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CUM PERMISSU SUPERIORIS:
Thomas P. McNamara, S. S. J.
Superior General.
nihil obstat:
Edward A. Cerny, S. S., S. T. D.
Censor Librorum.
imprimatur:
Most Reverend Francis P. Keough, D. D.
Archbishop of Baltimore.

November 27, 1950

TABLE OF CONTENTS
St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal
Church.Cover
Introduction.5
Novena to St. Joseph.6
Act of Consecration.7
Litany of St. Joseph.. . 9
Memorare .13
Prayer Before Holy Communion ... 13
Prayer for Happy Death ..15
Vocation Prayer .15
Hymn.17
October Prayer.19
Prayer for Holy Purity.20
Thirty Days’ Prayer.21
Sorrows and Joys.27
Prayer for Universal Church .... 34
 Ho ^onor
£§>aitit JToSEpf)

Scriptural Quotations from Revised Text of New

Testament as copyrighted 1941 by Confraternity
of Christian Doctrine.

Indulgences according to Enchiridion Indulgen-

tiarum, 1950.

Extracts from “The Raccolta” with the permission

of Benziger Bros., Inc., publishers and copyright
owners. Paintings by Gonippo Raggi.

Printed in U. S. A. by Barton-Cotton Inc., Balto.

Published by

The Josephite Fathers

1130 North Calvert Street

Baltimore 2, Md.
THE ESPOUSALS OF MARY & JOSEPH
“Mary his mother had been betrothed to
Joseph.” St. Matthew, I, 18

4
 INTRODUCTION
(Pf S Almighty God established Joseph, son of
/t*%-the patriarch Jacob in Egypt, and made
him governor of the land, in order that he
might supply his people when they came to
want the necessities of life—so when the time
appointed to send His only Son upon earth
had arrived. He chose another Joseph, of
whom the first Joseph was the type, and, mak¬
ing him lord and chief of His house and
goods, chose him as guardian of His greatest
treasures. So, also. He united to him the Im¬
maculate Virgin Mary, of whom was born, by
the Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who
before men deigned to be reputed the son of
Joseph, and was subject unto him.
On account of this sublime dignity which
God conferred on His most faithful servant,
the Church has always most highly honored
and praised the most blessed Joseph, next to
his spouse the Virgin Mother of God, and has
besought his intercession in times of trouble.
And now that the Church is beset with
enemies on every side . . . the Bishops of the
whole Catholic world have most humbly im¬
plored the Sovereign Pontiff, in their name
and in the name of all the faithful confided to
their care, to declare St. Joseph Patron of the
Catholic Church .... Therefore our most holy
Lord, Pius IX, Pope, has been pleased to
comply with the desires of the Prelates, and to
commit to St. Joseph’s powerful patronage
himself and all the faithful, and has declared
St. Joseph Patron of the Catholic Church.
(From Decree of Congregation of Rites, 8th Dec.,
1870.)

5
NOVENA IN HONOR OF ST. JOSEPH
Prayer
0 glorious St. Joseph, faithful follower
of Jesus Christ, to thee do we raise our
hearts and hands to implore thy powerful
intercession in obtaining from the benign
Heart of Jesus all the helps and graces
necessary for our spiritual and temporal
welfare, particularly the grace of a happy
death and the special favor we now im¬
plore (mention it).
0 guardian of the Word Incarnate, we
feel animated with confidence that thy
prayers in our behalf will be graciously
heard before the throne of God.
[Then say the following Versicle and
Response seven times in honor of the seven
sorrows and joys of St. Joseph^:
V. 0 glorious St. Joseph, through the
love thou dost bear to Jesus Christ, and for
the glory of His name;
R. Hear our prayers and obtain our
petitions.
Prayer
0 glorious St. Joseph, spouse of the
Immaculate Virgin, obtain for us pure,
humble and charitable minds, and perfect
resignation to the Divine will. Be our guide,
father and model through life, that we may
merit to die as thou didst in the arms of
Jesus and Mary.
0 St. Joseph, foster-father of our Lord

