Quick Summary
- St. Joseph is a beloved saint in Christianity, known for his faithfulness, obedience, and care for the Holy Family during Jesus’ formative years.
- Devotion to St. Joseph began in the 3rd or 4th century and there is a prayer to him that dates back to the year 50.
- The prayer is known to have never failed and is believed to provide spiritual benefits to those who pray or recite it.
- The prayer asks for St. Joseph’s protection and intercession to obtain spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ.
- The prayer contemplates St. Joseph with Jesus asleep in his arms and asks for his embrace and intercession for departed souls.
Pray with faith and ask for spiritual benefit.
Although St. Joseph never spoke a word in Scripture, his silent example of faithfulness, obedience and care for the Holy Family during Jesus’ formative years made him one of the most beloved saints of Christianity.
It is estimated that devotion to Jesus’ adoptive father began in the 3rd or 4th century. But according to the Pietá prayer book , there is a prayer to Saint Joseph that dates from the year 50:
“This prayer was found in the 50th year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505, it was sent from the pope to Emperor Charles when he was going to battle [de Lepanto]. He who reads this prayer, listens to it, or keeps it with him, will never die of sudden death or drown, nor be struck by venom, or fall into the hands of the enemy, nor be burned in any fire or surrendered in battle. Pray this prayer for nine mornings for any intention. She’s known for never failing. “
Here is the prayer that “is known to have never failed, which provides for the spiritual benefit of those who are praying or praying”:
O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong and so immediate before the throne of God, I entrust to you all my intentions and desires.
Help me, Saint Joseph, with your powerful intercession, to obtain all the spiritual blessings through the intercession of your adopted Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, so that, entrusting me here on earth with your heavenly power, you tribute my thanks and homage.
O Saint Joseph, I never tire of contemplating You with Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not draw near as He rests with your heart. Embrace Him in my name, kiss His tender face for me and ask Him to give me back this kiss when I breathe my last breath.
Saint Joseph, patron of departed souls, pray for me! Amen.
Remember: God always answers our prayers. But we do not always wait for the answers we get.