dominican saints
St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Feast Day March 19th
The Patriarch St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
All hearts, those of young and old, married people and virgins, priests, working men and princes, are alike attracted towards St. Joseph, who holds so modest, yet so important a place in the mysteries of the Holy Infancy by his office of protector of Mary and the Divine Child. Holy Scripture says of the first Joseph, son of Jacob: “He is a growing son.” There is nothing astonishing then in the fact that the cultus of the new Joseph has grown in the course of centuries until our own time in the most consoling and fruitful manner. God has so disposed it that we may understand by his example his esteem of the domestic virtues, his love of work, his simplicity and frugality in food, clothing and lodging, his constant prayer in the midst of work, the sweetness of his character and uprightness of his life, that these virtues are necessary to the family and to society; above all in our days, when the rulers of the world so unwisely throw off the duty of protecting Christian principles.
Above all, what a death was that of St. Joseph in the arms of Jesus and Mary and in the midst of their prayers! It is probable that this happiest of all deaths took place at the beginning of Our Lord’s apostolic life.
Prayer — St. Joseph, obtain for me that I may guard the grace of Jesus as faithfully as thou didst guard Jesus Himself.
Practice — Say some prayer to St. Joseph for the dying.
Prayers/Commemorations
æFirst Vespers:
Ant. Exsúrgens Joseph a somno fecit sicut præcépit ei angelus Domini, et accepit conjugem suam.
V. Amavit eum Dominus, et ornavit eum.
R. Stolam gloriæ induit eum.
Lauds:
Ant. Ipse Jesus erat incipiens quasi annorum triginta, ut
putabatur, filius Joseph.
V. Justus germinabit sicut lilium.
R. Et florebit in æternum ante Dominum.
Second Vespers:
Ant. Ecce fidélis servus et prudens, quern constituit Dominus super familiam suam.
V. Amavit eum Dominus, et ornavit eum.
R. Stolam gloriæ induit eum.
Prayer:
Let us Pray: Beati patriarch, Joseph, sanctissimae
Genitricis tuae sponsi, quaesumus Domine, meritis adjuvemur: ut quod possibilitas nostra non obtinet ejus nobis intercessione donetur. Qui vivis et regnas per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
First Vespers:
Ant. Joseph arising from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his spouse.
V. The Lord loved him and adorned him.
R. He clothed him with a robe of glory.
Lauds:
Ant. Jesus Himself when about thirty years of age, was beginning to teach, and was thought to be the Son of Joseph.
V. The just man shall blossom like the lily.
R. And shall flourish forever before the Lord.
Second Vespers:
Ant. Behold the faithful and wise servant, whom the
Lord made ruler over His household.
V. The Lord loved him and adorned him.
R. He clothed him with a robe of glory.
Prayer:
Let us Pray: Help us, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, through the merits of the blessed patriarch Joseph, spouse
of Thy most holy Mother, that what we cannot, of ourselves obtain, Thou mayest grant us at his petition. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