6
Jesus Christ and true spouse of Mary the
Virgin, pray for us.
The faithful who devoutly take part in a public
novena in honor of St. Joseph, Spouse of the
in preparation for the Feast, may gain:
An indulgence of 7 years on any day.
A plenary indulgence, on condition of confes¬
sion, Communion and prayer for the intentions of
the Supreme Pontiff, if they take part in the ex¬
ercises of the novena for at least five days.
Those who perform such a novena privately at
the aforesaid time, with the intention of so con¬
tinuing for nine successive days, may gain:
An indulgence of 5 years once, on any day.
A plenary indulgence, under the usual condi¬
tions, at the end of the novena, but where such
devout exercises are held publicly, this indulgence
can be gained only by those who are lawfully
hindered from being present at the public exer¬
cises. (The Raccolta, No. 467).

AN ACT OF CONSECRATION TO
ST. JOSEPH
All—0 dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate
myself to thy honor and give myself to
thee, that thou mayest always be my father,
my protector, and my guide in the way of
salvation. Obtain for me a great purity of
heart, and a fervent love of the interior
life. After thy example, may I do all my
actions for the greater glory of God, in
union with the Divine Heart of Jesus, and
with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. And
do thou, 0 blessed St. Joseph, pray for
me, that I may share in the peace and joy
of thy holy death. Amen.

7
THE ANGEL REASSURES ST. JOSEPH
“Do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David, to
take to thee Mary thy wife, for that which is
begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
St. Matthew, I, 20

8
 LITANY OF ST. JOSEPH

Approved for public and private recital by

His Holiness, Pope Pius X, March 18, 1909.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, ffi
p
God the Son, Redeemer of the CD
worl'd,
3
God, the Holy Ghost, a
Holy Trinity one God, o
■N
Holy Mary,
Saint Joseph,
Renowned offspring of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster-father of the Son of God, |-i
P
Diligent protector of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family, y o
Joseph most just, 1-1

Joseph most chaste, c

c«
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty, J
 THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM
“And Joseph also went from Galilee out of
the town of Nazareth into Judea to the town
of David, which is called Bethlehem ... to
register, together with Mary, his espoused
wife, who was with child....” St. Luke, II,
4, 5

10
Model of artisans,
Glory of home life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the wretched,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of holy Church,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins
of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins
of the world, graciously hear us, 0
Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins
of the world, have mercy on us.
V. He made him lord of His house;
R. And ruler of all His possessions.

Let us pray
0 God, Who in Thine unspeakable
Providence didst vouchsafe to choose
blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thine
own most holy Mother; grant, we beseech
Thee, that we may deserve to have him for
our intercessor in heaven, whom we rever¬
ence as our defender on earth; Who livest
and reignest world without end. Amen.
An indulgence of 5 years.
A plenary indulgence under the usual condi¬
tions, if this litany together with its versicle and
response, and the collect are recited daily for a
month. (The Raccolta, No. 462).

11
 THE NATIVITY
“And she brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and
laid him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn.’’ St. Luke, II, 7

12
 MEMORARE TO ST. JOSEPH

Remember, O most pure Spouse of the

Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, my beloved
patron, that never hath it been heard that
any one invoked thy patronage and sought
thine aid without being comforted. In¬
spired by this confidence, I come to thee
and fervently commend myself to thee. Ah,
despise not my petition, dear foster-father
of our Redeemer, but accept it graciously.
Amen.
An indulgence of 500 days. (The Raccolta, No.
472).

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY

COMMUNION

0 blessed Joseph, how sweet and won¬

derful a privilege was thine, not only to
see but to carry in thine arms, and to em¬
brace with fatherly affection the only be¬
gotten Son of God, Whom so many kings
and prophets desired to see, but did not
see, may I, inspired by thy example and
aided by thy patronage, with like feelings
of love and reverence, embrace my Lord
and Redeemer in the Blessed Sacrament of
the altar, so that when my life on earth is
ended, I may merit to embrace Him eter¬
nally in heaven. Amen.

