A Novena of Meditations in Honor of St. Joseph

According to the Method of Saint Ignatius, 1874

After the devotion toward Jesus our divine Saviour, and His holy Mother, there is none more salutary, more solid, or more fitting than the devotion to Saint Joseph.

This holy patriarch, whom God Himself chose to be the guardian, the protector, the nursing father of His only Son, the consoler and the support of Mary, is the special patron of Christian families. He takes a living interest in their welfare, and fills those who have recourse to him with celestial graces. Those souls, also, who are called to the service of our Lord in a state of perfection, find in Saint Joseph a special patron. Virgin Spouse of the Mother of God, he practised in the most eminent degree all those virtues which heighten the beauty of that purity to which are promised the blessings of the Lamb without spot.

Saint Joseph is also the director, the friend, and protector of all souls who aspire to perfection, in whatever state or in whatever condition they may be. The simplest and most ignorant people have been known under this skilful teacher to make astonishing progress in the great science of prayer, and the interior life. Finally, his tender charity causes him to desire for us the happiness that he himself enjoyed, of giving up his last breath in the arms of Jesus and Mary, so that he tenderly loves to help those souls who are on the point of leaving this world and about to appear at the Tribunal of God.

In short, there is no state of life, no position, no kind of need in which his protection does not furnish a resource upon which we can confidently rely. All who have invoked him, have had the sweet experience of his inexhaustible bounty, and of his limitless power. Saint Teresa, among others, assures us that she has never invoked him without being heard, and that she never knew any one to have recourse to him in vain.

With the view of contributing in some way to the glory of this great saint, we offer to pious souls this novena of meditations in his honour. They can be used with benefit at all times of the year, particularly at the time of the feast of Saint Joseph. It is then that all the treasures of Grace are especially placed in his hands. How can he refuse anything to those souls who join to the pious exercise of the novena, the care of studying and imitating his virtues--above all, if they crown these holy exercises with a good confession and a fervent communion? --pages 9 - 11

To download the entire book, click on the link below. The embedded book begins with the Novena to St. Jospeh, but the entire book with prayers and devotions can also be accessed within the same PDF.
 Download the book, "A Novena of Meditations in Honor of St. Joseph" 

After the Preparatory Prayer to the Novena, the Hymn
Veni Sancte Spiritus is said--which is listed below:

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus lucis tuae radium.	Come, Holy Ghost, send down those beams, which sweetly flow in silent streams from Thy bright throne above.
Veni, pater pauperum, veni, dator munerum veni, lumen cordium.	O come, Thou Father of the poor; O come, Thou source of all our store, come, fill our hearts with love.
Consolator optime, dulcis hospes animae, dulce refrigerium.	O Thou, of comforters the best, O Thou, the soul's delightful guest, the pilgrim's sweet relief.
In labore requies, in aestu temperies in fletu solatium.	Rest art Thou in our toil, most sweet refreshment in the noonday heat; and solace in our grief.
O lux beatissima, reple cordis intima tuorum fidelium.	O blessed Light of life Thou art; fill with Thy light the inmost heart of those who hope in Thee.
Sine tuo numine, nihil est in homine, nihil est innoxium.	Without Thy Godhead nothing can, have any price or worth in man, nothing can harmless be.
Lava quod est sordidum, riga quod est aridum, sana quod est saucium.	Lord, wash our sinful stains away, refresh from heaven our barren clay, our wounds and bruises heal.
Flecte quod est rigidum, fove quod est frigidum, rege quod est devium.	To Thy sweet yoke our stiff necks bow, warm with Thy fire our hearts of snow, our wandering feet recall.
Da tuis fidelibus, in te confidentibus, sacrum septenarium.	Grant to Thy faithful, dearest Lord, whose only hope is Thy sure word, the sevenfold gifts of grace.
Da virtutis meritum, da salutis exitum, da perenne gaudium, Amen, Alleluia.	Grant us in life Thy grace that we, in peace may die and ever be, in joy before Thy face. Amen. Alleluia.

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