7 Sundays DevotionOffered on the 7 Sundays leading to the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th, this devotion recalls the 7 Sorrows and 7 Joys of St. Joseph.
This year, the devotion will begin on January 30th. On each Sunday, a short prayer is offered, then a Gospel reading and conclusion with the Litany of St. Joseph. There will also be a short recorded reflection which will be uploaded each week.
|
The Seven Sundays Devotion to St. Joseph is a longstanding tradition that recalls the 7 Sorrows and 7 Joys of St. Joseph. The tradition holds that a ship carrying a large number of passengers was wrecked off the coast of Holland. Among the passengers were two Franciscan friars who survived, clinging to a wooden plank for two days. A man then appeared, saving them and bringing them to shore. When they asked him who he was, he replied “I am Joseph, and I desire you to honor my seven sorrows and seven joys.”
While this devotion can be offered at any time throughout the year, particular significance and privilege has been given to offering this on the seven Sundays leading to the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th. As a part of the devotion, you are asked to receive communion on each Sunday in honor of St .Joseph and recite the devotional prayers. These prayers can be downloaded in the accompanying PDF, or accessed online. There will also be a short video reflection posted each Sunday, recalling the particular sorrow and joy of St. Joseph.
While this devotion can be offered at any time throughout the year, particular significance and privilege has been given to offering this on the seven Sundays leading to the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th. As a part of the devotion, you are asked to receive communion on each Sunday in honor of St .Joseph and recite the devotional prayers. These prayers can be downloaded in the accompanying PDF, or accessed online. There will also be a short video reflection posted each Sunday, recalling the particular sorrow and joy of St. Joseph.
1st SUNDAY--January 30th
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER
O chaste spouse of Mary, great was the trouble and anguish of your heart when you were considering quietly sending away your inviolate spouse; yet your joy was unspeakable, when the surpassing mystery of the Incarnation was made known to you by the angel. By this sorrow and this joy, we beseech you to comfort our souls, both now and in the sorrows of our final hour, with the joy of a good life and a holy death after the pattern of your own life and death in the arms of Jesus and Mary. GOSPEL READING | MATTHEW 1:18 – 25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” And this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus. CONCLUDE WITH THE LITANY TO ST. JOSEPH |
Sorrow: The doubt of St. Joseph
Joy: The message of the Angel |
2nd SUNDAY--February 6th
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER
O most blessed patriarch, glorious Saint Joseph, who was chosen to be the foster father of the Word made flesh, your sorrow at seeing the child Jesus born in such poverty was suddenly changed into heavenly exultation when you heard the angelic hymn and beheld the glories of that resplendent night. By this sorrow and this joy, we implore you to obtain for us the grace to pass over from life’s pathway to hear angelic songs of praise and to rejoice in the shining splendor of celestial glory. GOSPEL READING | LUKE 2:1 – 20 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. CONCLUDE WITH THE LITANY TO ST. JOSEPH |
Sorrow: The poverty of Jesus' birth
Joy: The birth of the Savior |
3rd SUNDAY--February 13th
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER
O glorious Saint Joseph, who faithfully obeyed the law of God, your heart was pierced at the sight of the most precious blood that was shed by the infant Savior during his circumcision, but the name of Jesus gave you new life and filled you with quiet joy. By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us the grace to be freed from all sin during life and to die rejoicing, with the holy name of Jesus in our hearts and on our lips. GOSPEL READING | LUKE 2:21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. CONCLUDE WITH THE LITANY TO ST. JOSEPH |
Sorrow: The circumcision
Joy: The Holy Name of Jesus |
4th SUNDAY--February 20th
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER
O most faithful Saint Joseph, who shared the mysteries of our redemption, the prophecy of Simeon, touching the sufferings of Jesus and Mary, caused you to shudder with mortal dread but at the same time filled you with a blessed joy for the salvation and glorious resurrection that would be attained by countless souls. By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us that we may be of the number of those who, through the merits of Jesus and the intercession of Mary the Virgin Mother, are predestined to a glorious resurrection. GOSPEL READING | LUKE 2:22 – 35 And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” CONCLUDE WITH THE LITANY TO ST. JOSEPH |
Sorrow: The prophecy of Simeon
Joy: The effects of Redemption |
5th SUNDAY--February 27th
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER
O most watchful guardian of the Son of God, glorious Saint Joseph, great was your toil in supporting and waiting upon the Son of God, especially during the flight into Egypt! Yet, how you rejoiced to have God himself always near you. By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us the grace that would keep us safe from the devil, especially the help we need to flee from dangerous situations. May we serve Jesus and Mary, and for them alone may we live and happily die. GOSPEL READING | MATTHEW 2:13 – 15 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” CONCLUDE WITH THE LITANY TO ST. JOSEPH |
Sorrow: The flight into Egypt
Joy: The overthrow of the idols of Egypt |
6th SUNDAY-- March 6th
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER
O glorious Saint Joseph, you marveled to see the King of heaven obedient to your commands. Your consolation in bringing Jesus out of the land of Egypt was troubled by your fear of Archelaus. Nevertheless, being assured by an angel, you lived in gladness at Nazareth with Jesus and Mary. By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us that our hearts may be delivered from harmful fears, so that we may rejoice in peace of conscience and may live with Jesus and Mary, and, like you, may die in their company. GOSPEL READING | MATTHEW 2:19 – 23; LUKE 2:40 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” CONCLUDE WITH THE LITANY TO ST. JOSEPH |
Sorrow: The return from Egypt
Joy: Life with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth |
7th SUNDAY--March 13th
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER
O glorious Saint Joseph, pattern of all holiness, when you lost the child Jesus, you sought him sorrowing for the space of three days, until with great joy you found him again in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors. By this sorrow and this joy, we ask you, with our hearts upon our lips, to keep us from ever having the misfortune of losing Jesus through mortal sin. Grant also that we always may seek him with unceasing sorrow, when we commit a serious sin, until we find him again, ready to show us his great mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation. GOSPEL READING | LUKE 2:41 – 50 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but, supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. CONCLUDE WITH THE LITANY TO ST. JOSEPH |
Sorrow: The loss of the Child Jesus
Joy: The finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple |