In May Pope Francis approved seven new titles to be inserted into the litany of Saint Joseph. They are as follows:
Custos Redemptoris (Guardian of the Redeemer),
Serve Christi (Servant of Christ),
Minister salutis (Minister of salvation),
Fulcimen in difficultatibus (Support in difficulty),
Patrone exsulum (Patron of refugees),
Patrone afflictorum (Patron of the afflicted),
Patrone pauperum (Patron of the poor).
These titles focus on Joseph’s role in God’s plan of salvation. They also underline Joseph’s closeness to the poor and their sufferings (eg. Patron of refugees, the afflicted, and the poor).
During this year of Saint Joseph, it is very appropriate to honor him in this way. The titles can help us appreciate more the role he played in bringing up Jesus and his support of the Holy Family.
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!
The great day of consecration to St. Joseph is almost here! On March 19 we celebrate the solemnity of St. Joseph. Even though it’s Lent, on this feast day the Church celebrates St. Joseph at the highest level—a solemnity. We can rejoice and let this joy radiate into our Lenten observance.
The prayer below can be used to consecrate oneself to St. Joseph. If you are able to go to a church dedicated to St. Joseph, that would be the ideal. But if not, the consecration can be made simply at home. It would be good to make it in front of a statue of St. Joseph, if possible.
For the past several weeks we’ve been reflecting on the way God has gifted us through St. Joseph. We’ve explored different aspects of this great saint: he is patron of a holy death, patron of workers, patron of the universal Church, and a great provider of both material and spiritual goods. But most of all he was love in the Holy Family. He loved both Mary and Jesus and took care of all of their needs. He will take care of us too!
Prayer of Consecration
O St. Joseph, you are head of the Holy Family, virginal spouse of the virgin Mother of God, and patron of the entire Church. Today I, _____(name)__________, offer myself to be consecrated to you. St. Joseph, I thank and praise God for the wonderful example of holiness and virtue that you gave to us when you were on earth. I want to be like you and so I offer you all that I am and have, all my possessions, both material and spiritual. I place myself under your care and protection. I ask you, St. Joseph, to:
Cover me with your holy cloak so as to protect me from all dangers, Pray for all my intentions and needs, Obtain for me the grace of a holy death when my time comes, Make me your spiritual child, Provide for my needs and those of my family, Let me experience the power of your intercession, and Never let me be separated from Jesus by any grave sin.
Should I ever have the misfortune to fall into grave sin, obtain for me the grace to make a good confession as soon as possible and continue along the way of holiness as you guide me to heaven. St. Joseph, I entrust myself to you. Always be at my side and save me from sin and from all the snares of the devil. Be with me always so that I will be safe under your care and one day reach heaven with you, there to praise forever God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
How to Stay Close to Joseph – Sr. Julia Mary
Living in the Spirit of the Consecration
You may wish to choose some things you could do to live each day in the spirit of the consecration to St. Joseph. For example, you could say some designated prayers to St Joseph. A few choices would be to pray the litany to St. Joseph, to pray the joyful mysteries in his honor, or to simply pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be in his honor. Saint Faustina did that along with this Memorare prayer to St. Joseph:
Remember, O most pure spouse of Mary, and my dearly beloved guardian, St. Joseph, that never was it known that anyone who invoked your care and requested your help was left without consolation.
Inspired with this confidence, I come to you, and with all the ardor of my spirit I commend myself to you. Do not reject my prayer, O Foster Father of the Savior, but graciously receive and answer it. Amen.
You might also choose to renew your consecration every Wednesday, which is the day of the week especially set aside to honor St. Joseph. But whatever way you might choose to live the spirit of the consecration, the most important thing is to love St. Joseph and imitate his virtues.
The day on which we will consecrate ourselves to Saint Joseph is quickly approaching—March 19, his major feast day.
At the beginning of this series of articles we looked at consecration itself and what it means. Let’s recap two important points:
First: A consecration means that we offer ourselves to God through a certain saint, in this case, Saint Joseph. We offer ourselves to God, but God is the one who does the consecrating.
