The St. Joseph Novena

Next Friday is the feast of St. Joseph, and that means tomorrow is the first day of the Novena to St. Joseph:

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls - Pray for me.

Yesterday, Edith, you asked what you could do to help with the sorrow. You know me--when I am faced with something I don't like I just try to stand up straight and do something about it; but I've never been faced with such a pain as all this, so I don't know what to say! (And I would never know what to do. You have already acted with such courage!)

One thing I do know, though, is that St. Joseph loves you more than anyone on this Earth, and he is weeping for you as if he was your own father. Go to him in your time of pain--since he is the model of manly courage, of steadfast justness, and of truly self-sacrificing love. I'll be praying this novena for you, and I am hoping all our readers will join me!

(And dear, dear readers, thank you so much for your honest hopeful responses to Edith's posts. You are an inspiration to all of us, and we are keeping you in our prayers as well!)

PS: If you want something a little bigger and more meditative, EWTN has a big novena, complete with daily meditations. (Image is Giotto's Marriage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read more about Giotto here)