NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH
FIRST DAY
St. Joseph, Spouse of Mary
"She was espoused to a man whose
name was Joseph." - St. Luke 1: 27
Now the generation
of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph,
before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost.
Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to
expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these
things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying:
Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which
is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son: and
thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their
sins. Now all this was done that it
might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Behold a virgin
shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the
angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife.
He was the true and worthy
spouse of Mary, especially predestined to so noble an alliance by the Almighty,
who adorned him with all the virtues required for so glorious a destiny.
He was a virgin, and his
virginity became the faithful copy of Mary's, because, like her, he had made
the vow of chastity.
He was the cherub to whom
was confided the guard of the new terrestrial paradise, of the true
propitiatory which contains the price of the reconciliation of Heaven with
earth.
Virtues to be imitated in St. Joseph
His love of purity.
The guard of his senses.
His mortification in what
concerns the labours of the body and mind.
Prayer
Blessed Joseph, thou, whom the
august Trinity has chosen to be the spouse of the Mother of God, art worthy
that angels and men should honour, revere, and congratulate thee on the
incomparable dignity that thou possessest among all the inhabitants of Heaven
and earth. I am the most unworthy of all creatures; notwithstanding, I venture
to offer today, at thy feet, all the affectionate sentiments of my heart, and
repeat, with the angels and saints: Long live the worthy spouse of Mary! Live
the lily of virginity inseparably united to the mystical rose to the
incorruptible rose! Live the cherub, faithful guardian of the Paradise in which
the Word Incarnate found his delights! Ah! most chaste and happy spouse, obtain
for me, I beseech thee, the grace to imitate thy love of purity, and the
strength to vanquish all the temptations from which thou hast been preserved by
the privilege of thy election, by the sublimity of thy virtues.
Practices during the Day
Practice some corporal
austerity or penance, if your health permit.
Avoid looking at any curious
or useless object.
Speak little, to honour the
silence and recollection of St. Joseph, of whom the Gospel has not preserved a single
word.
Address to him, from time to
time, an aspiration during the day.
I have noticed that
all persons who have true devotion to St. Joseph and tender him special honor,
are very much advanced in virtue, for he takes great care of souls who
recommend themselves to him; and I have never asked of him anything which he
did not obtain for me.
-St. Teresa of
Avila
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