13
 THE CIRCUMCISION
“And when eight days were fulfilled for his
circumcision, his name was called Jesus, the
name given him by the angel before he was
conceived in the womb.” St. Luke, II, 21

14
 PRAYER FOR A HAPPY DEATH

0 blessed Joseph, who didst yield thy

last breath in the fond embrace of Jesus
and Mary—when the seal of death shall
close my career, come, holy father, with
Jesus and Mary, to aid me and obtain for
me this only solace which I ask for in that
hour, to die encircled by their holy arms.
Into your sacred hands, living and dying, I
commend my soul, 0 Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph. Amen.

A PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH

To Know One s Vocation In Life

0 great St. Joseph, who wert so docile

to the guidance of the Holy Ghost, obtain
for me the grace to know what state of life
Divine Providence destines for me. Do not
suffer me to be deceived with regard to so
important a choice, upon which depends
my happiness in this world, and even my
eternal salvation. Do thou obtain for me
that, being enlightened to know the Divine
Will and faithful in accomplishing it, I
may embrace that state of life which God
has destined for me, and which will lead
me to a happy eternity. Amen.

15
 11
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THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE

“They took him up to Jerusalem to present
him to the Lord.” St. Luke, 11, 22

16
 HYMN
Dear Guardian of Mary, dear nurse of her
Child!
Life’s ways are full weary, the desert is
wild,
Bleak sands are all ’round us, no home
can we see;
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! we lean upon
thee.

For thou to the pilgrim art father and

guide,
And Jesus and Mary felt safe by thy side;
Ah! blessed St. Joseph, how safe shall I
be,
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! if thou art
with me.

0 blessed St. Joseph! how great was thy

worth;
The one chosen shadow of God upon
earth!
The Father of Jesus—ah, then wilt thou be
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! a father to
me?

When the Treasures of God were unshel¬

tered on earth,
Safe keening was found for them both in
thy worth;
0 Father of Jesus! be father to me,
Sweet Spouse of our Lady, and I will love
thee.

17
 THE ANGEL WARNS ST. JOSEPH
“Arise, and take the child and his mother, and
flee into Egypt, and remain there until I tell
thee. For Herod will seek the child to destroy
him.” St. Matthew, II, 13

18
 PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH
FOR OCTOBER

By Decree of His Holiness Leo XI11

To thee, 0 blessed Joseph, do we have

recourse in our tribulation, and, having
implored the help of thy thrice-holy
Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patron¬
age also. By that charity wherewith thou
wast united to the Immaculate Virgin
Mother of God, and by that fatherly affec¬
tion with which thou didst embrace the
Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we hum¬
bly pray, that thou wouldst look gra¬
ciously upon the inheritance which Jesus
Christ hath purchased by His Blood, and
assist us in our needs by thy power and
strength. Most watchful guardian of the
Holy Family, protect the chosen people of
Jesus Christ; keep far from us, most lov¬
ing father, all blight of error and corrup¬
tion; mercifully assist us from heaven,
most mighty defender, in this our conflict
with the powers of darkness; and, even as
of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus
from the supreme peril of His life, so now
defend God’s holy Church from the snares

19
of the enemy and from all adversity; keep
us one and all under thy continual protec¬
tion, that we may be supported by thine
example and thine assistance, may be en¬
abled to lead a holy life, die a happy death
and come at last to the possession of ever¬
lasting blessedness in heaven. Amen.
An indulgence of 3 years.
An indulgence of 7 years during the month of
October, when said after the recitation of the
Rosary.
A plenary indulgence once a month, on the
usual conditions, for the daily recitation of this
prayer. (The Raccolta, No. 476).

PRAYER FOR HOLY PURITY

Saint Joseph, father and guardian of

virgins, into whose faithful keeping were
entrusted Innocency itself, Christ Jesus,
and Mary, the Virgin of virgins, I pray
and beseech thee through Jesus and Mary,
those pledges so dear to thee, to keep me
from all uncleanness, and to grant that my
mind may be untainted, my heart pure and
my body chaste; help me always to serve
Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity. Amen.
An indulgence of 3 years.
An indulgence of 7 years every day of March,
also every Wednesday of the year.
A plenary indulgence, on the usual conditions,
if this prayer is devoutly repeated every day for
an entire month. (The Raccolta, No. 473).