Second: Baptism is the fundamental consecration through which we are completely dedicated to the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Any other consecration is ultimately rooted in Baptism. Our ultimate goal is closer union with God.
When we consecrate ourselves to Saint Joseph, we form a stronger tie with Joseph, who is our spiritual father. When we formally entrust ourselves to his care, he reciprocates by praying for us and obtaining special graces for our spiritual growth. Saint Teresa of Avila wrote: “Knowing by experience Joseph’s astonishing influence with God, I would wish to persuade everyone to honor him with particular devotion. I have always seen those who honored him in a special manner make progress in virtue, for this heavenly protector favors in a striking manner the spiritual advancement of souls who commend themselves to him” (as quoted in Rosalie Marie Levy, Joseph the Just Man, Derby: New York, Daughters of Saint Paul, 1955, p. 146).
When we are consecrated to Saint Joseph he takes care of us in a special way as our spiritual father. Who wouldn’t want this special protection and particular graces? Joseph has sometimes been called “The Shadow of the Father.” This title reminds us that Joseph takes care of us in the way that God the Father wants him to. As our spiritual father, Joseph acts in the light of the Father’s care. In a sense we become a member of the Holy Family and our acts and prayers to honor Saint Joseph are another way of honoring God the Father.
As Consecration Day approaches, you may wish to pray a little more to Saint Joseph. Below is a guide to Eucharistic Adoration in honor of St Joseph, as well as a prayer to obtain a special favor to pray in any need.
Eucharistic Adoration Guide: St. Joseph the Adorer
Prayer to Obtain a Special Favor
O glorious Saint Joseph, steadfast follower of Jesus Christ, I am confident that your prayers for me will be graciously heard at the throne of God. To you I lift my heart and hands, asking your powerful intercession to obtain from the compassionate heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal well-being, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace for which I now pray [mention your request].
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Word Incarnate, by the love you bear for Jesus Christ, and for the glory of his name, hear my prayer and obtain my petitions. Amen.
St. Joseph had the beautiful privilege of dying in the company of Jesus and Mary. While Scripture gives us no details about his death, the Gospels seem to suggest that Joseph had died by the time Jesus started his public preaching. If Joseph were alive when Jesus died, Jesus would not have entrusted Mary to John, but because he did, we may assume that Joseph had already died. Whenever Joseph died, certainly Jesus and Mary would have wanted to be with him as he left this earth.
In light of this, we can think of St. Joseph as the patron of having a happy death, and also the patron saint of memento mori. What is memento mori? These Latin words mean “remember your death.” It is the simple practice of living our life with the end in view. It is not meant to be a morbid fixation on dying or of stirring up fear. Instead, it is a way of seeing death for what it really is—our passage to eternal life.
The moment of death is the most important moment of our life because it determines our eternal destiny. At the moment of death the Church helps us be prepared for this crucial moment. It offers us the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, along with confession (when possible) and Viaticum—receiving the Holy Eucharist for the last time. Because of physical illness and pain, this moment can be difficult for the dying. That is where St. Joseph steps in. He intercedes for the dying person and obtains graces of light and peace.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus often says, “Do not fear! It is I!” The moment of death can be the most frightening moment of our lives. But it doesn’t have to be. It can also be a moment of great peace and serenity, knowing that Jesus is with us, and St. Joseph too.
Joseph doesn’t want us to be afraid of dying. When he died with Jesus and Mary at his side, Joseph must have experienced a deep peace. He will obtain that peace for us, too.
