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Special favour
O Saint Joseph, loving father, faithful guardian of Jesus and spouse of the Mother of God,
we pray you to remind God the Father of all the love he feels for us in offering up the death
and resurrection of his son to give us life. Through the power of Jesus, obtain for us from the eternal
Father the favour that we ask...
Beg God's mercy on your children. From the midst of God's kingdom, reach out to pilgrims on earth,
remember those who toil in vain, who suffer and who weep. May the Lord Jesus, sensitive to our
prayers and attentive to your intercession as well as to that of Mary your spouse, respond to our
confidence so as to let us live in joy and hope.
Amen.
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Joseph Now Knows the Great Secret
Joseph now knows the great secret.
Peacefully, he lies awake alongside his virgin bride.
An ordinary man, yet sensitive to the weight of God's gift,
He softly sings over and over to God living inside of her
His Magnificat!
Within the deep silence of the humble dwelling,
Three hearts beat as one.
Translated from ''Joseph, Fils de David, qui êtes-vous!'' by Bernard Martelet
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For the Votive Chapel.
Prayer from the Central Lampstand in front of the statue of Saint Joseph.
I Lift Up My Needs in Prayer
Joseph, with Jesus and Mary, you knew hunger, uncertainty, and illness.
You turned your heart to God to lift up your needs and those of your family.
In faith you accepted the Father's response as events unfolded.
Be with me today as I offer my requests to the Father.
Joseph, let me recognize God's will as I open my hands to accept
what God bestows in loving kindness.
With tenderness, God fills creation with life and love.
Open my eyes to the wonders that God works without ceasing.
Let me learn the true intention behind my request so that I may discover within
myself the lowly one that God commends.
| Joseph, our Solace in Suffering |
Compassionate Joseph, one with us in our human condition,
together with Mary and Jesus you experience exile, hunger
and violence. Refusing vengeance, you choose mercy.
Your forgiveness breaks the circle of violence.
Through your goodness, God's hope for our humanity is preserved.
Joy is yours, for the Kingdom of God is your inheritance.
Open our compassionate hands in times of war, famine and exile.
Keep us from developing a victim's mentality, and make our pain a source of growth.
Sustain us in fulfilling our responsibility of cultivating inner peace, joy and serenity.
In your wisdom, counsel us to close all doors to bitterness, so that, watched
over by God, we may dance for joy.
Amen |
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| Joseph, Model of Labourers |
Good Saint Joseph, when God wanted a
family for his Son, He looked among the
labourers, and chose you along with Mary,
demonstrating His esteem for human work.
You put your heart into your work, and share
your workshop with Jesus. Your work, like that
of other humans, found new meaning in the presence
of God.
Sustain us in the hope of finding work when we are
confronted with the desolation of unemployment.
Counsel business leaders to create an equitable
division of labour that is respectful of individuals,
and promotes our growth and happiness.
Help us to perform our work joyfully, conscientiously,
fairly and honestly. Prepare our hearts to recognize
your Son in our colleagues at work.
Amen |
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| Joseph, Mainstay of Families |
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Attentive Joseph, in Mary and you, the Divine Word
finds a favourable environment in which to carry out
the will of the Father; thus, you become the family of
the Child-God.
In your gentle life together, you experience Love daily.
The unity of your hearts transforms life's lessons into
growing wisdom and grace.
Open our hearts to the Word that lives within us,
that our actions may bear witness to our connection
to the family of God.
Sustain us in our emotional commitments, where
giving and forgiveness shape our identities.
Grant us your tenderness in the things we do
each day!
Amen
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| Joseph, Hope of the Sick |
Benevolent Joseph, the Son of God placed
his life in your hands.
With Mary, you cared for Him who is the force of life.
May your compassion enfold our fragility, bringing us
the comfort of the divine presence.
We join with you in prayer, saying:
''Lord Jesus, Son of Living God, say a word for our healing!''
Make us sensitive to the illnesses of those close to us.