20
 THIRTY DAYS' PRAYER

To St. Joseph

In Honor of the Thirty Years Spent

with Jesus and Mary

For Any Special Intention

V. Ever blessed and glorious Joseph,

kind and indulgent father, and compas¬
sionate friend of all in sorrow, through that
bitter grief with which thy heart was sat¬
urated when thou didst behold the suffer¬
ings of the Infant Saviour, and in pro¬
phetic view didst contemplate His most ig¬
nominious Passion and Death, take pity, I
beseech thee, on me who am poor and
needy; counsel me in my doubts, and con¬
sole me in all my anxieties.
R. Thou art the good .father and pro¬
tector of orphans, the advocate of the de¬
fenceless, the patron of those who are in
need and desolation. Do not, then, disre¬
gard the petition of thy poor child; my
sins have drawn down upon me the just
displeasure of my God, and hence I am
surrounded with sorrows. To thee, 0 lov¬
ing guardian of the poor neglected Family
of Nazareth, do I flee for shelter and
protection.
V. Listen, then, I entreat of thee, with a
father’s solicitude, to the earnest prayer of

21
 THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

“So he arose, and took the child and his

mother by night, and withdrew into Egypt.”
St. Matthew, II, 14

22
thy poor supplicant, and obtain for me the
object of my petition.

R. I ask it by the infinite mercy of the

eternal Son of God, which induced Him to
assume our nature, and be born into this
world of sorrow. I ask it by that humility
which filled thy heart, when awed by the
mystery wrought in thy Immaculate
Spouse, thou didst regard thyself as un¬
worthy of her.

V. I ask it by that weariness, solicitude,

and suffering, which thou didst endure
when thou soughtest in vain at the inns of
Bethlehem a shelter for the Holy Virgin,
and a birth-place for the Infant God, and,
when being everywhere refused, thou wast
obliged to consent that the Queen of
Heaven should give birth to the world’s
Redeemer in a wretched stable.

R. I ask it by the painful blood-shedding

thou didst witness at His Circumcision. I
ask it by the sweetness and power of that
sacred Name, Jesus, which thou didst
confer on the adorable Infant.

V. I ask it by that mortal anguish in¬

flicted on thee by the prophecy of Holy
Simeon, which declared the Child Jesus
and His Holy Mother to be the future vic¬
tims of our sins and of their own great
love for us.

23
 THE HOLY FAMILY IN EGYPT

“He remained there until the death of Herod;

that there might be fulfilled what was spoken
by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Out
of Egypt I called my son.’ ”
St. Matthew, II, 15

24
 R. I ask it through that sorrow and
anguish which filled thy soul, when the
Angel declared to thee that the life of the
Child Jesus was sought by His enemies,
from whose impious design thou wast
obliged to flee with Him and His Blessed
Mother into Egypt.
V. I ask it by all the pains, fatigues and
toils of that long and perilous journey. I
ask it by all the sorrows thou didst endure
when in Egypt, when sometimes thou wast
unable, even by the sweat of thy brow, to
procure daily food for thy poor Family.
R. I ask it by all thy solicitude to pre¬
serve the Sacred Child and His Immacu¬
late Mother during thy second journey,
when thou wast ordered to return to thy
native country. I ask it by thy peaceful
dwelling in Nazareth, in which so many
joys and sorrows were mingled.
V. I ask it by thy extreme affliction, in
being three days deprived of the company
of the Adorable Child. I ask it by thy joy
at finding Him in the Temple, and by the
unspeakable consolation imparted to thee
in the cottage of Nazareth, while living in
the company of the Infant Jesus. I ask it
by that wonderful condescension, by which
He subjected Himself to thy will.
R. I ask it through that sorrowful fore¬
sight thou hadst continually in thy mind of

