SAINT JOSEPH NOVENA - DAY 6

On the sixth day of our Novena, let us ask Saint Joseph to give us his trust.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Prayer of Pope Leo XIII to Saint Joseph - spouse of the Virgin Mary, foster father of Jesus, and patron saint of the universal Church   To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you to graciously regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities. O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, keep away every contagion of error and corrupting influence from us; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle against the power of darkness. As you once rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

MEDITATIONS Joseph trusts God when he hears his messenger, the Angel, say to him: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her” (Mt 1:20). Throughout all of history, Joseph is the man who gives God the greatest display of trust, even in the face of such astonishing news... We are asking the Lord to protect the Church always – and He does! – just as Joseph protected his family and kept watch over the Child Jesus during his early years. (Benedict XVI, Homily, March 19, 2009) Today, we pray united, entrusting ourselves to the intercession of Saint Joseph, Custodian of the Holy Family, Guardian of our families. The carpenter of Nazareth also knew precariousness and bitterness, concern for the morrow, but he was able to walk in the darkness of certain moments, allowing himself always to be guided, without reservations by the Will of God. (Pope Francis, March 19, 2020)

Saint Joseph, mirror of patience, pray for us. Saint Joseph, protector of the Holy Church, pray for us. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be ...

Prayer of Pope Francis Protect, O Holy Guardian, this our nation. Enlighten those responsible for the common good, so that they might know - as you do - how to care for those entrusted to their responsibility. Grant intelligence of knowledge to those seeking adequate means for the health and physical well-being of their brothers and sisters. Sustain those who are dedicating their efforts to serve those in need, even at the cost of their own safety: the volunteers, nurses, and doctors working on the front lines in tending to the sick. O Saint Joseph, bless the Church: beginning with her ministers, make her the sign and instrument of your light and your goodness. O Saint Joseph, protect our families: with your prayerful silence, create harmony between parents and their children, especially with the youngest. Preserve the elderly from loneliness: grant that no one might be left in desperation from abandonment and discouragement. Comfort those who are the most frail, encourage those who falter, intercede for the poor. With the Virgin Mother, beg the Lord to liberate the world from every form of pandemic. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY “By accepting himself according to God’s design, Joseph fully finds himself, beyond himself. His freedom to renounce even what is his, the possession of his very life, and his full interior availability to the will of God challenge us and show us the way.” (Pope Francis)