March 20, 2017: ST. JOSEPH

March 20, 2017: ST. JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, CONFESSOR, AND PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

Rank: Double of the I Class.

Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Prayer (Collect).

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the merits of the spouse of thy most holy Virgin-mother may be assisting to us; and what we cannot obtain through our own weakness, may it be granted to us by his prayers. Who livest and reignest, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. Amen.

HYMN

Let heav’n’s bright host thy praise proclaim,
And Christian Choirs resound the same,
Joseph in chastest wedlock tied,
To th’ ever Virgin Bride.

Thy pregnant Consort breaks thy rest,
And anxious doubts disturb thy breast;
Till th’ Angel thy suspicion heals,
And God, made man, reveals.

Thy arms embrace thy new-born Lord;
With him thou flee’st from Herod’s sword:
Him three days lost thou find’st again,
And joy succeed’s thy pain.

In th’ other world have saints their bliss,
And wear the palms deserv’d in this;
Thou, crown’d with greater happiness,
On earth dost God possess.

Pardon our sins, great One and Three,
Let Joseph’s prayers bring us to thee:
Where we may sing loud hymns of praise,
For endless years and days. Amen.

V. He appointed him Lord of his house.
R. And chief over all he had.

THE LITANY OF ST. JOSEPH

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus hear us: Jesus graciously hear us.

God the Father, Creator of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of mankind, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, Pray for us.

St. Joseph, virgin spouse of a Virgin Mother, Protect us.
Protector of the Infant Jesus, Protect us.
Protector of Mary, thy chaste spouse, Protect us.
Protector of St. Teresa, Protect us.
Protector of virgins, Protect us.
Protector of those devoted to thy service, Protect us.
Protector of all faithful Christians, Protect us.
Protector of the afflicted, Protect us.
Protector of humble and penitent sinners, Protect us.
Protector of the Catholic Church, Protect us.
Who wert the protector of Jesus yet unborn, Protect us.
Who wert the protector of Jesus in the stable of Bethlehem, Protect us.
Who wert the protector of Jesus, delivering him from the tyranny of Herod, Protect us.
Who wert the protector of Jesus, assisting him in his necessities, and providing him with food, Protect us.
Who wert the protector of Mary, thy spouse, and her most faithful companion, Protect us.
Who wert the protector and guardian of the virginity of Mary, Protect us.
Protector of all thy devout clients, Protect us.
Our good father, patron, and protector, Protect us.
Our spiritual protector, Protect us.
Our guardian protector, Protect us.
Our providential protector, Protect us.

O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us for the love of him who carried and fed Thee.

O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Hear us for the love of him who clothed and lodged Thee.

O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us for the love of him who protected and guarded Thee from the cruelty of Herod.

Pray for us, St. Joseph, our protector, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. O God, who by thine ineffable providence hast chosen St. Joseph to be the spouse of the ever-blessed Virgin, grant us grace to have him for our intercessor in heaven, whom we honour upon earth as our faithful advocate and protector, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

O good St. Joseph, protect us, protect the holy Church.

Taken from: The Manual of the Sacred Heart, 1866

MEMORARE TO ST. JOSEPH

Remember, most pure spouse of the blessed Virgin Mary, my amiable protector St. Joseph, that it is unheard of that any one ever had recourse to thy protection, and implored thy help, without receiving consolation. Full of this confidence in thy power, I come before thee and recommend myself to thee with fervour. Ah! despise not my prayer, O dear foster-father of our Redeemer, but graciously hear and obtain my request. Amen.

(300 days indulgence granted by Pope Pius IX, 26th June 1863, applicable to the dead.)

Taken from: The Manual of the Sacred Heart, 1866

Pray for us Oh St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!