Collection: St. Joseph and Christ Child

ARTIST: Lewis Williams, OFS

ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

(Excerpt from Dom Prosper Gueranger’s prayer to St Joseph)

“We Praise and glorify you, O happy saint! We hail you as the spouse of the Queen of heaven, and foster father of the Redeemer… Though born of the kingly race of David, you were the humblest of men; your spirit led you to seek obscurity, and a hidden life was your ambition: but God chose you to be an instrument in the sublimest of all his works… The Son of God comes down to this earth that he may live the life of a man; He comes that he may sanctify the ties and affections of kindred. He calls you father; he obeys your orders. What strange emotions must have filled your heart, O Joseph!

O sublime minister of the greatest of blessings, intercede for us with God made Man. Ask Him to bestow humility upon us… Pray also for us that we may be chaste. Without purity of mind and body we cannot come near the God of all sanctity …”

Protect and guide us in the challenging task of raising a family. Give us strength, wisdom, humor and patience.

His feast day is March 19.

Read More

NOVENA PRAYER

 

(prayer to be said at the end of each day's devotion)

 

Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

 

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:

 

(Mention your request).

 

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