Day 26: December 1st
GLORY OF HOME LIFE
Today, we mark the beginning of the final week of our Consecration to St. Joseph. In addition to remembering him as the Glory of Homelife, it seems appropriate to also offer a few notes about the final day of Consecration.
First, though, we recognize St. Joseph as the Glory of Homelife, how many of us would today think of a husband as being the Glory of Homelife? Being a homemaker is traditionally the role of a mother and may seem more appropriate to Mary—or at least this is what the last few generations have been told. Without going into a detailed history, it is worth briefly noting that until the later 19th Century the vast majority of people in the world and including Western civilization still worked at home. Husbands where taken away from their homes to work in an office or factory, but up until that time, men were as essential to Home Life as women. The husband, as the head of the family, would properly have been seen and a central role of his masculinity would have been the condition and care of the Home.
St. Joseph, the Glory of Home Life, reminds us that husbands and wives are equally homemakers. They do not have the same jobs, responsibilities or roles in caring for the Home and the family, but each remains equally essential.
The Glory, which as scripture tells us is found in the salvation of the home, needs the attention and work of the man of the house.
Our prayer for today is a Morning Offering to St. Joseph, which is one you may want to incorporate in your morning prayers after the conclusion of this consecration, as a way of starting each day in the presence of God and in commemoration of this Blessed Saint.
First, though, we recognize St. Joseph as the Glory of Homelife, how many of us would today think of a husband as being the Glory of Homelife? Being a homemaker is traditionally the role of a mother and may seem more appropriate to Mary—or at least this is what the last few generations have been told. Without going into a detailed history, it is worth briefly noting that until the later 19th Century the vast majority of people in the world and including Western civilization still worked at home. Husbands where taken away from their homes to work in an office or factory, but up until that time, men were as essential to Home Life as women. The husband, as the head of the family, would properly have been seen and a central role of his masculinity would have been the condition and care of the Home.
St. Joseph, the Glory of Home Life, reminds us that husbands and wives are equally homemakers. They do not have the same jobs, responsibilities or roles in caring for the Home and the family, but each remains equally essential.
The Glory, which as scripture tells us is found in the salvation of the home, needs the attention and work of the man of the house.
Our prayer for today is a Morning Offering to St. Joseph, which is one you may want to incorporate in your morning prayers after the conclusion of this consecration, as a way of starting each day in the presence of God and in commemoration of this Blessed Saint.
LITANY OF ST. JOSEPH
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Christ graciously hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world . . .
God the Holy Spirit . . .
Holy Trinity, One God . . .
Holy Mary. Pray for us.
St. Joseph . . .
Renowned offspring of David . . .
Light of Patriarchs . . .
Spouse of the Mother of God . . .
Chaste guardian of the Virgin . . .
Foster father of the Son of God . . .
Diligent protector of Christ . . .
Head of the Holy Family . . .
Joseph most just . . .
Joseph most chaste . . .
Joseph most prudent . . .
Joseph most strong . . .
Joseph most obedient . . .
Joseph most faithful . . .
Mirror of patience . . .
Lover of poverty . . .
Model of artisans . . .
Glory of home life . . .
Guardian of virgins . . .
Pillar of families . . .
Solace of the afflicted . . .
Hope of the sick . . .
Patron of the dying . . .
Terror of demons . . .
Protector of Holy Church . . .
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
℣. He made him the lord of his household.
℟. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray: O God, Who in Your ineffable providence deigned to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother; grant, we beg You, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate on earth as our Protector; You who live and reign forever, unto the ages of ages.
--AMEN
MORNING OFFERING TO ST. JOSEPH
Receive me, dear and chosen Father, and the offering of every movement of my body and soul, which I desire to present through thee to my blessed Lord.
Purify all! Make all a perfect holocaust! May every pulsation of my heart be a Spiritual Communion, every look and thought an act of love, every action a sweet sacrifice, every word an arrow of Divine love, every step an advance toward Jesus, every visit to Our Lord as pleasing to God as the errands of Angels, every thought of thee, dear Saint, an act to remind thee that I am your child.
I recommend to thee the occasions in which I usually fail, particularly (state the help you request). Accept each little devotion of the day, though replete with imperfection, and offer it to Jesus, whose mercy will overlook all, since He regards not so much the gift as the love of the giver.
--AMEN
ACT OF CONSECRATION
O dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life. After your example, may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O Blessed St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may shae in the peace and joy of your holy death.
--AMEN
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Christ graciously hear us. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world . . .
God the Holy Spirit . . .
Holy Trinity, One God . . .
Holy Mary. Pray for us.
St. Joseph . . .
Renowned offspring of David . . .
Light of Patriarchs . . .
Spouse of the Mother of God . . .
Chaste guardian of the Virgin . . .
Foster father of the Son of God . . .
Diligent protector of Christ . . .
Head of the Holy Family . . .
Joseph most just . . .
Joseph most chaste . . .
Joseph most prudent . . .
Joseph most strong . . .
Joseph most obedient . . .
Joseph most faithful . . .
Mirror of patience . . .
Lover of poverty . . .
Model of artisans . . .
Glory of home life . . .
Guardian of virgins . . .
Pillar of families . . .
Solace of the afflicted . . .
Hope of the sick . . .
Patron of the dying . . .
Terror of demons . . .
Protector of Holy Church . . .
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
℣. He made him the lord of his household.
℟. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray: O God, Who in Your ineffable providence deigned to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother; grant, we beg You, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate on earth as our Protector; You who live and reign forever, unto the ages of ages.
--AMEN
MORNING OFFERING TO ST. JOSEPH
Receive me, dear and chosen Father, and the offering of every movement of my body and soul, which I desire to present through thee to my blessed Lord.
Purify all! Make all a perfect holocaust! May every pulsation of my heart be a Spiritual Communion, every look and thought an act of love, every action a sweet sacrifice, every word an arrow of Divine love, every step an advance toward Jesus, every visit to Our Lord as pleasing to God as the errands of Angels, every thought of thee, dear Saint, an act to remind thee that I am your child.
I recommend to thee the occasions in which I usually fail, particularly (state the help you request). Accept each little devotion of the day, though replete with imperfection, and offer it to Jesus, whose mercy will overlook all, since He regards not so much the gift as the love of the giver.
--AMEN
ACT OF CONSECRATION
O dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life. After your example, may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O Blessed St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may shae in the peace and joy of your holy death.
--AMEN