; how he was told by God's messenger of the mystery of her Divine Motherhood. St. Joseph was the protector of Mary and the head of the Holy Family. He realized better than anyone else her port in the Divine Plan for our-salvation. His natural love for her was increased and strengthened and perfected by his supernatural love and devotion to her.
4. His Love of the Christ Child - Think, thank God, ask.
St. Joseph was told that the Christ Child was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He was mindful of his duty of protecting and caring for the Infant Savior. His Faith in Christ was manifested In the many trials and difficulties that St. Joseph experienced. His love for Jesus was deep, genuine and profound. It was a love that revealed itself not only inward, but especially in service.
Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph
To thee, 0 blessed Joseph, do we have recourse in our tribulation, and, having implored the help of thy thrice-holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. By that charity wherewith thou was united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly affection with whIch thou didst embrace the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray, that thou wouldst look graciously upon the inheritance which Jesus Christ hath purchased by His Blood, and assist us in our needs by thy power and strength. Most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ; keep far from us, most loving father, all blight of error and corruption; mercifully assist us from heaven, most mighty defender, in this our conflict with the powers-of darkness; and, even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the supreme peril of His life, so now defend God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; keep us one and all under thy continual protection, that we may be supported by thine example and thine assistance, may be enabled to lead a holy life, die a happy death and come at last to the possession of everlasting blessedness in heaven. Amen.
