THE HOLY CLOAK OF ST. JOSEPH
THIRTY DAYS DEVOTION
ITE AD JOSEPH
Devotion to
THE HOLY CLOAK OF ST. JOSEPH
(Pray daily for 30 days)
"It is, then, natural and worthy that as the Blessed Joseph ministered to all the needs of the family at Nazareth and girt it about with his protection, he should now cover with the cloak of his heavenly patronage and defend the Church of Jesus Christ."
(Pope Leo XIII, Quamquam Pluries)
(The Holy Cloak begins here.)
BEGINNING PRAYER
In the name + of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph,
I give You my heart and my soul.
(Recite the Glory Be 3 times in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity for having exalted St. Joseph to a position of such exceptional dignity.)
OFFERING
O Glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, I humbly prostrate myself before Thee. I beg the Lord Jesus, thine Immaculate Spouse, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the Angels and Saints in the Heavenly Court, to join me in this devotion. I offer thee this precious cloak, while pledging my sincerest faith and devotion. I promise to do all in my power to honor thee throughout my lifetime to prove my love for thee.
Help me, St. Joseph. Assist me now and throughout my lifetime, but especially at the moment of my death, as thou wert assisted by Jesus and Mary, that I may join thee one day in Heaven and there honour thee for all eternity. Amen.
PRAYERS
I
Hail O Glorious St. Joseph, thou who art entrusted with the priceless treasures of Heaven and Earth and foster-father of Him Who doth nourish all the creatures of the universe. Thou art, after Mary, the saint most worthy of our love and devotion. Thou alone, above all the saints, wert chosen for that supreme honor of rearing, guiding, nourishing and even embracing the Messiah, Whom so many kings and prophets would have so desired to behold.
St. Joseph, save my soul and obtain for me from the Divine Mercy of God that petition for which I humbly pray. And for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, grant a great comfort from their pain.
(Recite the Glory Be 3 times.)
II
O powerful St. Joseph, thou wert proclaimed the Protector of the Universal Church, therefore, I invoke thee, above all the other saints, as the greatest protector of the afflicted, and I offer countless blessings to thy most generous heart, always ready to help in any need.
To thee, O Glorious St. Joseph, come the widows, the orphans, the abandoned, the afflicted, the oppressed. There is no sorrow, heartache or anguish which thou hast not consoled. Deign, I beseech thee, to use on my behalf those gifts which God hast given thee, until I too shall be granted the answer to my petition. And thou, Holy Souls in Purgatory, pray to St. Joseph for me.
(Recite the Glory Be 3 times.)
III
Countless are those who have prayed to thee before me and have received comfort and peace, graces and favours. My heart, so sad and sorrowful, cannot find rest in the midst of this trial which besets me. O Glorious St. Joseph, thou knowest all my needs even before I set them forth in prayer. Thou knowest how important this petition is for me. I prostrate myself before thee as I sigh under the heavy weight of the problem which confronts me.
There is no human heart in which I can confide my sorrow; and even if I should find a compassionate creature who would be willing to assist me, still he would be unable to help me. Only thou can help me in my sorrow, St. Joseph, and I beg thee to hear my plea. Has not St. Teresa left it written in her dialogues that the world may always know "Whatever you ask of St. Joseph, you shall receive."
O St. Joseph, comforter of the afflicted, have pity on my sorrow and pity on those Poor Souls who place so much hope in their prayers to thee.
(Recite the Glory Be 3 times.)
IV
O Sublime Patriarch St. Joseph, because of thy perfect obedience to God, thou mayest intercede for me.
For thy holy life full of grace and merit, hear my prayer.
For thy most sweet name, help me.
For thy most holy tears, comfort me.
For thy seven sorrows, intercede for me.
For thy seven joys, console me.
From all harm of body and soul, deliver me.
From all danger and disaster, save me.
Assist me with thy powerful intercession and seek for me, through thy power and mercy, all that is necessary for my salvation and particularly the favour of which I now stand in such great need.
(Recite the Glory Be 3 times.)
V
O Glorious St. Joseph, countless are the graces and favours which thou hast obtained for afflicted souls. Illness of every nature, those who are oppressed, persecuted, betrayed, bereft of all human comfort, even those in need of their life bread ... all who implore thy powerful intercession are comforted in their affliction.
