St. Joseph Novena

ELCC St. Joseph Novena 

To honor the Universal Protector of the Church on May 1, the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker (an appropriate intercession for all those currently unemployed / underemployed).  Here are the format and daily meditations:

Daily Novena Format:

1. Introduce the Daily Theme / Title of St. Joseph
2. Brief Meditation
3. Litany of St. Joseph (see below)
4. Make our intentions – public / private
5. Our Father / Hail Mary / Glory Be

Nine Titles of St. Joseph – Daily Meditations:

1. Head of the Holy Family 
   1. St. Joseph was entrusted with the care of Jesus and Our Lady
   2. St. Joseph is the greatest saint after the Blessed Mother
   3. We need to entrust the care of our Church and families to St. Joseph
2. Mirror of Patience
   1. The four dreams of St. Joseph show that he was obedient in all things
   2. Constantly moving, safeguarding Jesus & Mary, and knowing what they would suffer (without him being there to comfort them) caused St. Joseph much pain
   3. We need to rely on the Lord and trust God’s Providence in troubled times
3. Lover of Poverty 
   1. Mary & Joseph were content to live in poverty and simplicity
   2. Their treasure was daily Adoration of Jesus, God in their midst
   3. In a materialistic world, may we be content with the gifts of God / daily graces
4. Model of Artisans
   1. St. Joseph was a builder who taught Jesus the family trade
   2. He quietly provided for the Holy Family in extreme circumstances, on the run
   3. May we see the dignity in work and pray for the un-/under-employed
5. Pillar of Families 
   1. Marriages, Family, Innocence and Life are under attack in our modern age
   2. To help our families to become more like the Holy Family—the Domestic Church—let us ask the intercession of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
6. Comfort of the Afflicted 
   1. The Holy Family knew affliction, worry and persecution
   2. St. Joseph protected Jesus & Mary his whole life long
   3. Let us ask St. Joseph to comfort us with his protection
7. Hope of the Sick 
   1. As Bishop Boyea noted recently, St. Joseph has been invoked against plague
   2. St. Therese of  Lisieux was delivered from a childhood illness by St. Joseph
   3. May the intercession of St. Joseph deliver us from COVID-19 and all illness
8. Patron of the Dying 
   1. St. Joseph was blessed to die in the care of Jesus & Mary
   2. This is the very image of the “grace of a happy death”
   3. The Pious Union of St. Joseph (Grass Lake, MI) is dedicated to this patronage
   4. May St. Joseph guide us home to Eternal Life with the help of Jesus & Mary
9. Protector of the Holy Church 
   1. St. Joseph was entrusted with the care of Jesus & Mary
   2. Therefore, he has been entrusted with the care of all Christians / the Church
   3. Pope Pius IX named St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church in 1870
10. Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration 

Let us pray:  O God, in your loving providence you were pleased 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 on earth we venerate as our protector: You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Saint Joseph, pray for us!