2nd Sunday of the Seven Sorrows & Seven Joys of St. Joseph

Posted in: Prayer & Devotions, St. Joseph

A just man shall fall seven times and shall rise again.

Proverbs 24:16

The Seven Sundays Devotion to prepare for the feast of St. Joseph on March 19 is a long-standing tradition of our Catholic Church.  We begin today on the seventh Sunday before the feast of St. Joseph and as the husband of Our Blessed Mother and the faithful guardian of Jesus Christ as the head of the Holy Family we Honour the seven joys and the seven sorrows that St. Joseph experienced.

SECOND SORROW: The Poverty of Jesus’ Birth (St. Luke 2:7) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

SECOND JOY: The Birth of the Saviour of Mankind (St. Luke 2:10-16) And the angel said to them: “Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy … for, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.” … And the shepherds came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant.

PRAYER: Thrice happy patriarch, glorious St. Joseph, chosen to be the foster-father of the Word made man, keen was the pain thou didst feel when thou didst see the infant Jesus born in abject poverty; but thy pain was suddenly changed into heavenly joy when upon thee burst the harmony of the angel-choirs, and thou didst behold the glory of that refulgent night.

By this thy sorrow and thy joy, we pray thee, obtain for us that, when the journey of our life is over, we too may pass to that blessed land where we shall hear the angel chants, and enjoy the brightness of celestial glory.

Our Father..

Hail Mary..

Glory be..

Amen.