Ecce Fidelis Servum et Prudens!

The Feast of St Joseph, the Holy Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is transferred from 19 March, which is Spy Wednesday this year, to today, 1 April. (This is no April Fools' joke!)

King Solomon, in his great wisdom bestowed upon him by God, foretold about St Joseph, the seed of David, in this most apt description of him in the Book of Proverb:

A faithful man shall be greatly praised, and he that is the keeper of the Lord shall be glorified.

Proverbs 28:20, 27:18

He is indeed the servant most faithful, who, despite not having any human explanation for the pregnancy of his Blessed Spouse, accepted and obeyed readily when the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying:

Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost, and she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt name His name Jesus.

St Matthew 1:20-21

In very truth, he is the keeper of the Lord, for he is appointed by the Most High to be the Foster-Father of the Incarnate Word, of the Only-Begotten Son of God. Even the King of kings, the Lord of lords, our Lord Jesus Christ, is put under his charge before He began His public ministry, as St Luke the Evangelist wrote in the Gospel:

Jesus went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.

St Luke 2:51

On this blessed occasion, I would also like to introduce and promote this wonderful devotion to St Joseph - the wearing of the Cincture or Cord of St Joseph. A white cotton rope with 7 knots on one end blessed by any Priest with a special blessing, St Joseph's Cord is usually girded and worn around the waist. Indulgences may be granted through the wearing of this Cord if the wearer is attached to the Archconfraternity of St Joseph in Rome, but more commonly it is worn for the following reasons:

1. St Joseph's special protection;
2. The grace of chastity;
3. Final perseverance; and
4. St Joseph's particular assistance at the hour of death.

The wearer of St Joseph's Cord is to daily say a Gloria on each of the 7 knots, in honor of and while meditating on each of the 7 Sorrows of St Joseph, and to recite a prayer to St Joseph for the holy virtue of purity. These meditations and prayers, and also more information on St Joseph's Cord, may be obtained from here.

Litany of St Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
St Joseph, pray for us.
Noble scion of David, pray for us.
Light of the Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Sedulous Defender of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph most just, pray for us.
Joseph most chaste, pray for us.
Joseph most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph most valiant, pray for us.
Joseph most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of all who labor, pray for us.
Glory of family life, pray for us.
Protector of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of families, pray for us.
Consolation of the afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of the demons, pray for us.
Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V: He made him the lord of his household.
R: And prince over all his possessions.

Let us pray.
O God, Who, in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the Spouse of Thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in Heaven whom, on earth, we venearate as our protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

St Joseph, Protector of Holy Church, restore Catholic tradition!