Happy Feast of St. Joseph!

A happy and most glorious feast of St. Joseph, spouse of Our Lady and foster-father of Our Lord! Today is a first-class feast of the Church, though we understand that many of you are not able to attend Mass due to the coronavirus. Remember, you can always tune in to LiveMass to pray with a livestreamed Mass from one of our locations and make a spiritual Communion in your heart. And do not be afraid or anxious. At this time of Lent, while we prepare for the Sacred Triduum in which Our Lord departs from our tabernacles and we must endure separation from Him, let us bear this little separation with peace and patience. As Our Lord said to His Apostles before His separation from them in His Passion: “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

St. Joseph is the patron of the universal Church, of fathers, families, workers and a happy death. Devotion to this great saint should be an aspect of the spiritual life of every Catholic, for in so doing we are following the example of Christ Himself, Who was devoted to him on earth and placed Himself with filial love under his care. St. Teresa of Ávila tells us of his great intercessory power:

To other Saints Our Lord seems to have given power to succor us in some special necessity – but to this glorious Saint, I know by experience, He has given the power to help us in all. Our Lord would have us understand that as He was subject to St. Joseph on earth – for St. Joseph, bearing the title of father and being His guardian, could command Him – so now in Heaven Our Lord grants all his petitions.

And if we desire to increase our devotion to Our Lord and Our Lady, we have no better recourse than to St. Joseph.

We wish a happy patronal feast to all our apostolates dedicated to St. Joseph: Rockdale, IL, Richmond, VA and Tacoma, WA (and Tyler, TX, though their parish is more specifically dedicated to St. Joseph the Worker, feast day May 1st)!

Many of you undoubtedly have been praying a novena to St. Joseph in the days leading up to this great feast day. Another way you can honor him on this day is by praying the Litany of St. Joseph below. +

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.
Illustrious son of David, etc.
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster-father of the Son of God,
Watchful defender 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 workers,
Glory of family life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the afflicted,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. He appointed him lord of his house.

R. And prince of all his possessions.

Let us pray.
O God, Who in Thine unfathomable providence wast pleased to choose Blessed Joseph for the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beg Thee, that we may deserve to have as our advocate in Heaven him whom we revere as our protector on earth. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.