In Living the Final Season, hospice nurse Kathy Kalina relates many stories of people dying, and the book gave me a greater understanding of how kind and gentle Jesus really is to us when we die. Kalina says she has seen people give over their greatest fear to Jesus. He reaches out to the dying and accompanies them in their final moments. While we have to die, and eventually that moment will come, Jesus often intervenes to help us face that moment with peace. For example, Kalina relates the story of a staunch atheist:
“Two days before his death he suddenly sat up in bed and exclaimed, ‘There are angels all over this room! Everyone has an angel—I can see them standing right beside each of you!’ Despite his physical weakness, this man insisted on being given a pen and paper. He wished to write down all the details of what he had seen so others would know. The restlessness and anxiety he had suffered to that point evaporated and did not return.”*
Perhaps this man achieved peace of mind through someone’s prayers to St. Joseph. Whatever our situation is as we die, God will certainly be at work through it—and St. Joseph will as well.
Sr Julia Mary and Trusting God with Our Problems
Prayer for a Happy Death
Saint Joseph, protector of the dying, I ask you to intercede for all the dying, and I invoke your assistance in the hour of my own death. You merited a happy passing by a holy life, and in your last hours you had the great consolation of being assisted by Jesus and Mary. Deliver me from sudden death; obtain for me the grace to imitate you in life, to detach my heart from everything worldly, and daily to gather treasures for the moment of my death. Obtain for me the grace to receive the sacrament of the sick well, and with Mary, fill my heart with sentiments of faith, hope, love, and sorrow for sins, so that I may breathe forth my soul in peace. Amen
Prayer by Blessed James Alberione
* Kathy Kalina, Living the Final Season (Boston: Pauline Books & Media, 2000), p. 70.
The Holy Family is often presented as a model for us. It’s certainly true that their family was holy, and their example can give us guidance as we live our own family lives. But what family can measure up to the standards of the Holy Family? Is it unrealistic to propose them as a model? I once heard a priest give a talk on this topic and he said, “Can you imagine what it must have been like for St. Joseph to live with the Immaculate Conception and the Eternal Word?” Did Joseph feel like he couldn’t measure up to them? Probably, at least sometimes.
Of course it would be too much to expect that any other family could even begin to approach the holiness of the Holy Family. Although we may not be perfect, each of us can love the other members of our family even when it’s difficult. We are not called to imitate some kind of unreachable ideal, but we can love each other. Yes there will be times when we feel angry at family members. There will be times we disagree, perhaps over deep and important matters. But in any situation we can always love. What are some things we can learn from Joseph on how to be holy?
Joseph Was the Guardian of the Mystery
Outwardly the Holy Family probably seemed like any other Jewish family in Nazareth. They went to the synagogue, observed the Sabbath, prayed the prescribed prayers. Outside their family no one knew that Jesus was the Incarnate Son of God. But Joseph knew. What was his role in bringing up Jesus? St. John Paul II in his letter on Joseph called him the “guardian of the mystery.” What mystery? The Incarnation, that the second Person of the Blessed Trinity became man. How was Joseph a guardian of this? In two ways:
Joseph was a father to Jesus in every way except according to the flesh. Joseph guarded Jesus physically, as when he took the child and his mother and fled to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous intentions. When the danger passed and they went back to Nazareth, Joseph continued to guard and take care of Jesus.
Joseph was a husband to the Virgin Mary. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by Joseph nor by any man. Mary’s virginal conception was a mystery that only Mary and Joseph knew about. Because of this great thing that God had done in her, Mary and Joseph lived a virginal marriage even after Jesus was born. Joseph guarded Mary and provided for her.
Does it seem strange that we can call Mary and Joseph’s union a true marriage even though they did not engage in conjugal relations? It was a very unique situation and everything came under divine Providence. In his letter on Joseph, St John Paul II explains why their virginal union was a true marriage. Quoting St. Augustine, he writes “In Christ’s parents all the goods of marriage were realized—offspring, fidelity, the sacrament: the offspring being the Lord Jesus himself; fidelity, since there was no adultery; the sacrament, since there was no divorce” (RC no. 7).
Saint Joseph as a Guardian for Us
Joseph’s special charism in his life on earth was to be a guardian. Now that he is in heaven, he continues his role of guardian, not of Jesus and Mary, but of us. When we consecrate ourselves to Joseph, we place ourselves under his special care. Now he’s our guardian.
