NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH
SIXTH DAY
St. Joseph surpasses all the other Saints
1. He was the crown of the
patriarchs and of the ancestors of the Messiah announced to the world; he
inherited all their benedictions, and saw them accomplished.
2. He was the crown of the
saints of the Old Testament; their prerogatives, their wishes were united and
perfected in his person.
3. He is the crown of the
saints of the New Testament: in his quality as head of the Holy Family, of whom
a Man-God was a member, he surpasses them all in dignity; and as he was in this
charge the wise and faithful servant by excellence, he must surpass them all in
glory.
Virtues to be imitated in St. Joseph
1. His faith, which was very
lively and fruitful in good works.
2. His self-possession in
adversity as in prosperity.
3. His zeal for the honour of
God and the salvation of men.
Prayer
Blessed Joseph, to whom alone
was reserved the happiness of inheriting all the benedictions of the other
patriarchs, and of seeing them accomplished in that which raised thee to the
dignity of father of the Messiah, in whom all nations were to be blessed; let
all the patriarchs come now, and place on thy head a crown of glory as to their
king: let all the other saints of the Old Testament come also and crown thee as
their chief with as many stars as there are degrees of sanctity by which thou
hast surpassed them, by uniting in thee and by perfecting all their virtues.
Lastly, let all the saints of the New Testament, the apostles, the martyrs, the
confessors, the virgins, come in their turn, and, with their palms mingled with
lilies and roses, crown the head of the family of God, the first disciple of
Jesus Christ, the first imitator of His divine examples, the first confidant of
the hearts of Jesus and Mary, the first saint of the law of grace proclaimed
thus by the Sacred Books. Be blessed, holy patriarch, by all the saints; but
raised to the height of felicity, do not forget to let thy poor servant
participate in some of the abundant benedictions which enrich thee in eternity.
What I desire above all others is, that thou wouldst make the salutary fruits
of the passion of my Saviour descend upon me. If I obtain these fruits of
benediction upon earth, I hope to arrive at the enjoyment of the fruits of
glory with which the elect are satiated in Heaven. Amen.
V. Pray for us, St. Joseph.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, Lord,
that we may be assisted by the merits of the spouse of Thy most holy Virgin
Mother, and that what we cannot obtain through our own weakness, may be granted
to us by his prayers. Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Sentences relative to St. Joseph
Jacob was great by the
eminence of his virtues and piety; but how much greater was that of our holy
patriarch Joseph! He was greater than Noah and the other patriarchs. He is
blessed among all men, for the same reason that the Blessed Virgin is blessed
among all women. - Navaeus, sec. 2, in St. Joseph.
He excels all the other
patriarchs and prophets by two privileges; namely, as spouse of Mary, and as
father of Christ. - Tolet.
He is the first, in the law of
grace, who suffered persecution for justice, so that the sword also pierced his
soul. - Rupert.
Joseph was so much the more
excellent as he belonged to a higher order. - St. Thom.
1. A more rigorous fast than
ordinary.
2. A work of mercy, spiritual
or corporal.
3. A visit to our Lord, to ask
Him to make us participate in the benedictions of St. Joseph.
Recite, for this intention,
the Te Deum.
Te Deum
O God, we praise Thee, and
acknowledge Thee to be the supreme Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the
earth worships Thee.
All the Angels, the heavens
and all angelic powers,
All the Cherubim and Seraphim,
continuously cry to Thee:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of
Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of
the Majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the
Apostles,
The wonderful company of
Prophets,
The white-robed army of
Martyrs, praise Thee.
Holy Church throughout the
world acknowledges Thee:
The Father of infinite
Majesty;
Thy adorable, true and only
Son;
Also the Holy Spirit, the
Comforter.
O Christ, Thou art the King of
glory!
Thou art the everlasting Son
of the Father.
When Thou tookest it upon
Thyself to deliver man,
Thou didst not disdain the
Virgin's womb.
Having overcome the sting of
death, Thou opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all
believers.
Thou sitest at the right hand
of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou willst
come to be our Judge.
We, therefore, beg Thee to
help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy
Precious Blood.
Let them be numbered with Thy
Saints in everlasting glory.
V.
Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless
Thy inheritance!
R.
Govern them, and raise them up
forever.
V.
Every day we thank Thee.
R.
And we praise Thy Name forever, yes,
forever and ever.
V.
O Lord, deign to keep us from sin
this day.
R.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy
on us.
V.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us,
for we have hoped in Thee.
R.
O Lord, in Thee I have put my trust;
let me never be put to shame.
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