Visit to St. Joseph
Seventeenth Day
To prove the power which St. Joseph possesses in paradise, St. Bernardine of Siena expresses himself thus: We cannot doubt that Christ not only does not refuse to St. Joseph in heaven that familiarity and reverence which, as a son towards his father, He accorded him when He lived on earth, but rather that it is now perfected. Remark the words familiarity and reverence; that Lord, Who on earth revered St. Joseph as His father, will certainly deny him nothing that he asks in heaven. Let us then say to him in confidence:
St. Joseph, powerful protector of our souls, keep us from all sin.
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.
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