Saint Joseph will pray for us, keep us under his special protection, and draw us nearer to Jesus and Mary. He will do that for us as individuals and for our family also. The secret of having a holy family is to have Saint Joseph as our guardian. With his protection we can love each member of our family even more, knowing that Joseph is walking beside us to guide us along the way to heaven. No family is perfect, but no matter what troubles may come to our family, Joseph will be there to help us along the way.
Sr Julia Mary To Become a Saint Is Possible for Me
Prayer for One’s Family
Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of my family and for the many joys and blessings that have come to me through each of them. Help me to appreciate the uniqueness of each member of my family. Through the intercession of Saint Joseph, foster father of your Son, I ask you to protect my family from the evils of this world. Grant us all the power to forgive when we have been hurt and the humility to ask forgiveness when we have caused pain. Unite us in the love of your Son, Jesus, so that we may be a sign of the unity you desire for all humanity. And at life’s end, may we together attain heaven where we will praise and thank you for all eternity. Saint Joseph, intercede for us. Amen
“Whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper” (Gen 39:23).
One of the most powerful stories in the Old Testament is the story of Joseph and his brothers. This story of betrayal and intrigue plumbs the depths of human emotion. Not only is it divinely inspired, but it is also great literature. Catholics have often seen parallels between this Joseph and our St. Joseph. It’s not that every detail of their lives match, but we can see traits in the Old Testament Joseph that are similar to qualities St. Joseph possessed.
Joseph was one of twelve brothers. Their father was the patriarch Jacob, one of the major founders of the people of Israel. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son because he was the child of his old age. Joseph had many dreams and he bragged to his brothers about them. They showed Joseph being in a special place of honor where all his other brothers, and even his father, bowed down to him. Hearing this, his brothers became jealous of him. One day his father sent him to find his brothers who were out in the fields. They seized the opportunity to get rid of him. When a caravan passed by, they sold him to slave traders who were on their way to Egypt. The brothers took Joseph’s special coat of many colors that his father had given him, soaked it in some goat’s blood, and told their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Jacob was distraught and he deeply grieved the loss of his son Joseph.
Meantime, Joseph in Egypt was sold to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials. Joseph became so skilled at managing the household’s affairs that Potiphar made him “overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had” (Gen 39:5). Joseph was making his way up the ladder of success. But Potiphar’s wife had a roving eye and she tried to seduce Joseph, who was “handsome and good-looking” (Gen 39:6). Joseph resisted her advances but she didn’t give up easily. One day when Joseph fled from her he inadvertently left his coat behind. The woman showed it to her husband and claimed that Joseph had tried to seduce her. Potiphar immediately had him thrown into jail. Things looked bad for Joseph. “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer” (Gen 39:21). Joseph soon began running the prison’s affairs and “whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper” (Gen 39:23).
Two of Pharaoh’s servants were in the jail, the baker and the chief cupbearer. They had dreams that Joseph interpreted for them and his interpretations turned out to be correct. The baker was executed and the cupbearer was restored to his position in Pharaoh’s household as Joseph had predicted. After a couple of years Pharaoh himself had some dreams that no one could interpret. The cupbearer then remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh he could interpret his dream. When Pharaoh summoned him, Joseph interpreted the dreams to mean that after seven years of plenty, there would be seven years of famine. Pharaoh “hired” Joseph on the spot and put him in charge of agriculture. Joseph would put aside a supply of grain so the people wouldn’t starve when the famine came.
Joseph managed things so well that despite the famine, Egypt had more than enough grain and even shared it with its neighbors. People from nearby countries went to Egypt to buy food—including Joseph’s brothers. He recognized them, but they did not recognize him. After a series of adventures Joseph finally revealed to them his identity: “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt” (Gen 45:4). His brothers were so astounded they didn’t know what to do. Joseph embraced them and reconciled himself to them. He charged them to bring back his father to Egypt and to settle there with all their households. Their father Jacob rejoiced to have Joseph back and he gladly went to stay in Egypt. What can this story tell us about St. Joseph?
