St. Joseph
Patron Saint of Families,
Travelers, Realtors & Working People
Within the Roman Catholic
tradition, St. Joseph is the husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus
Christ, and is honored as the patron saint of families, fathers, expectant mothers
(pregnant women), travelers, immigrants, house sellers and
buyers, craftsmen, engineers and working people in general.
Pope Pius IX proclaimed him the
patron of the Universal Church on December 8, 1870.
Joseph is the unofficial patron against doubt and
hesitation, as well as the patron saint of fighting
communism, and of a happy death. Joseph having died
in the "arms of Jesus and Mary" according to
Catholic tradition, he is considered the model of a
pious believer who receives grace at the moment of
death.
In addition to his primary feast
day in the Catholic and other traditions, Joseph is
honored by the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker (May
1), introduced by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to
counteract May Day, a union, workers and socialists
holiday. This reflects Joseph's status as what many
Catholics and other Christians consider the "patron
of workers" and "model of workers." Catholic and
other Christians teachings and stories about or
relating to Joseph and the Holy Family frequently
stress his patience, persistence, and hard work as
admirable qualities which believers should adopt.
In New Orleans, Louisiana, which
was a major port of entry for Sicilian immigrants
during the late 19th century, the Feast of St.
Joseph is a city-wide event. Both public and private
St. Joseph's altars are traditionally built. The
altars are usually open to any visitor who wishes to
pay homage. The food is generally distributed to
charity after the altar is dismantled.
There are also parades in honor
of St. Joseph and the Italian population of New
Orleans which are similar to the many marching clubs
and truck parades of Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's
Day. Tradition in New Orleans also holds that by
burying a small statue of St. Joseph upside down in
your front yard, your house will sell more promptly.
In addition to the above traditions, some groups of
Mardi Gras Indians stage their last procession of
the season on the Sunday prior to St. Joseph's Day
otherwise known as "Super Sunday," after which their
costumes are dismantled.
The litany of St. Joseph, one of the more recent
Catholic prayers, was sanctioned by Pope Pius X in
1909.
Litany of St. Joseph
V/ Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
V/ Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
V/ Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
V/ Jesus, hear us. R/ Jesus, graciously hear us.
V/ God, the Father of Heaven, R/ have mercy on
us.
V/ God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, R/ have
mercy on us.
V/ God, the Holy Spirit, R/ have mercy on us.
V/ Holy Trinity, One God, R/ have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, St. Joseph, Renowned offspring of
David, Light of Patriarchs, Spouse of the Mother of
God, Chaste guardian of the Virgin, Foster father of
the Son of God, Diligent protector of Christ, Head
of the Holy Family, Joseph most just, Joseph most
chaste, Joseph most prudent, Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient, Joseph most faithful, Mirror
of patience, Lover of poverty, Model of artisans,
Glory of home life, Guardian of virgins, Pillar of
families, Solace of the wretched, Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying, Terror of demons, Protector of
Holy Church,
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.
R/ have mercy on us.
He made him the lord of his household. R/ And
prince over all his possessions.
Prayer to St. Joseph
Oh, St. Joseph,
whose protection is so great, so prompt, so strong,
before the throne of God,
I place in you all my interests and desires.
Oh, St. Joseph,
do assist me by your powerful intercession,
and obtain for me from your Divine Son
all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power,
I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most Loving of
Fathers.
Oh, St. Joseph,
I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your
arms;
I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.
Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me and
Ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.
St. Joseph, Patron of departed souls - pray for me.
Amen.
The above prayer was found in the fiftieth year of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the
Pope to Emporer Charles, when he was going into battle.
Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it, or keep it about
themselves, shall never die a sudden death or be drowned,
nor shall poison take effect on them; neither shall they
fall into the hands of the enemy, or shall be burned in any
fire or shall be overpowered in any battle.
Say for nine mornings in a row for anything you may
desire. It has never been known to fail.
Burying a St. Joseph Statue for
Selling a home
-
Make a hole in the ground that is
large enough to bury the St. Joseph statue
vertically. Be sure to wrap him in plastic wrap or
place him in a plastic baggie because once your home
sells you will dig him up to keep in your new home.
-
Place the statue upside down in the
ground.
Face the upside down statue TOWARDS
the home that is to be sold.
-
Pray the St. Joseph Novena (provided
below) for nine consecutive days.
-
Once the home is sold, remove the
statue from the ground.
-
Display the statue in the heart of
your new home. Oftentimes, folks will place him on
the kitchen windowsill.
Opening Prayer
In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come to my aid, O God. O
Lord, make haste to help me.
Almighty God, Father of
mercies and giver of all good gifts, I come before you to
honor you in your saints and ask their help in my many
needs.
You promised those who ask,
would receive, those who seek, would find, those who knock,
would have doors opened to them.
Hear the prayers of your
church, grant my requests, and pardon my sins. Amen.
St. Joseph, just and true,
with a father's care you raised the child Jesus, and with a
husband's love, you shared your life with Mary, his mother.
I entrust myself to your
care and place in your hands this request of mine (say
request)….
In quiet Nazareth, long
ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to your heart and you followed
God's will with wonderful faith.
In the quiet of my days,
and in the hard choices I must make, help me follow the
Spirit's guidance and believe when I cannot see.
Day 1
Oh God, guide of those who listen and helper of those who
hear your voice, speak to me, as you did to St. Joseph, and
help me accomplish the things you give me to do .
Day 2 O
God, you love your people and bless the ordinary lives we
quietly live. As you blessed St. Joseph, bless what I do,
however hidden and simple it may be, and let all I do be
done with love.
Day 3 O
God, ever faithful, you remember us always and in time
reveal your blessings. Help me trust in you, as St. Joseph
faithfully trusted, and never let me lose faith in the
wonderful gifts you promise me.
Day 4
God of families, bless the family that's mine. Keep us safe
from harm, and never let evil come between us. Let peace
remain in our hearts.
Day 5 O
God, who loves children, be kind to our children today. Give
them eyes of faith for seeing far, a loving heart for
welcoming life, and a place always at your side.
Day 6
God of our heavenly home, bless our home on earth. Let the
spirit of Mary and Joseph rest at our table, shape our words
and actions, and bring blessing to our children.
Day 7
God, our Father, give your fatherly spirit to those who are
fathers now. Like Joseph, give them hearts of devoted love
for their wives and children and strength for forgiveness
and patience.
Day 8
Give shelter, O God, to those who need it, and bring
together families divided. Give us enough to eat, and decent
work to earn our bread. Care for us, O God.
Day 9
Bless all families, O Lord especially those in need.
Remembering the life of your Son, we pray for the poor, for
those who lack a good home, for those in exile. Grant them a
protector like Joseph, O God.
To conclude this novena,
say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be
Prayer to St. Joseph, Protector of Homes
St. Joseph, protect our home. Pour forth
heaven’s blessings on our family. Remain in our midst. Help
us to live in love and harmony, in peace and joy. May the
wholesome fear of God strengthen us that virtue may adorn
what we do and our way may lead to heaven.
To you this day I give you the key to our
dwelling place. Lock out all things that cold do us harm.
Lock my home and my loved ones with me in the hearts of
Jesus and Mary. This is beg of you that our days may be like
your days in the holy home at Nazareth. Amen.
Find
another prayer to St. Joseph
here.
