Monday, March 19, 2012

Saint Joseph's feast

We have been saying this novena for nine days, and today it is the feast of great Saint Joseph! Our cathedral is named after him and there is a Mass in his honor tonight. The image is taken from the cathedral's novena booklet, so beautifully done. I have had so many intentions for this novena, and what peace and consolation prayer brings. One of the intentions has been for my dear papai, and I am happy to report that he is at home getting better each day!

NOVENA PRAYER
(prayer to be said at the end of each day's devotion)
Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector
and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special
confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation
in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your
faithful servants. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with
all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg
of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to
assist me at the hour of my death.
Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure,
humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my
guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did
in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to
you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine
Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare,
particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:
(Mention your request).
Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers in my behalf
will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

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