Support our efforts and grant us courage in the fight
against all evil.
Help us to find meaning in God's great project for humanity
beyond the sicknesses and sufferings that blind our sight.
The love of God be with us, as our hope lies with Him!
Amen |
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| Joseph, Patron Saint of the Dying |
Faithful Joseph, with the fulfillment of the Lord's
promise, you peacefully leave this world in Jesus
and Mary's hands. Your faith transforms death into
the sowing of life; thus, God considers you to be a just
man. Your heart overflows in the presence of the Lord.
With your hands outstretched to God, your night is filled
with prayers. Surrounded by the living, you embark upon
the great march to the promise Land.
Open our eyes that we may glimpse the road to Life that lies
beyond death.
May nothing, not denial, anger, nor depression, separate us from
the Love of God.
Strengthen our faith in God who always finds ways of preserving us in his
friendship.
Be beside us to hold our hands when we take our first steps toward the
Eternal Kingdom.
Amen |
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| Joseph, Protector of the Church |
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Brave Joseph, collaborator in God's
project for humanity, your tenderness
enfolds the newborn Church.
Just as Mary and Jesus recognize in you
the protection of the Father, so too does
the community of faith place itself under
your protection.
Strengthen us with the Spirit that filled the
Nazarene home and guide our footsteps on
the road to the Kingdom.
Accompany us in carrying out our mission.
Help us to be lights in the world so that the
family of God may spring forth from humanity
transfigured in Christ.
Grant us the strength to imitate God's preference
for the poor and weak. Guide us in our pastoral
activities that our actions may be modeled on
the Good News.
Amen
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| Joseph, Terror of Demons |
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Courageous Joseph, advised by an angel,
you confront your fears of the unknown.
Your light shines brightly, penetrating the
dark corners of your being. Your fears dispersed,
you rediscover your true face, and actively
participate in the divine project reuniting
mother and Child, and the people with their God.
Together with Mary and Jesus, you dwell in the love
of God.
Help us to rediscover the united core of our identities,
beyond all internal fears.
Counsel us so we may build a better world to welcome
the coming Kingdom.
Shed your light on our inner lives that, freed from the
grip of our fears, our decisions may be founded in Love.
May the face of God shine on us!
Amen
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| Joseph, Guardian of the Pure in Heart |
Gentle Joseph, God is captivated by the
quality of your heart. Your entire being is
focused on doing his will. With Mary and Jesus,
you answer the Holy Spirit's call to build a better world.
With one heart, we join you in saying:
''Here we are, Lord, your will be done!
Your kingdom come nearer to us!''
Keep the hope of a new world alive in our hearts.
Inspire us to speak words of tenderness to awaken
the love of hearts.
May we draw the energy for our actions from the source
of all Love so our faces may shine with the freedom
of the children of God.
Amen |
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In the heart of the world, Joseph
How good it is to live,
How sweet it is simply to be here,
Slightly intoxicated,
Drunk with gratitude to you,
Joseph, who interceded with our Lord for me.
You found a way, Joseph, to gather round me
Saint Claire, Saint Francis
Saint Bruno, Saint Bernard
Saint Eulalia, Saint Anne, Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus
Brother André, Sister Catherine of Saint Augustine, and Francis of Laval
Like a great spiritual family.
Yes, You my gentle protector, You Saint Joseph,
You spared nothing
To ask God on my behalf
For more clarity,
More inner freedom,
More self-denial,
More peace,
But above all, for renewed health,
Healing so greatly desired,
A fresh opportunity to experience life.
In the heart of the world, Joseph,
You ask me for an increased commitment
To listen with greater respect,
To serve my neighbour with my whole heart and with courage.
In the heart of the world, Joseph,
You spur me on to greater faith and abandonment,
To say “Yes” to life, to the life of abundance you offer me,
Following Jesus
On the roads of the world
Gisèle Ryan
Centenary: A World of Love!
