The Holy Family, by Rafael Flores, 1857

Prayer to Saint Joseph
By Pope Leo XIII

To thee do we cry in our tribulations,
O Blessed Saint Joseph,
as we confidently invoke your patronage,
after that of your most holy spouse,
the Blessed Virgin Mary.

By that sacred bond of devotion
which linked you to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God,
and for the fatherly love you lavished on the child Jesus,
we beg you to cast a glance on those heavenly gifts
which the Divine Redeemer has obtained for all mankind
through His Precious Blood
and through your power and mercy,
help us in our needs.

O holy protector of the holy family,
protect us children of the Lord Jesus Christ;
keep far from us the errors and evils
which corrupt the world;
assist us from Heaven in our struggles
against the powers of darkness.
And as you once protected the Divine Child
from the cruel edict of Herod,
now defend the church
and keep it safe from all dangers and threats;
spread over all of us your holy patronage
so that by following your example
and aided by your spiritual guidance,
we may all aspire to a virtuous life,
look to a holy death and secure for ourselves
the blessing of eternal happiness in Heaven.

Amen.

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