The Church exults daily
in the memory of Saint Joseph but especially each March 19th—the Solemnity of
Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary—and on May 1st—the
Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker.
God shares with us the
ways of Joseph’s faith, perseverance, purity and loyalty. Prayerful meditation
on the relevant Scripture passages and asking God Himself to teach us about
this “just man” is a great place to begin as is by reciting the “Litany of
Saint Joseph.” The vivid titles therein convey much meaning.
Take, for example, the
appellation, “Terror of Demons.”
Satan and his cohort of
fallen angels had no success in seducing Joseph. He was meek, refrained from
idle speech and was righteous in his dealings with his neighbors. Because
Joseph was close to the compassionate Almighty, he was enabled to overcome the onslaughts
of Lucifer and his companions.
Those who turn to Saint
Joseph for his powerful intercession and good example do much to keep Satan and
the other devils at bay. In this sense, Joseph is the Terror of Demons because
when the friends of Jesus avail themselves of his salutary influence, Saint
Joseph is for them a sure protection against the wiles of the Prince of
Darkness.
There are numerous
prayers to Saint Joseph. Here is one from Pope Leo XIII.
To
you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the
help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by His Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O
most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus
Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and
corrupting influence;
O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from Heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness.
O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from Heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness.
As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in Heaven.
Amen.
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With Saint Joseph as
our help, we may confidently approach the Crucified and Risen Lord through
Blessed Mary and realize that our humble efforts—poor as they are—will please
our merciful God.
Saint Joseph, Terror of
Demons, pray for us.
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