Saint Joseph of Mount Royal
You, the worker; you, the craftsman
You chose a humble man
To build an oratory
In your honour on Mount Royal,
An oratory erected to your glory.
For 100 years,
Our devotion to you has been central to our celebrations,
Your loving presence has filled our hearts,
Your fatherly tenderness
Has reconciled us to life’s ordeals,
And given us the courage to go on.
Saint Joseph of Mount Royal
You, Mary’s loving spouse,
Jesus’ caring father,
Protect our families,
Guide our footsteps,
Open our hearts to one another.
We, like Brother André,
Turn to you, Joseph,
Our father, our friend,
Fully confident in life,
Prepared to give everything we have
Despite our fears,
Comforted by your presence.
Saint Joseph of Mount Royal
Let the legacy Brother André left to humanity grow
Over the decades and centuries.
Let it continue to be
A haven of silence,
A beacon in the darkest nights of our lives,
A compassionate refuge,
A crossroads of peace.
Saint Joseph of Mount Royal
Protect the women and men
Who come to You,
Beseech You, thank You, and praise You,
With A World of Love in their hearts.
Luce Dion
Joseph's Tender Loving Care
Through your eyes, O good saint Joseph
Jesus knew that God was good
And in your arms,
That God is loving.
In your hands, he learned that
Work is also an adventure
And a vocation, and freedom.
From you, Joseph,
I wish to learn tender loving care.
And from your river of peace
I wish to drink.
As I walk in your faithful footsteps,
I wish to sing to my brothers and sisters, Your gentle humbleness.
You dearly loved your wife
And in your love, there was
Strength and tenderness,
Which she also received from you.
From your lips, Jesus discovered
That the God of Israel was his Father
When you were silent, He listened to Him.
From you, Joseph,
I wish to learn tender loving care.
And from your river of peace
I wish to drink
As I walk in your faithful footsteps,
I wish to sing to my brothers and sisters, Your gentle humbleness.
This song was written by:
Leticia Soberón Mainero, Italy,
María Chávez-Camacho, Switzerland,
Members of 'Association Claire-Eulalie'.
Glorious Saint Joseph
Glorious Saint Joseph
As you have the power to make the most difficult matters work out well
Please come to my aid at this difficult and distressful moment.
Please take care of these important and difficult matters
that I bring to your attention
in order that they result in a happy ending.
My dearly beloved Father
I put all my trust in you:
May it not be said that I trusted you in vain.
As you are all powerful with Jesus and Mary
Please show me that your kindness is equal to your power!
Traditional prayer of
The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Saint Hyacinthe
Prayers to Knock Down Walls
To you we pray, dear Saint Joseph
Because you accepted your mission
Please give our lives new dimension
So that we may accept
To live with dedication
Help us to meditate
By turning to Jesus
Then our hearts will be moved
By blossoming love
Help us to find
Desired employment
Develop our talents
And discover new possibilities.
Protect our fathers
Give sense to the future
So our prayers may knock down
The walls of our wounds...
Agathe Melançon
You Knew How to Love
Saint Joseph, from your workshop
To the family table.
From the streets of Bethlehem
To the roads of exile.
With all your heart.
You knew how to love
Mary and Jesus.
With love, you shared everything.
Beginning with the daily bread.
You gave advice.
Even silences and amused smiles.
With all your heart
You knew how to love
Mary and Jesus.
With patience, you opened your heart.
You made yourself welcoming.
Though you did not always understand everything.
Day in day out, you went to the school of Love.
With all your heart.
You knew how to love
Mary and Jesus.
Because you trusted, you never gave up.
You carried on no matter what.
God filled you, body and soul
As with your family, you remained constant
With all your heart.
You knew how to love
Mary and Jesus.
Saint Joseph, teach me to love!
Luce Dion
Show Me The Way
Joseph, my friend, my father.
Grant me compassion.
Make me a companion of tenderness.
Grant me to be a friend on the road of life.
Keep my hand open and firm.
Keep my heart bleeding.
Make my words poetic.
May I always be available to others.
