St. Joseph, Mirror of Patience You've Heard

Pope Pius XII established the May 1 Feast of St. Joseph the Worker in 1955 to foster a deeper devotion to St. Joseph.

“Ite ad Ioseph, Go to Joseph.”

These were the words of Pharaoh to the people of Egypt during the years of famine (Gen. 41:55). In Christian tradition, these words have been used to encourage people to turn to St. Joseph in their needs. Just as through Joseph, the son of Israel, God provided food for the starving people of Egypt and his family, so through Joseph, the husband of Mary, God the Father did provide for the needs of Jesus. From heaven, he continues to make intercession to God for us all.

During this novena, you are encouraged to offer these prayers for those who are affected by the COVID-19 virus, especially those who are out of work or sick because of it. You can add your own particular intention each day as well.

April 22: St. Joseph, Mirror of Patience You’ve heard it over and over: “Patience is a virtue.” Finding peace and calm in our days can be very challenging with all of the different demands and pressures on us. When something is out of our control, when we cannot have something instantly, when we are struggling with the same problem or issue, or when we are dealing with someone else’s faults, our patience can wear quite thin.

“Ite ad Ioseph, Go to St. Joseph.”

St. Joseph’s life was a continual process of waiting on the Lord’s revelation to him. He had to wait for the Lord to reveal what Mary’s pregnancy was all about, and what his role was to be. When Jesus was an infant, St. Joseph had to take his family and uproot them to Egypt to flee Herod’s murderous threat (Matthew 2:13-23). In Egypt, he would have had to find new work and new shelter for his family, and stay indefinitely in a foreign land. But Joseph was patient. Joseph trusted in God’s providential care for him.

Patience, and trust in God, does not mean that we will not face daily anxieties, or complete upheaval in our lives. But by God’s grace, practicing patience means we can deal with the daily annoyances, the faults of others, the little inconveniences, and the big problems that face us. In trials, we learn how to grow in virtue and live in God’s grace. Exercising patience and mercy, especially when dealing with others or with things out of our control, always bring about good. The Beatitudes remind us that that every difficulty will result in some blessing from God. In this time, go to Joseph and ask his intercession to help us be patient and merciful, trusting in God’s plan and care for us.

Prayer:

O Glorious St. Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously, and to work with gratitude, joy, moderation, and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties. Help me to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self. Be with those who are unemployed and underemployed that they will always know your care. Grant that those who seek work may quickly find it. Protect and care for me and my loved ones in our daily life and work, just as you did for the Holy Family. Intercede for me and obtain for me the graces and favors I ask this day. (Here mention your particular intention.) Amen.

April 23: St. Joseph, Person of Courage What does courage mean to you? Who is someone that you believe is courageous? The root word of courage is the Latin word “cor,” meaning “heart.” To be someone who is courageous could mean that you are someone who has an unwavering heart in the face of adversity or difficulty. Rooted in the love of Jesus Christ, a courageous person is someone who bears witness to what is in his or her heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart.”

“Ite ad Ioseph, Go to Joseph.”

Certainly we can say St. Joseph was a man of courage. In the Gospel of Matthew 1:20-21, Joseph acts on the basis of a dream. An angel appears to Joseph and says, “Do not be afraid.” The angel wouldn’t have said that unless there was plenty to fear coming for Joseph.

With Mary, Joseph faces a choice. If a betrothed woman became pregnant, it was regarded as adultery, and punishable by stoning. Joseph does not divorce Mary quietly, or shy away from Mary, but instead takes her into his home. In doing so, he acts courageously. The public disgrace that would have fallen upon Mary, Joseph accepts for his own. When fleeing into Egypt, he would have faced many dangers: robbery, physical assaults, and a pagan culture. Yet, Joseph trusted that God would be with him and would continue to guide him. Let us go to Joseph and ask his intercession to help us always be courageous, and remember the words of St. Paul to the Romans, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).

Prayer:

April 24: St. Joseph, Lover of Poverty The desire to be seen and to see is a powerful one in today’s culture. We need only to look around to see people doing and saying the most outrageous things to be noticed. But why do people seem to seek attention at any cost?

“Ite ad Ioseph, Go to Joseph.”