1 Trust in Divine Providence
Both Josephs had great trust in divine Providence. The OT Joseph could have despaired when he ended up in jail for practicing virtue. But he applied himself and became the manager of the jail. Under Pharaoh Joseph became second-in-command in all Egypt.
Saint Joseph too had great trust in God. He wrestled with his doubts about Mary’s pregnancy, and he could have grumbled when he had to flee to Egypt with Mary and baby Jesus. But he trusted God and completely surrendered to God’s will for his life. If we go to Joseph with trusting prayer, he will help us make sense out of difficult situations and show us how to trust Jesus in all the occasions of life.
2. The Chastity of Joseph
The OT Joseph took a firm stand for chastity when Potiphar’s wife kept harassing him. He rejected the temptation to give in and have an affair with her. He suffered for this when she accused him falsely. Under different circumstances our St. Joseph practiced heroic chastity as well. Even after marrying Mary, the couple lived a virginal marriage because of the Incarnation. Joseph never expected that when he first thought about marrying Mary. But again he surrendered his life to God and lovingly carried out God’s will for his marriage. St. Joseph is honored as the guardian of virgins because he was the protector of Mary’s virginity. Today in our society, chastity is often laughed at, as if it’s just for fools. But both Josephs teach the importance of self-control and respect for others, so as to honor them by practicing this virtue.
3. Joseph’s Skills in Managing a Crisis
Both in jail and later when working for Pharaoh, the OT Joseph excelled as a manager. He carefully coordinated the agriculture of the whole country so that not just Egypt but the entire Mid-Eastern world had enough food to avoid starvation. While we don’t know much about St. Joseph, we can imagine him setting up his carpentry shop and making a living for his family by creatively running this small business. That is why Joseph is the patron saint of workers, of all who work for their living. He is the go-to saint for employment, running businesses, and all other needs.
The next time you find yourself in need, trying going to St. Joseph. He will be very happy to obtain the graces and gifts that you need. God is still giving him the gift to make things prosper, and St. Joseph takes good care of all those who come to him for help.
St Joseph Teacher of Prayer
To Obtain a Special Favor
O glorious Saint Joseph, steadfast follower of Jesus Christ, I am confident that your prayers for me will be graciously heard at the throne of God. To you I lift my heart and hands, asking your powerful intercession to obtain from the compassionate heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal well-being, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace for which I now pray [mention your request].
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Word Incarnate, by the love you bear for Jesus Christ, and for the glory of his name, hear my prayer and obtain my petitions. Amen.
St. Teresa of Avila had a great devotion to St. Joseph. She once said that she found help from other saints for particular things, but she could always go to St. Joseph for anything and he would help her. So we could think of Joseph as the patron saint of everything. This is summed up when we call him the patron of the universal Church. We honor him with this title because of his unique role of guarding and protecting the Holy Family. His role as protector started during his life when he was Jesus’ and Mary’s guardian in the Holy Family.
Joseph was always alert to keep his family safe and free from all dangers. Shortly after Jesus was born, King Herod sent out soldiers to kill all the baby boys in the region of Bethlehem. The ruthless king wanted to eliminate any threat to his kingship. Sadly, he didn’t realize that Jesus was not a threat as he thought, but his Savior. Herod rejected Jesus, but he didn’t succeed in his evil intent to kill him. An angel warned Joseph of the danger in a dream, and the young man got up immediately in the middle of the night. He took Mary and Jesus, quickly packed their meager belongings, and set out for Egypt. Joseph didn’t know what life in Egypt would be like, but he trusted in Divine Providence. Once there, we may suppose he worked as a carpenter to support his new family. They stayed there as long as Herod was ruling. But when Joseph heard that Herod had died—news he also received though an angel—he took the family back home to Israel. He settled in Nazareth and lovingly cared for Jesus as he grew up.
Joseph was a good father who not only supported his family through his work as a carpenter, but also taught Jesus the carpentry trade. The young boy learned everything about work through Joseph’s instruction. Joseph also taught him the Scriptures and made sure Jesus learned how to read and write.