May I always open my arms to others.
May I always say 'yes'.
Joseph, show me the way
As you did so well with Jesus.
Holding Him by the hand.
Gisèle Ryan
In Joseph's Arms
At life's twilight,
When it is time to say 'thank you'
When words can no longer express feelings
When cries are sometimes suppressed
Joseph, take me in your arms
Comfort me
Soothe me
Joseph, take me in your arms
Like a father to whom one can say everything
Like a husband to whom one cannot lie
Like a brother with whom one has laughed
Like a friend with whom even silence is blessed
Joseph, take me in your arms
Comfort me
Protect me
Joseph, take me in your arms
Take me along with you to meet God
May my steps be light
May my heart be forgiven
May my life be illuminated
Michel Michaud
Seniors and Youth, Hand in Hand
Joseph,
You who were attentive in answering all of God's call.
Keep us seniors open-minded and available,
Faithful to every thing the Lord expects of us
In our everyday lives.
You who looked after Jesus during his boyhood,
Surround our young people with your benevolent protection.
Like you, Joseph,
May they become eager listeners of the Word.
Grant them courage and discernment
So they may commit themselves, determinedly,
Following in Jesus' footsteps,
To the establishment of God's kingdom "today".
Joseph, you whom Brother André invoked
As protector of the Church,
Affirm in faith and hope our young people,
So that together, we may build a better world
In solidarity and justice, in sharing and truth.
Joseph we recommend to you in a very special way,
All the young people who feel called to ministry
And consecrated life.
Help them to be generous
In their task of praise and service
Within the Church and throughout the world.
Joseph, you who are so close to God and thus so powerful,
Intercede for us seniors;
Help us transmit love to all generations.
Bless our youth and accompany them
In the choices they have to make regarding their future.
Heal our world and bring us peace. Amen!
Joseph, Patron and Model of All Workers
O glorious Saint Joseph, faithful guardian of Jesus and Mary,
Your whole life, you worked with your hands
to assure the survival of your family in Nazareth.
Uphold and affirm us today, all of us, who by our
presence and work,
Wish to improve our world and make it more
conscious of its dignity.
You are aware of our aspirations, our anguish, and our hopes;
We come to you because we know that in you
We will find someone who understands and watches
Over us with care.
You also experienced trials and tribulations, fatigue and doubt.
Yet, in the midst of material preoccupations of your daily life,
Your deep self was filled with profound peace and great joy,
Through your intimacy with Jesus and Mary.
Help us understand that we are not alone in the midst
Of our activities and daily preoccupations.
Teach us to become aware that you are there, close to us, with Jesus and Mary.
Furthermore, obtain for us, that wherever the energies of our lives may flow,
In our family circles, as in our work quarters,
In our social gatherings, as in our moments of prayer,
We may sow seeds of love, justice and truth.
O Saint Joseph, protector of workers,
Grant that unemployment may disappear from our society.
Inspire our government and business leaders to undertake new initiatives permitting
A greater number of workers, male and female,
To earn an honourable living for themselves and their families.
Give us the necessary courage and creativity to invent new forms of solidarity, and to meet the challenges of the present day.
Saint Joseph of Mount Royal, pray for us.
Joseph (song by G. Moustaki)
That's what it is, my dear Joseph,
To have chosen the prettiest
Among the Girls of Galilee,
The one we called "Mary".
You really could my dear Joseph.
Have taken Sarah or Deborah,
And nothing would have happened ...
But you preferred "Mary".
You really could, my dear Joseph,
Have remained at home, and done your woodwork,
Rather than exile yourself
And hide away with "Mary".
You really could my dear Joseph,
Have had children with Mary
And taught them your trade
As you had learned it from your father.
Why is it, dear Joseph,
That your child, that innocent,
Had to have such strange ideas ...
The cause of so much pain for Mary
At times, I think of you, Joseph.
My poor, dear friend, when others
Make fun of you, who had asked nothing
But to live happily with Mary.
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