CONSECRATION TO ST. JOSEPH

O, my beloved St. Joseph, adopt me as thy child, take care of my salvation,
watch over me day and night, preserve me from the occasion of sin, obtain
for me purity of soul and body! Through thy intercession with Jesus grant
me a spirit of sacrifice, of humility and self-denial, a burning love for
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and a sweet tender love for Mary, my
Mother. St. Joseph, be with me living, be with me dying and obtain for me a
favorable judgment from Jesus, my merciful Savior. Amen

ON THE VENERATION OF ST. JOSEPH


ST. Alphonsus Liguori writes that the example of Christ who so highly
venerated St. Joseph while on earth, and who during his whole life was
obedient to him, should suffice to inspire all hearts with devotion to this
great saint; and he, whom the King of kings placed so high, indeed deserves
especial veneration from man. To encourage this veneration, St. Theresa
wrote: “I do not remember that I ever prayed to St. Joseph for anything
which he did not procure for me; the great graces God has given me through
him, and the many dangers of body and soul from which he has preserved me,
are indeed truly wonderful. It seems as if God has given to other saints
the grace to assist in some special manner those who seek their
intercession; but of this glorious saint my experience is that he assists
in every need. The Lord appears to show by this, that as He was subject to
him on earth, so in heaven he does every thing which St. Joseph requests of
Him. Others, whom I have advised to have recourse to him, have experienced
the same thing. I would gladly so advise every one.”

“I have a great devotion to this saint,” continues St. Alphonsus,
“because I have so often experienced that he can obtain so much from God.
For many years I have been accustomed to ask a special grace on his
festival, and my prayer is always answered. As we must all die, we should
all have a special devotion to St. Joseph, for all Catholics consider him
as the patron of the dying, who assists in the hour of death those who have
venerated him, and this for three reasons: because Jesus loves Him, not
only as a friend, but as His father, on which account he is a more powerful
intercessor than any other saint; because St. Joseph has a special power
against evil spirits who attack us in the hour of death; for since he freed
our Saviour from the snares of Herod, God has given him the power to guard
the dying from the attacks of the devil; lastly the assistance which Jesus
and Mary rendered him in the hour of death, gives him the right to procure
a sweet and holy death for his servants. If they, therefore, invoke him in
the hour of death, he will not only aid them himself, but procure aid for
them from Jesus and Mary.” Should not these words of so great a saint
encourage us daily to honor St. Joseph? Should not this hope of being
assisted in the hour of death by Jesus, Mary and Joseph, move us to
devotion to the foster-father of Christ?

PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH. O St. Joseph, Mary’s pure bridegroom, who because
of thy purity and love of justice wast chosen for the foster-father of
Jesus Christ, do not leave me, I beseech thee, in my necessities and cares;
ask for me the grace to live a just and pure life like thine, and grant,
that I may obtain the happiness of dying, like thee, in the arms of Jesus
and Mary. Amen.