As Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, in union with the traditions of the Holy Catholic Church, it has been our custom and practice to seek the powerful intercession of St. Joseph and submit ourselves and our work to the protection of his holy patronage. Every year leading up to his feast day on March 19th, we renew our devotion and commitment to St. Joseph by praying the Novena and Litany to St. Joseph (see below).
This just man born with noble blood, a descendent of the line of David, and a King by right, lives the humble and quiet life of a carpenter. He becomes the chaste spouse to the New Ark of the Covenant, and a Father to the Son of God. Being made leader of the Holy Family, St. Joseph was tasked with protecting the Virgin of Virgins, and responsible for educating and raising the Word Incarnate. For his faithful and humble service, St. Joseph is rewarded in Heaven by being proclaimed the Light of Patriarchs and the Protector of the Church.
Please join us as we pray to the Renowned Offspring of David, the Pillar of families, and Terror of demons.
St. Joseph...pray for us!
(Novena and litany starts March 10th and ends on March 18th)
Novena to St. Joseph
O Glorious descendant of the kings of Judah! Inheritor of the virtues of all the patriarchs! Just and Happy St. Joseph! Listen to our prayers.
Thou art our glorious protector, and shalt ever be, after Jesus and Mary, the object of our most profound veneration and tender confidence. Thou art a hidden saint, though one of the greatest of saints, and art peculiarly the patron of interior souls.
In union with all those who have ever been most devoted to thee, we now dedicate ourselves to thy service, beseeching thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Who vouchsafed to love and obey thee as a Son, to become a father to us, and to obtain for us the filial respect, confidence, and love of children toward thee. O powerful advocate of all Christians, whose intercession as St. Teresa assures us, has never been found to fail, deign to intercede for us now and to implore for us the particular intentions of the novena. (Specify them)
Present us, O great saint, to the adorable Trinity with Whom thou hadst so glorious and so intimate a correspondence. Obtain that we may never efface by sin the sacred image according to the likeness of which we were created. Beg for us that our divine Redeemer may enkindle in our hearts, and in all hearts, the fire of His love, and infuse therein the virtues of His adorable infancy, His purity, simplicity, obedience, and humility. Obtain for us likewise a lively devotion to thy Virgin spouse, and protect us so powerfully in life and in death that we may have the happiness of dying, as thou didst, in the friendship of Our Creator, and under the immediate protection of the Mother of God.
LITANY TO ST. JOSEPH
Lord have mercy on us: Lord have mercy on us
Christ have mercy on us: Christ have mercy on us
Lord have mercy on us: Lord have mercy on us
Christ hear us: Christ graciously hear us
God the Father of Heaven, *
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, One God,
Holy Mary, **
St. Joseph,
Renowned offspring of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster Father of the Son of God,
Diligent protector of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of artisans,
Glory of home life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the afflicted,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us
V. He made him the lord of His household
R. And prince over all His possessions
Let us pray. O God, Who in Thy ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy mother, grant we beseech Thee, that we may have him for our intercessor in Heaven, whom we venerate as our protector on earth; Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.