Visit to St. Joseph for Every Day of October
Day 2
We should indeed honor St. Joseph, since the Son of God Himself was graciously pleased to honor Him, by calling him his father. Christ, says Origen, gave to Joseph the honor due to a parent. He is also thus spoken of in the Gospel: And His father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him" (Luke ii. 33). The divine mother also spoke of him under this name. "Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing" (Luke ii. 48). If, then, the King of kings was pleased to raise Joseph to so high a dignity, it is right, and a duty on our part, to endeavor to honor him as much as we can.
St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to thy service forever: do thou protect me.
Prayer
My holy Patriarch, I rejoice at thy happiness and greatness in being made worthy to have power to command, with the authority of a father, Him Whom heaven and earth obey, and to make Him obey thee. My holy Patron, since a God has served thee, I too wish to enroll myself in thy service; I choose thee, after Mary, for my principal advocate and protector. I promise to honor thee every day by some special devotion, and each day I will place myself under thy protection. Through the sweet company of Jesus and Mary, which thou didst enjoy during life, protect me during my whole life, that I may never be separated from God by losing His grace. And through the assistance which Jesus and Mary gave thee at death, protect me at the hour of my death, that, dying in the company of thee, of Jesus and Mary, I may one day go to thank thee in paradise, and in thy company praise and love thy God to all eternity. Amen.
St. Joseph, Patron of the universal Church, protect us; and our Mother, Holy Church.
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