The Sixth of the Seven Sorrows and 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.

SORROW: The Perilous Return from Exile (St. Matthew 2:19-
22). But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord
appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, saying: Arise, and take the
child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are
dead that sought the life of the child. Who arose, and took the child
and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that
Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was
afraid to go there: and being warned in sleep retired into the
quarters of Galilee.
JOY: Family Life at Nazareth (St. Luke 2:51-52) And Jesus …
was subject to them. And his mother kept all these moments in her
heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with
God and men.
PRAYER: Angel on earth, glorious St. Joseph, while thou didst
marvel at seeing the King of Heaven obedient to thy bidding, fear
of the tyrant mingled with thy joy when thou didst bring him back
from Egypt; but, reassured by the angel, thou didst dwell at
Nazareth with glad heart, in the sweet company of Jesus and
Mary.
By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain for us that, with hearts set
free from every hurtful fear, we too may taste the quiet of a
tranquil conscience, safely dwelling with Jesus and with Mary,
and one day die within their loving arms.
Our Father + Hail Mary + Glory Be

Text used with permission of Jose Rodrigues

TO THEE O BLESSED JOSEPH: Devotions and Prayers to the Virgin Father of Christ

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