Just as Joseph watched over Jesus when he was a boy, so too Joseph watches over the whole Church on earth. Blessed Pius IX declared Joseph to be the patron of the universal Church—in other words, St. Joseph is the patron of everything in the Catholic Church! Popes after Pius IX have also honored Joseph: Pope Leo XIII wrote an encyclical on Joseph (Quamquam Pluries), and Pope Pius XII made Joseph the patron of workers. St. John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter about Joseph entitled Guardian of the Redeemer. And Pope Francis has dedicated this year to be the year of St. Joseph, proposing it in his letter Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart).
In his letter, Pope Francis extols the virtues, love, and tenderness of Joseph in his role as protector and guardian of the Holy Family. He will watch over and guard us too, no matter what we ask, whether it’s selling our house, finding a spouse, or any other need.
Sr Julia Mary: St Joseph Patron in Every Need
Prayer Asking for St. Joseph’s Protection
The following prayer has come down to us in Catholic tradition to ask for the loving help and support of Saint Joseph. It envisions him covering us with his holy cloak, a symbol of Joseph’s love and protection.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Recite the Glory Be three times in thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity for having given Saint Joseph a position of such exceptional dignity. Then continue with the following prayer:
St. Joseph, my loving protector, I bow before you and ask you to accept me within the folds of your holy cloak. I promise to honor you throughout my life and to prove my love for you.
Help me, St. Joseph. Assist me now and throughout my life, but especially at the moment of my death, as you were assisted by Jesus and Mary, so that I may honor you forever in heaven.
O glorious patriarch, St. Joseph, I bow before you and offer you homage and true devotion, remembering the many virtues that adorn you. In you was fulfilled the mysterious dream of Joseph, the son of Jacob (see Gen 37:9). Not only did the divine sun, Jesus, surround you with the shining splendor of his rays, but the mystic moon, the Virgin Mary, shone upon you with her soft, reflected light. At your request, will not Jesus and Mary, who honor you and give you their appreciation and trust, help me also to honor you in this novena?
O great saint, ask that the Lord may look upon me with benevolence. And, just as Joseph in ancient times did not reject his guilty brothers (see Gen 42–50) but accepted them with love, protected them, and saved them from hunger and death, so you, my loving spiritual father, through your intercession ask that the Lord may never abandon me in this valley of exile. Please ask also that I may have the grace to always be numbered among your devoted servants who live serenely under the cloak of your protection, every day of my life and especially at the moment when I breathe my last breath. Amen.
Saint Joseph played a vital role in the Holy Family by being the earthly father of Jesus. Joseph gave to Jesus a good spiritual training in Nazareth, taught his son the trade of carpentry, and took care of his material needs. Joseph gives us a wonderful example of how much good a father can do in the lives of his children. Fathers who do not love or take care of their children have the opposite effect.
The story of Saint Camillus is a good example of how a father can lead a child on either a good or bad path. Even as a boy Camillus had a difficult character, which he acquired by imitating his father who was a rough soldier. Camillus’ mother died when he was twelve, and a few years later he became a soldier, fighting alongside his father. Under his father’s influence Camillus took on the vices typical of a soldier’s life at that time, especially gambling.
After his father died Camillus became a drifter who survived mainly by gambling. Because of a wound on his leg that wouldn’t heal, Camillus started working in a hospital in Rome hoping to get some treatment. But he got into trouble on account of his bad temper and rough ways. He made some attempts to improve and even thought of becoming a friar. While doing manual labor at a Capuchin monastery his better nature started to show and he eventually made a complete conversion of life.
Back at the San Giacomo hospital in Rome, he began in earnest to take care of the sick. Camillus also found a good spiritual director in Saint Philip Neri, who was like a spiritual father to Camillus. The rough soldier was transformed by this holy relationship and was ordained a priest when he was thirty-four. He began a congregation to take care of the sick, known as the Clerics Regular, Ministers of the Sick. The work flourished and with great dedication Camillus and his men nursed the poor victims of the plague. Camillus in turn became a spiritual father to the people he nursed with such love.