We know so little about St. Joseph’s life from Scripture. We know that the Holy Family was financially poor, and probably not regarded as anything influential in society. Yet from this family came the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Our faith teaches us that true happiness and true blessedness comes in recognizing and embracing our poverty. Pope Francis (who was installed as pope on the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary) has reminded us that we are to be a Church that is poor and a Church that is for the poor. This call is not just about material poverty. Pope Francis has challenged us as a Church to recognize and embrace our spiritual poverty.

We all struggle. We all sin. And yet we have been saved in, and through, God's love. We have experienced the Lord's profound gift of mercy. When we empty ourselves of those material possessions that distract us and make us competitive, when we empty ourselves of the need of being “in charge” of our lives, when we empty ourselves of ego, pride, and individualism we will find that our hearts are free and available to do the will of the Lord. In our poverty - in being poor, free, and available - we find that we can better hear the voice of God in our lives and live out what he calls us to.

St. Joseph was empty of the material things that often distract us from living our relationship with God. In the poverty and emptiness of silence, Joseph became someone truly great—a saint. And in living out his call, he became a model, not just for us, but for his son, Jesus. Go to Joseph and ask him to help us be lovers of our own poverty in body, mind, and spirit.

Prayer:

Protect and care for me and my loved ones in our daily life and work, just as you did for the Holy Family. Intercede for me and obtain for me the graces and favors I ask this day. (Here mention your particular intention.) Amen.

April 25: St. Joseph, Pillar of Families When you think of your role in your personal family, how do you see yourself? When you think of your role in the family of the Church, how do you see yourself?

“Ite ad Ioseph, Go to Joseph.”

St. Joseph was many things to his family. He was a husband, father, protector, teacher, and pray-er for Jesus and Mary. Above all, St. Joseph was primarily a servant of God. Joseph teaches us that if we want to fulfill our vocation and family responsibilities, we must turn to God for guidance, inspiration, and all the graces and virtues we need. When we look at Joseph’s life, we see how he is a pillar of the family. A “pillar” is reliable, strong, and capable of providing essential support. Perhaps we may at times feel like we are incapable of providing the correct support, or we feel that we are too weak to be the support our families may need. In those times, we need to especially pray and seek God’s strength. He will give us all we need to be who we are in, and for our families. St. Joseph teaches us that even though we may not be perfect, God gives us the graces to fulfill our vocations. Go to Joseph this day, praying for ourselves and our families.

Prayer:

April 26: St. Joseph, Model of Workers Work is a part of life. Even in the creation accounts of Genesis, the man and women were able to tend to the garden God had given them. Our work often gives us a sense of fulfillment, because we are able to use the particular gifts that God has given us for the betterment of the world. But work can be taxing at times on our bodies, minds, and spirits. It can be especially distressing when we find ourselves without work, or when we overwork. Take a moment to think of how you view your work.

“Ite ad Ioseph, Go to Joseph.”

St. Joseph, we are told, is a carpenter. He passed his knowledge and work ethic on to his son Jesus. Jesus spent many years as a carpenter before he started his public ministry. St. Joseph must have taught Jesus to make time for rest, for prayer, and for recreation. And Jesus – in his early work as a carpenter and later work as a healer and teacher – shows us the value of work, and how to live out our working life.

Perhaps we sometimes we can complain about our work—about coworkers, about workloads, about our own limitations in performing our work. St. Joseph can help. He can teach us to give what we can, to live humbly, and to be patient with others. He can teach us to be grateful when we have work to do, especially when we work for financial compensation. Today go to Joseph and ask his intercession in our labors, and pray for those who are unemployed, underemployed, and seeking gainful employment.

Prayer:

April 27: St. Joseph, Comfort of the Afflicted Life is filled with many afflictions. Life presents us with many hidden – and public – sufferings, pains, and difficulties to be endured. Aging, and its limitations, will come. Loved ones will die. Our disappointments may be many.

“Ite ad Ioseph, Go to Joseph.”

No matter what we endure, we have a father in St. Joseph. Perhaps you know the comfort of having an earthly father that you could turn to in times of difficulty, and pour out your heart to him. Perhaps this father gave you good advice and direction. No matter what our own fatherly experience may have been, Joseph is a father who seeks to comfort us and guide us. He is a father to whom we can always turn. He is a father who loves us, who does not seek to harm us, and who desires to draw us closer to his other child, Jesus. In our difficulties, we can turn to St. Joseph in prayer, pour out our hearts to him, and know he hears us. He is a father who is always attentive, loving, and open. Today go to Joseph, our father, and give him your cares and concerns.