25
all the Infant Jesus was to suffer, when
thou shouldst be no longer by His side.
V. I ask it by that painful contempla¬
tion, by which thou foresawest those Di¬
vine Infant Hands and Feet, now so active
in serving thee, one day pierced with cruel
nails; that Head which rested gently on
thy breast, crowned with sharp thorns;
that delicate Body which thou didst ten¬
derly fold in thy mantle and press to thy
heart, stripped, mangled, and extended on
a Cross.
R. I ask it by that heroic sacrifice of
thy will and best affections, by which thou
didst offer up to the Eternal Father the
last awful moment, when the God-Man was
to expire for our salvation.
V. I ask it by that perfect love and
conformity with which thou didst receive
the Divine order to depart from this life,
and from the company of Jesus and Mary.
I ask it by that exceeding great joy which
filled thy soul, when the Redeemer of the
world, triumphant over death and hell,
entered into the possession of His king¬
dom, and conducted thee also into it with
especial honors.
R. I ask it through Mary’s glorious As¬
sumption, and through that endless bliss,
which with her thou wilt eternally derive
from the presence of God.

26
 V. 0 good Father! I beseech thee, by
all thy sufferings, sorrows, and joys, to
hear me and obtain the grant of my earn¬
est petitions. (Here name them or reflect
on them.) Obtain for all those who have
asked my prayers, all that is useful to
them in the designs of God. And finally,
my dear patron and father, be thou with
me, and all who are dear to me, in our last
moments, that we may eternally chant the
praises of
Jesus, Mary, And Joseph.
R. “A blameless life, St. Joseph, may
we lead,
By thy kind patronage, from danger
freed.”

* X *
SORROWS AND JOYS OF ST. JOSEPH

1. 0 chaste Spouse of Mary most holy,

glorious Saint Joseph, great was the
trouble and anguish of thy heart when
thou wast minded to put away privately
thine inviolate Spouse, yet thy joy was un¬
speakable, when the surpassing mystery of
the Incarnation was made known to thee
by the Angel.
By this thy sorrow and this thy joy we
beseech thee to comfort our souls, both
now and in the sorrows of our final hour,
with the joy of a good life and a holy

27
 THE FINDING IN THE TEMPLE

“And his mother said to him, ‘Son, why hast

thou done so to us? Behold, thy father and I
have been seeking thee sorrowing.’ ”
St. Luke, II, 48

28
death after the pattern of thine own in the
arms of Jesus and Mary.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
2. 0 most blessed Patriarch, glorious
Saint Joseph, who wast chosen to be the
foster-father of the Word made flesh, thy
sorrow at seeing the Child Jesus born in
such poverty was suddenly changed into
heavenly exultation when thou didst hear
the angelic hymn, and didst behold the
glories of that resplendent night.
By this thy sorrow and this thy joy, we
implore thee to obtain for us the grace to
pass over from life’s pathway to hear the
angelic songs of praise, and to rejoice in
the shining splendor of celestial glory.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
3. 0 glorious Saint Joseph, thou who
didst faithfully obey the law of God, thy
heart was pierced at the sight of the
Precious Blood that was shed by the In¬
fant Saviour during His Circumcision, but
the Name of Jesus gave thee new life and
filled thee with quiet joy.
By this thy sorrow and this thy joy, ob¬
tain for us the grace to be freed from all
sin during life, and to die rejoicing, with
the holy Name of Jesus in our hearts and
on our lips.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
4. 0 most faithful Saint, who didst

29
THE HOLY FAMILY AT NAZARETH

“And he went down with them and came to

Nazareth, and was subject to them.”
St. Luke, II, 51

30
share the mysteries of our Redemption,
glorious Saint Joseph, the prophecy of
Simeon touching the sufferings of Jesus
and Mary caused thee to shudder with
mortal dread, but at the same time filled
thee with a blessed joy for the salvation
and glorious resurrection which, he fore¬
told, would be attained by countless souls.
By this thy sorrow and this thy joy, ob¬
tain for us that we may be of the number
of those who, through the merits of Jesus
and the intercession of Mary the Virgin
Mother, are predestined to a glorious res¬
urrection.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
5. 0 most watchful Guardian of the In¬
carnate Son of God, glorious Saint Joseph,
what toil was thine in supporting and wait¬
ing upon the Son of the most high God,
especially in the flight into Egypt! Yet at
the same time, how thou didst rejoice to
have near thee always the very God Him¬
self, and to see the idols of the Egyptians
fall prostrate to the ground before Him.
By this thy sorrow and this thy joy, ob¬
tain for us the grace of keeping ourselves
in safety from the infernal tyrant, espe¬
cially by flight from dangerous occasions;
may every idol of earthly affection fall
from our hearts; may we be wholly em¬
ployed in serving Jesus and Mary, and for
them alone may we live and happily die.

31
 THE DEATH OF ST. JOSEPH
“Beloved of God and men, whose memory is
in benediction.” Ecclesiasticus, XLV, 1

32
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
6. 0 glorious Saint Joseph, an Angel on
earth, thou didst marvel to see the King of
Heaven obedient to thy commands, but thy
consolation in bringing Jesus out of the
land of Egypt was troubled by thy fear of
Archelaus; nevertheless, being assured by
the Angel, thou didst dwell in gladness at
Nazareth with Jesus and Mary.
By this thy sorrow and this thy joy, ob¬
tain for us that our hearts may be de¬
livered from harmful fears, that so we may
rejoice in peace of conscience and may
live in safety with Jesus and Mary, and,
like unto thee, may die in their company.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
7. 0 glorious Saint Joseph, pattern of
all holiness, when thou didst lose, through
no fault of thine, the Child Jesus, thou
didst seek Him sorrowing for the space of
three days, until with great joy thou didst
find Him again in the temple, sitting in
the midst of the doctors.’
By this thy sorrow and this thy joy, we
supplicate thee, with our hearts upon our
lips, to keep us from ever having the mis¬
fortune to lose Jesus through mortal sin;
but if this supreme misfortune should be¬
fall us, grant that we may seek Him with
unceasing sorrow until we find Him again,
ready to show us His great mercy, espe¬
cially at the hour of death; that so we

33
may pass over to enjoy His presence in
heaven, and there, in company with thee,
may we sing the praises of His divine
mercy forever.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
Ant. And Jesus Himself was about the
age of thirty years, being (as it was sup¬
posed) the Son of Joseph.
V. Pray for us, 0 holy Joseph,
R. That we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ.

Let us pray

0 God, Who in Thine ineffable Provi¬

dence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed
Joseph to be the Spouse of Thy most holy
Mother; grant, we beseech Thee, that we
may deserve to have him as our inter¬
cessor in heaven, whom we venerate on
earth as our protector: Who livest and
reignest world without end. Amen.

An indulgence of 5 years.
A plenary indulgence, if these prayers are re¬
peated daily for an entire month.
(The Raccolta, No. 470).

PRAYER FOR UNIVERSAL CHURCH

0 glorious Saint Joseph, chosen by God
to be the foster-father of Jesus, the chaste
spouse of Mary ever Virgin, and the head

34
 of the Holy Family and then appointed by
the Vicar of Christ to be the heavenly
patron and defender of the Church foun¬
ded by Jesus, most confidently do I im¬
plore at this moment thy powerful aid for
all the Church militant on earth. Do thou
shield with thy truly paternal love espe¬
cially the Supreme Pontiff and all the
Bishops and priests who are in union with
the Holy See of Peter. Be the defender of
all who labor for souls amidst the trials
and tribulations of this life, and cause all
the peoples of the earth to submit them¬
selves in a docile spirit to that Church
which is the ark of salvation for all men.
Be pleased also, dear Saint Joseph, to
accept this dedication of myself which I
now make unto thee. I dedicate myself
wholly to thee, that thou mayest ever be
my father, my patron and my guide in the
way of salvation. Obtain for me great
purity of heart and a fervent devotion to
the interior life. Grant that, following
thine example, I may direct all my actions
to the greater glory of God, in union with
the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the im¬
maculate heart of Mary and in union with
thee. Finally pray for me that I may be a
partaker in the peace and joy which were
thine at the hour of thy holy death. Amen.
An indulgence of 500 days.
(The Raccolta, No. 474).

35
 +*$**$*

IDhe Josephitc fathers