Despite his difficult upbringing, Camillus still became a saint. No matter what our own experience with our fathers has been, God in his loving Providence still directs our lives. God will help us to turn out well, despite any problems we have had in our upbringing. Like Camillus, we’re called to be saints too. One way that God helps us is by the gift of Saint Joseph. We can find in Joseph a model father who can help us from heaven by his intercession for us. He can be a father to us, as well as show us how to care for others as he did.
We can ask Saint Joseph to become our spiritual father. By prayer and devotion to this great saint we can learn to love him, and to experience his tender care for us.
Last week we began speaking about devotion to Saint Joseph and making a consecration to him. We learned that baptism is our fundamental consecration, and making a consecration to Saint Joseph is one way of deepening our baptismal consecration. In effect, we can ask Saint Joseph to become our spiritual father. By prayer and devotion to this great saint we can learn to love him, and to experience his tender care for us. Everyone can benefit from this, no matter what our human father was like. In the next six weeks we can prepare for the grace of making a consecration to Saint Joseph on his feast day, March 19. To help you prepare there will be an article in the newsletter about Saint Joseph and devotion to him. We will explore ways to build a wonderful relationship with Saint Joseph, so as to enjoy the grace of his spiritual fatherhood for us.
Prayer to St Joseph
Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, whose power makes the impossible possible, come to my aid in these times of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome. My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power. Amen.
(From a 19th century French prayerbook, quoted by Pope Francis in his apostolic letter on Saint Joseph.)
Catholics often talk about consecration to Mary. But lately another form of consecration has been getting more popular: consecration to Saint Joseph. Have you wondered what this consecration is all about? What does it mean to be consecrated to Saint Joseph? Before looking at this in more detail, we need to review some important information about baptism.
Baptism Is the Fundamental Consecration
Because of our baptism, we are already consecrated to God in a most basic and fundamental way. In baptism, God consecrates us to himself. God always takes the initiative. The consecration we receive binds us to God in a way that nothing else can. We become consecrated children of God the Father, brothers and sisters of God the Son, and persons filled with God the Holy Spirit.
But baptism is only the beginning of our lives of holiness. In fact, it takes a whole lifetime to fully develop the gift of baptism in our lives. The Holy Trinity calls us to live well by using the gifts we receive at baptism, especially the virtues of faith, hope, and love. We can develop and grow in these virtues for our entire lives.
What does this have to do with consecration to a saint? Some people ask, “I’m already consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, so why should I consecrate myself to Saint Joseph? How many saints can we be consecrated to anyway?”
That’s an excellent question!
Two important points can make this more clear:
1) Although we often speak of consecrating ourselves to Mary (or Joseph), it’s more accurate to say that we are consecrated to Godthrough Mary or Joseph. God is the one who does the consecrating. What we do is to offer ourselves to God. Saint Louis de Montfort, who is famous for promoting Marian consecration, is careful to use correct terminology (through Mary) and he would often repeat his motto “God alone.” In no way does consecration detract from God’s initiative in calling us to a deeper union with himself.
2) Mary and Joseph are not in competition. It’s not a race for them to see how many followers they can each gather! No, they work together. We can compare it to a family, where we can see the benefit of having a mother and a father. In the spiritual life, we can look at Mary as our mother and Joseph as our father. Mary leads us to Jesus in a feminine way, like a mother, and Joseph leads us to Jesus in a masculine way, like a father. Together with us they form a spiritual holy family and lead us closer to Jesus.
So even if you’ve already made a consecration to Mary, you can benefit by also making a consecration to Joseph. His feast day is coming up soon, on March 19.
Every week from now until that date we will have a newsletter article focusing on an aspect of Saint Joseph, to prepare for making a consecration to him on his feast day.
Prayer of Pope Francis to Saint Joseph
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.
St. Joseph Helps 