Hymn and Prayer to St. Joseph

Translated by the Rev. M. K., Society of Jesus.

A.M.D.G

Pius VII., by a rescript of the 6th of September, 1804, granted an indulgence of one year, applicable to the souls in purgatory, to all the faithful, every time they would devoutly repeat the following Hymn and Prayer, in honour of the Patriarch St. Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus Christ and the most chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

HYMN TO ST. JOSEPH.

I.

Whoever blessed with health would spend,
Life's transient day, and calmly end
That day without a fear;
To Joseph let them turn their eyes,
To Joseph let their prayers arise,
And he their prayers will hear.

II.

Spouse of the Virgin maid was he,
And once, in Judah, deem'd to be
The parent of her child;
What may not he obtain of God,
Who Heaven's own pathway faithful trod—
Whose life was undefil'd?
Whoever, &c.

III.

The new-born Babe in Bethlehem's shed,
He worshipp'd—thence to Egypt fled,
To cheer the exil'd Boy—
And later with a parent's pain,
Sought him when lost, and found again,
With all a parent's joy.
Whoever, &c.

IV

His daily toil with fostering aid,
Supplied the wants of Him who made
Earth's orb with plastic hand—
And he, who ere the Dog-star shone,
Was hail'd God's own Eternal Son,
Obey'd his least command.
Whoever, &c.

V.

At length, when life's last hour drew nigh,
Mary and Jesus both stood by,
To smooth his bed of death;—
And in their arms without a tear,
Without one agonizing fear,
He breath'd his parting breath.
Whoever, &c.

Anthem.

Behold the prudent and faithful servant, whom the Lord shall place over his family.

V. Pray for us, holy St. Joseph.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray.

Oh God, in thy ineffable providence, hast chosen the blessed St. Joseph, to be the spouse of thy most holy mother, grant, we beseech thee, that we may deserve to find in him an intercessor in heaven, whom as a protector we venerate on earth: who livest and reignest, &c.