Prayer:

April 28: St. Joseph, Hope of the Sick Have you ever been really sick, maybe even in danger of dying? Sickness can frighten us and knock us down. In times of sickness, where do we turn?

“Ite ad Ioseph, Go to Joseph.”

Throughout history, St. Joseph’s intercession is said to have helped many who were ill. No matter what we experience as part of our weak human condition, St. Joseph is there to help. Our tradition tells us that Jesus and Mary had to care for St. Joseph at his death, because there is no mention of Joseph in Jesus’ public ministry. It is presumed that Joseph died before Jesus began his ministry. Jesus knows what it means to see the sick and suffering and wants to be there to help. Sometimes, we may experience miraculous cures, other times, we will not. In any case, our God is with us. Go to Joseph this day and ask him to help you bear the pains of sickness with humility and faith, and pray for all of those who are currently sick or suffering in any way.

Prayer:

April 29: St. Joseph, Patron of the Dying Death. The very word can conjure fear and throw us into turmoil. We will all face it. Death is a part of life, but not an easy part of life. But it is good to often think about our own death, to recognize that our life will one day end, and to be prepared to meet God. You may not think that much about death, but think about how often it is mentioned in an often prayed prayer: the Hail Mary. At the end of the prayer, we say “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sins now and at the hour of our death, Amen.”

“Ite ad Ioseph, Go to Joseph.”

Imagine what death must have been like for St. Joseph. He died gazing into the faces of his wife, Mary, and his son, Jesus. As far as “happy” deaths go, it is often said that St. Joseph died a happy and holy death. And Joseph wants us to die in the same way. Like St. Joseph, we will all face death. We will face the death of people we love. We need to place our hope and trust in Jesus and His saving passion, death, and resurrection. We need to be honest about our mortality and live in such a way that no matter when we face death, we will be prepared to meet Our Lord. Go to Joseph today and ask him to help you to be prepared for death, and to be with you at the hour of death. Pray also for all who are dying today, and those who face terminal illness.

Prayer:

April 30: St. Joseph, Protector of the Church The Church is holy because of Jesus. To put it bluntly, there are many people in the Church who are not holy. Their criminal and sinful action damage the Body of Christ. Jesus has told us in scripture that the weeds and wheat will grow together, and that God will sort them in the end, separating the weeds from the wheat. As members of the Body of Christ, we should make our focus on living a holy life, a life in union with Our Lord.

“Ite ad Ioseph, Go to Joseph.”

St. Joseph is model for us to follow. We have seen through our novena ways to imitate his holiness. No matter what we endure in life, we are all called to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are called to stay close to St. Joseph as a protector, father, and guide. If we are in danger of slipping, we need to turn to Joseph and ask his intercession to keep us on the right path. St. Joseph never tires of helping us learn to love those that he loved most in his life: his wife and his son. Go to Joseph this day and ask him to continue to help all in the Church reflect the beauty and dignity of Jesus Christ, living as his holy Body in the world.

Prayer:

Be with those who are unemployed and underemployed that they will always know your care. Grant that those who seek work may quickly find it. Protect and care for me and my loved ones in our daily life and work, just as you did for the Holy Family. Intercede for me and obtain for me the graces and favors I ask this day. (Here mention your particular intention.) Amen.

May 1: Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore: (Here mention your particular intention).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked for your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.

Litany of St. Joseph Lord, have mercy on us Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us, Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us. St. Joseph, pray for us. Renowned offspring of David, pray for us. Light of Patriarchs, pray for us. Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us. Chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us. Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us. Diligent protector of Christ, pray for us. Head of the Holy Family, pray for us. Joseph most just, pray for us.

Joseph most chaste, pray for us. Joseph most prudent, pray for us. Joseph most strong, pray for us. Joseph most obedient, pray for us. Joseph most faithful, pray for us. Mirror of patience, pray for us. Lover of poverty, pray for us. Model of artisans, pray for us. Glory of home life, pray for us. Guardian of virgins, pray for us. Pillar of families, pray for us. Hope of the sick, pray for us. Patron of the dying, pray for us. Terror of demons, pray for us. Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Jesus. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Jesus. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Jesus.

V. He made him the lord of his household R. And prince over all his possessions.

Let us pray: O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever.