THE CORD OF SAINT JOSEPH
The Cord of St. Joseph should be of thread or cotton, ending at one
extremity in seven knots, indicative of the Seven Joys and Sorrows of St.
Joseph. It is worn as a girdle for purity or chastity and humility and around
the shoulders for obedience.
History:
The devotion to the Cord of St. Joseph took its rise in the town of
Antwerp, Belgium, in 1637, in consequence of a miraculous cure effected by
the wearing of this precious girdle. At that time there lived there an
Augustinian nun of great piety, named Sr. Elizabeth, who had suffered for
three years excruciating pains occasioned by a cruel distemper. She had
reached such a stage that the doctors, seeing no possible recourse, declared
her death to be inevitable and imminent. Sr. Elizabeth turned to Heaven, and
having always been particularly devoted to St. Joseph, she asked him to
intercede to Our Lord for her recovery. At the same time she had a cord
blessed in the Saint's honor, girded herself with it, a few days after, as she
prayed before St. Joseph's image, she felt herself suddenly free of the pain.
Those who were acquainted with her illness declared her recovery
miraculous; an act of authenticity was drawn up with a public notary and the
doctor, who happened to be a Protestant, concurred.
The miracle was recorded and published at Verona and Rome between 1810-
42. During the month of March of the latter year, the Devotion to the Cord
came into existence. Cords were blessed in the Church of St. Nicholas,
Verona, for hospital patients. The chapel in the church is dedicated to St.
Joseph. Numerous special graces were obtained and the devotion spread to
France, all parts of Italy and even to America and Asia. The cord was
invoked, not merely as a remedy against physical ailments, but also as a
preservative of the virtue of purity.
Graces attached to the wearing of the Cord:
1. St. Joseph's special protection;
2. Purity of soul;
3. The grace of chastity;
4. Final perseverance;
5. Particular assistance at the hour of death.
Daily Prayer to Saint Joseph:
O Guardian of Virgins and holy Father St. Joseph, into whose faithful
keeping were entrusted Christ Jesus, Innocence Itself, and Mary, Virgin of
virgins, I pray and beseech thee by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, that,
being preserved from all uncleanness, I may with spotless mind, pure heart
and chaste body, ever serve Jesus and Mary most chastely all the days of my
life. Amen.
Glory be… (7x, in honor of the Seven Sorrows and Joys of Saint Joseph)
Blessing of the Cord
The priest, vested in surplice and white stole, says:
V: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R: Who made heaven and earth.
V: The Lord be with you.
R: May He also be with you.
V: Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, who inculcated the counsel and love of virginity, and gave
the precept of chastity, we appeal to Thy kindness, asking that Thou bless
and hallow this cincture as a token of purity. Let all who gird themselves with
it as a safeguard of chastity be enabled, by the prayers of Saint Joseph, spouse
of Thy holy Mother, to practice that continence which is so pleasing to Thee,
and to live in obedience to Thy commandments. May they also obtain
pardon of their sins, health in mind and body, and flnally attain everlasting
life. We ask this of Thee who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever.
R: Amen.
Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, grant, we pray, that those who
revere the inviolate virginity of the most pure Virgin Mary and of Saint
Joseph, her spouse, may by their prayers be pure in mind and body; through
Christ our Lord.
R: Amen
Let us pray. almighty and everlasting God, who committed the boy Jesus and
the most pure Mary, ever a Virgin, to the care of the chaste man Saint
Joseph, we humbly entreat Thee that those who are girded with this cincture
in honour of Saint Joseph and under his patronage may, by Thy help and his
prayers, persevere in holy chastity for all time; through Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
Let us pray. God, the lover and restorer of innocence, we pray that Thy
faithful who are to wear this cincture may, by the prayers of Saint Joseph,
spouse of Thy holy Mother, have their loins girded and hold burning lamps
in their hands, and thus be likened to men who wait for their Lord when He
shall return for a wedding, that when He comes and knocks they may open
to Him, and be found worthy of being taken into everlasting joys; through
Thee who lives and reigns forever and ever.
R: Amen
Then the priest puts incense into the censer, sprinkles the cincture with holy water, and
says:
Sprinkle me with hyssop, Lord, and I shall be clean of sin. Wash me, and I
shall be whiter than snow.
After this he incenses the cincture, and continues:
V: Save Thy servants.
R: Who trust in Thee, my God.
V: Lord, send them aid from Thy holy place.
R: And watch over them from Sion.
V: Lord, heed my prayer.
R: And let my cry be heard by Thee.
V: The Lord be with you.
R: May He also be with you.
Let us pray. O God of mercy, God of goodness, Thou art pleased with all
good things, and without whom no good work is begun, no good work is
finished; kindly hear our prayers, and defend Thy faithful, who are to wear
this blessed cincture in honour of Saint Joseph and under his protection,
from the snares of this world and all its lusts. Help them to persist in their
holy resolution and to obtain pardon of their sins, and thus merit to be
numbered amongst Thy elect; through Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
The Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys of St. Joseph
Seven Sorrows:
1. The doubt of St. Joseph. (Matt. 1:19)
2. The poverty of Jesus' birth. (Luke 2:7)
3. The Circumcision. (Luke 2:21)
4. The prophecy of Simeon. (Luke 2:34)
5. The flight into Egypt. (Matt. 2:14)
6. The return from Egypt. (Matt. 2:22)
7. The loss of the Child Jesus. (Luke 2:45)
Seven Joys:
1. The message of the Angel. (Matt. 1:20)
2. The birth of the Savior. (Luke 2:10-11)
3. The Holy Name of Jesus. (Matt. 1:25)
4. The effects of the Redemption. (Luke 2:38)
5. The overthrow of the idols of Egypt. (Is. 19:1)
6. Life with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth. (Luke 2:39)
7. The finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. (Luke 2:46)
