Day 5: Diligent Protector of Christ
“It is evident that God, having an infinity of means in His power by which He might easily have placed His Son in safety, and shielded Him from Herod’s fury, was pleased to choose that which was the greatest abasement to the Saviour, flight, but at the same time the greatest honour to Joseph…To Joseph alone was to belong the glory of preserving a life whose every instant was of incomparably more value than the united lives of all created beings. All men contributed to the death of the Saviour, one alone saved Him from death in His infancy; so that, as to one alone among women, Mary, was He indebted for His life as man, so to one alone among men did He owe its preservation.”
– The Life and Glories of Saint Joseph, by Edward Healy Thompson
Our Lenten Effort
In the midst of violence against unborn children, let us turn to St. Joseph, pleading with him to intercede for them in the same way that he protected the Infant Jesus during the Flight to Egypt and throughout his earthly life.
It is our duty as Catholics to respect the dignity of every human person, from conception to natural death.
Let us resolve to:
- Pray to St. Joseph for the protection of the Unborn.
- Pray to St. Joseph for the spiritual and physical protection of our loved ones.
- Practice protection of Christ through reverence for the Eucharist.
Novena Prayer
O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.
O Saint Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. Saint Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us.
(Here mention your request)
Saint Joseph, God has appointed you patron of the Catholic Church because you were the father, protector, guide and support of the Holy Family, the starting-point of the Church, God’s family on earth. You have a special relationship to the priesthood because you reared Jesus. You supported, nourished, protected and sheltered our Savior Himself.
Saint Joseph, please obtain for me the grace to live always as a worthy member of the Church, so that through it I may save my soul.
Through your powerful intercession may the Church successfully accomplish its mission in this world—the glory of God and the salvation of souls! Amen.
