1) Prière du pape Léon XIII – “Nous recourons à vous dans notre tribulation”
We rerun to you in our tribulation, O blessed Joseph, and, after imploring the help of your most holy wife, we also confidently ask for your patronage.
Par l’affection qui vous a uni à la Vierge immaculée, Mère de Dieu ; par l’amour paternel dont vous avez entouré l’Enfant Jésus, nous vous supplions de regarder avec bonté l’héritage que Jésus-Christ a conquis au prix de son sang, et de nous assister de votre puissance et de votre secours dans nos besoins.
Protégez, Ô très sage gardien de la divine Famille, la race élue de Jésus-Christ ; Préservez-nous, ô Père très aimant, de toute souillure d’erreur et de corruption ; soyez-nous favorable, ô notre très puissant libérateur.
Du haut du ciel assistez-nous dans le combat que nous livrons à la puissance des ténèbres ; et, de même que vous avez arraché autrefois l’Enfant Jésus au péril de la mort, défendez aujourd’hui la sainte Eglise de Dieu des embûches de l’ennemi et de toute adversité.
Cover each and every one of us with your perpetual protection, so that, sustained by your help, we may live holy, die piously and obtain eternal bliss in Heaven.
So be it.
2) Pope St. Pius X's prayer to St. Joseph, model of workers
Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all those who are dedicated to work, obtain for me the grace
– de travailler en esprit de pénitence pour l’expiation de mes nombreux péchés;
- to work conscientiously, putting the cult of duty above my inclinations;
- to work with gratitude and joy, considering it an honor to employ and develop through work the gifts received from God;
- to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, never backing down in the face of weariness and difficulty;
– de travailler surtout avec pureté d’intention et avec détachement de moi-même ayant sans cesse devant les yeux la mort et le compte que je devrai rendre du temps perdu, des talents inutilisés, du bien omis et des vaines complaisances dans le succès, si funestes à l’oeuvre de Dieu.
All for Jesus, all for Mary, all in imitation of you, patriarch Saint Joseph!
That's my motto for life and death.
So be it.
3) Pope Pius XII's prayer to Saint Joseph the craftsman
In 1955, Pius XII instituted the Feast of St. Joseph the Craftsman, to be celebrated on May 1 each year.
O glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, humble and just artisan of Nazareth, who gave to all Christians, but especially to us, the example of a perfect life in constant work and in admirable union with Mary and Jesus, assist us in our daily task, so that we too, Catholic artisans, may find in it the effective means to glorify the Lord, to sanctify ourselves and to be useful to the society in which we live, the supreme ideals of all our actions.
Obtain for us from the Lord, O our most beloved protector, humility and simplicity of heart, a taste for work and benevolence towards those who are our fellow laborers, conformity to the divine will in the inevitable sorrows of this life and joy in bearing them, awareness of our particular social mission, and a sense of our responsibility, a spirit of discipline and prayer, docility and respect towards our superiors, brotherhood towards equals, charity and indulgence for our subordinates. Be with us in our moments of prosperity, when everything invites us to honestly taste the fruits of our labors; but sustain us in the hours of sadness, when heaven seems to close in on us and the very instruments of labor seem to rebel in our hands.
Grant that, following your example, we may keep our eyes fixed on Mother Mary, your most gentle wife, who, in a corner of your modest workshop, spun silently, letting the most gracious smile wander across her lips; grant also that we may not take our eyes off Jesus, who toiled at your carpenter's bench, so that we may thus lead a peaceful and holy life on earth, a prelude to the eternally happy one that awaits us in heaven, for ever and ever.
So be it.
4) Prayer to Saint Joseph by Saint François de Sales
Glorious Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, grant us your paternal protection, we beseech you through Jesus Christ. O you whose power extends to all our needs and knows MAKE THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS POSSIBLE IMPOSSIBLE, take paternally the interests of your children: we turn to you with confidence. Grant that, under your paternal guidance, all our concerns may turn to the glory of God and the good of his devoted servants.
So be it.
5). Prayers to Saint Joseph by St Alphonsus de Liguori
My holy Patriarch, I beg you, in the name of the sorrows you experienced when you saw the divine Word born in a stable, in such a state of poverty, without fire, without linen, and when you heard him weep through the suffering caused by the rigors of the cold; I beg you, I say, to obtain for me true sorrow for my sins, by which I was the cause of the tears shed by Jesus.
But, in the name of the consolation you felt when, for the first time, you saw Jesus as an infant, born in a manger, so beautiful, so gracious, so that from that moment your heart began to burn with a more ardent love for this lovable and beloved child, obtain for me the grace to love him with a great love on earth too, so that one day I may be admitted to possess him in heaven.
And you, O Mary, mother of God and my mother, recommend me to your son, and obtain for me forgiveness for all the offenses I have committed against him, and the grace not to offend him again.
And you, my beloved Jesus, forgive me for the love of Mary and Joseph, and grant me the grace to be able one day to see you in heaven, to praise you there, and to love your divine beauty, and your goodness that made you a child for the love of me. I love you, infinite beauty.
I love you, my Jesus. I love you, my God, my love, my all.
6) Greetings to Saint Joseph by Saint John Eudes
Hail Joseph, image of God the Father
Hail Joseph, father of God the Son
Hail Joseph, Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit
Hail Joseph, beloved of the Most Holy Trinity
Hail Joseph, most worthy spouse of the Virgin Mother
Hail Joseph, father of all the faithful
Hail Joseph, faithful observer of sacred silence
Hail Joseph, lover of holy poverty
Hail Joseph, model of gentleness and patience
Hail Joseph, mirror of humility and obedience
Blessed art thou among men
And blessed are your eyes that have seen what you have seen
and blessed are your ears which have heard what you have heard
and blessed are your hands that have touched the Word made flesh
and blessed are your arms that have borne Him who bears all things
and blessed be your heart set ablaze for Him with the most ardent love
and blessed be the Eternal Father who chose you
and blessed be the Son who loved you
and blessed be the Holy Spirit who has sanctified you
and blessed be Mary, your wife, who cherished you as a husband and as a brother
and blessed forever are all those who love you and bless you.
7 ) Cantique of Saint Teresa of Avila
Joseph, your admirable life
Se passa dans l’humilité ;
But of Jesus and Mary,
You were contemplating beauty!
Joseph, O tender Father,
Protect Carmel!
That your children, on this earth,
Taste the peace of heaven.
The Son of God, in his infancy,
Plus d’une fois, avec bonheur,
Subject to your obedience,
S’est reposé sur votre cœur !
Like you, in solitude,
We serve Mary and Jesus;
Pleasing them is our only study;
We want nothing more.
Saint Theresa, our Mother,
She always confided in you;
She assures us that her prayer,
Vous l’exauciez d’un prompt secours.
Quand l’épreuve sera finie,
We have the sweet hope
Close to the divine Mary,
Saint Joseph, we'll come and see you.
Bless you, tender Father,
Our little Carmel ;
Après l’exil de cette terre
Bring us together in heaven.
