SAINT TERESA OF AVILA RECOMMENDS PRAYING
TO SAINT JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY
WHEN NEEDING AN ANSWER TO PRAYER.
SAINT JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY:
First, we have the testimony of the Catholic Church's "Doctor of prayer," St. Teresa of Avila, regarding "the glorious St. Joseph":
I wish I could persuade everyone to be devoted to the glorious St Joseph, for I have great experience of the blessings which he can obtain from God. I do not remember that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I am astonished at the great favors which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which he has delivered me, both in body and in soul.
To other saints, the Lord seems to have given grace to help us in some of our necessities. But my experience is that St Joseph helps us in them all; also that the Lord wishes to teach us that, as he was himself subject on earth to St. Joseph, so in heaven he now does all that Joseph asks. This has also been the experience of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to the saint. ...
I only request, for the love of God, whoever will not believe me will test the truth of what I say, for he will see by experience how great a blessing it is to recommend oneself to this glorious patriarch and to be devout to him. ...[MENTION YOUR PRAYER REQUEST]
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, spouse of St. Joseph,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, confirmed in grace,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, guardian of the Word Incarnate,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, favorite of the King of Heaven,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, ruler of the family of Jesus,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, spouse of the ever-blessed Virgin,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, foster father to the Son of God,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, example of humility and obedience,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, mirror of silence and resignation,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, patron of innocence and youth,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, exited with Christ into Egypt,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, intercessor for the afflicted,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, advocate of the humble,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, model of every virtue,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, honored among men,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, in whom is the union of all Christian perfections,
Pray for us.
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, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Saint Joseph,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray.
Assist us, O Lord,
we beseech Thee,
by the merits of the spouse
of Thy most holy Mother,
that what our unworthiness cannot obtain,
may be given us by his intercession with Thee,
Who livest and reignest with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPHO Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O thou Saint Joseph, do assist me by thy powerful intercession, and obtain for me from thy divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee, and Jesus asleep in thy arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. Saint Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for me. Amen!
Saint Teresa of Avila said concerning Saint Peter of Alcantara that, "The Lord once told me that no one should ask Him for anything in his name and not be heard."FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 19THPETER, while still a youth, left his home at Alcantara in Spain, and entered a convent of Discalced Franciscans. He rose quickly to high posts in the Order, but his thirst for penance was still unappeased, and in 1539, being then forty years old, he founded the first convent of the "Strict Observance." The cells of the friars resembled graves rather than dwelling-places. That of St. Peter himself was four feet and a half in length, so that he could never lie down ; he ate but once in three days; his sackcloth habit and a cloak were his only garments, and he never covered his head or feet. In the bitter winter he would open the door and window of his cell that, by closing them again, he might experience some sensation of warmth. Amongst those whom he trained to perfection was St. Teresa. He read her soul, approved of her spirit of prayer, and strengthened her to carry out her reforms. St. Peter died, with great joy, kneeling in prayer, October 18th, 1562, at the age of sixty-three.REFLECTION.-If men do not go about barefoot now, nor under-go sharp penances, as St. Peter did, there are many ways of trampling on the world; and our Lord teaches them when He finds the necessary courage.INTERCESSORY PRAYER:Saint Peter of Alcantara, please pray for us today [state your prayer request.]
