Day 8: November 13th
NOBLE OFFSPRING OF DAVID
Today, we are reminded that St. Joseph did not happen to simply be at the right place at the right time. He is not a footnote as the spouse of Mary, but his betrothal to the Mother of God and role in raising the Son of God was an ordained part of God’s plan for Salvation from long before he was born.
St. Joseph was descended from David's line in order that the promise God had made to King David would be fulfilled; that salvation would come from his line. St. Joseph was a man of destiny and a man of noble birth, virtue and faith. He is yet another sign of the fulfillment of God’s promises (for those moments when we struggle to maintain our own faith after long waiting).
As a Noble Offspring, however, he inspires us to ask from where his nobility comes. It is not simply that he was born from such a blessed line of kings, he is not simply the Offspring of David, but St. Joseph was noble by his virtue, by his righteousness and by his faith. These qualities are what makes one noble and brings us into the mission that Our Father has for us, and into the plan of salvation that He has for the world.
Today we also begin commemorating the 7 Sorrows of St. Joseph, focusing on one sorrow each day. This is an invitation to join him, not only in his promises and glory, but also to be with him in his sorrow, as a true friend is not only there for the good times and blessings, but is present in the difficult and sorrowful times as well. On this day, we pray with him in his sorrow of the doubt he felt at the announcement that Mary was with child, joining him and then giving to him also our moments of sorrow when it appears that our hopes for the future have been dashed. And yet, what joy he must have felt when the angel revealed the part of God’s plan that he had not seen. So it is through faith in the fulfillment of what God has promised, that he also can take away our sorrows in those moments of doubt.
St. Joseph was descended from David's line in order that the promise God had made to King David would be fulfilled; that salvation would come from his line. St. Joseph was a man of destiny and a man of noble birth, virtue and faith. He is yet another sign of the fulfillment of God’s promises (for those moments when we struggle to maintain our own faith after long waiting).
As a Noble Offspring, however, he inspires us to ask from where his nobility comes. It is not simply that he was born from such a blessed line of kings, he is not simply the Offspring of David, but St. Joseph was noble by his virtue, by his righteousness and by his faith. These qualities are what makes one noble and brings us into the mission that Our Father has for us, and into the plan of salvation that He has for the world.
Today we also begin commemorating the 7 Sorrows of St. Joseph, focusing on one sorrow each day. This is an invitation to join him, not only in his promises and glory, but also to be with him in his sorrow, as a true friend is not only there for the good times and blessings, but is present in the difficult and sorrowful times as well. On this day, we pray with him in his sorrow of the doubt he felt at the announcement that Mary was with child, joining him and then giving to him also our moments of sorrow when it appears that our hopes for the future have been dashed. And yet, what joy he must have felt when the angel revealed the part of God’s plan that he had not seen. So it is through faith in the fulfillment of what God has promised, that he also can take away our sorrows in those moments of doubt.
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
THE FIRST SORROW OF ST. JOSEPH:
THE DOUBT OF JOSEPH WHEN MARY WAS WITH CHILD (Mt 1:19)O chaste Spouse of Mary most holy, glorious St. Joseph, great was the trouble and anguish of thy heart when you were minded to put away privately your inviolate spouse, yet thy joy was unspeakable when the surpassing mystery of the Incarnation was made known to thee by the Angel!
By this sorrow and this joy, we beseech thee 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 thine own, in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .
ACT OF CONSECRATION
My Father and my Guardian, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, O good Father, since I am your own, keep me and guard me as your property and possession.
--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
THE FIRST SORROW OF ST. JOSEPH:
THE DOUBT OF JOSEPH WHEN MARY WAS WITH CHILD (Mt 1:19)O chaste Spouse of Mary most holy, glorious St. Joseph, great was the trouble and anguish of thy heart when you were minded to put away privately your inviolate spouse, yet thy joy was unspeakable when the surpassing mystery of the Incarnation was made known to thee by the Angel!
By this sorrow and this joy, we beseech thee 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 thine own, in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory Be . . .
ACT OF CONSECRATION
My Father and my Guardian, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, O good Father, since I am your own, keep me and guard me as your property and possession.
--AMEN