Do not permit, O dearest St. Joseph, that I alone be the only one of all who hast appealed to thee, to be denied this petition which I so earnestly beg of thee. Show thy kindness and generosity even to me, that I may cry out in thanksgiving, "Eternal glory to our Holy Patriarch St. Joseph, my great protector on Earth and the defender of the Holy Souls in Purgatory."
(Recite the Glory Be 3 times.)
VI
Eternal Father, Who art in Heaven, through the merits of Jesus and Mary, I beg Thee to grant my petition. In the name of Jesus and Mary I prostrate myself before Thy Divine presence and I beseech Thee to accept my hopeful plea to persevere in my prayers that I may be numbered among the throngs of those who live under the patronage of St. Joseph.
Extend Thy blessing on this precious treasury of prayers which I today offer to him as a pledge of my devotion.
(Recite the Glory Be 3 times.)
SUPPLICATIONS IN HONOUR OF
ST. JOSEPH'S HIDDEN LIFE
WITH JESUS AND MARY
St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may come into my soul and sanctify me.
St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may come into my heart and inspire it with charity.
St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may come into my mind and enlighten it.
St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may guide my will and strengthen it.
St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may direct my thoughts and purify them.
St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may guide my desires and direct them.
St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may look upon my deeds and extend His blessings.
St. Joseph, pray that Jesus may inflame me with love for Him.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the imitation of thy virtues.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus true humility of spirit.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus meekness of heart.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus peace of soul.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the holy fear of the Lord.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the desire for perfection.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the gentleness of heart.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus a pure and charitable heart.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the wisdom of faith.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus His blessing of perseverance in my good deeds.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the strength to carry my crosses.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus a disdain for the material goods of this world.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the grace to always walk on the narrow path towards Heaven.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the grace to avoid all occasion of sin.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus a holy desire for eternal bliss.
St. Joseph, request for me from Jesus the grace of final perseverance.
St. Joseph, do not abandon me.
St. Joseph, pray that my heart may never cease to love thee and that my lips may ever praise thee.
St. Joseph, for the love thou didst bear for Jesus, grant that I may learn to love Him.
St. Joseph, graciously accept me as thy devoted servant.
St. Joseph, I give myself to thee; accept my pleas and hear my prayers.
St. Joseph, do not abandon me at the hour of my death.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give Thee my heart and my Soul.
(Recite the Glory Be 3 times.)
INVOCATIONS TO ST. JOSEPH
I
Remember O most chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, my good protector St. Joseph, that never was it known that anyone who didst come to thy protection, and sought thine intercession was left unaided. Confidently I prostrate myself before thee and fervently beg for thy powerful intervention. O foster-father of our dear Redeemer, despise not my petition, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
II
Glorious St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and virginal father of Jesus, look upon me and watch over me; lead me on the path of sanctifying grace; take heed of the urgent needs which I now beg thee to envelop within the folds of thy fatherly cloak. Dismiss those obstacles and difficulties standing in the way of my prayer and grant that the happy answer to my petition may serve for the greater glory of God and my eternal salvation.
As a pledge of my undying gratitude, I promise to spread the word of thy glory while offering thanks to the Lord for having so blest thy power and might in heaven and on earth.
THE 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.
Illustrious son 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.
Watchful 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 labour, pray for us.
Glory of domestic life, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of families, pray for us.
Solace of the afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons, pray for us.
Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest 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 choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant that as we venerate him as our protector on earth, we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in heaven, Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER OF THE HOLY CLOAK
O Glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, thou who wert chosen by God above all men to be the earthly head of the most holy of families, I beseech thee to accept me within the folds of thy holy cloak, that thou mayest become the guardian and custodian of my soul.
O Wondrous St. Joseph, from this moment on, I choose thee as my father, my protector, my counselor, my patron and I beseech thee to place in thy custody my body, my soul, all that I am, all that I possess, my life and my death.
O Loving St. Joseph, look upon me as one of thy children; defend me from the treachery of my enemies, invisible or otherwise, assist me at all times in all my necessities; console me in the bitterness of my life, and especially at the hour of my death. Say but one word for me to the Divine Redeemer Whom thou wert deemed worthy to hold in thine arms, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, thy most chaste spouse. Request for me those blessings which will lead me to salvation. Include me amongst those who art most dear to thee and I shall set forth to prove myself worthy of thy special patronage. + Amen.
(The Holy Cloak ends here.)
If for some reason you cannot recite the prayer on a particular day, you may make up for it on the 30th day.