St. Joe's Workshop

Typically, “A novena is a nine-day prayer asking a saint for prayers and intercessions. Nine days passed between Christ’s ascension and the Holy Spirit’s decent on the apostles; nine days spent by the apostles; nine days spent by the disciples in prayer and fasting in an upper room, higher and separate from the bustling and noisy city around them. Today, even in our own busy lives, we can take a few minutes a day to commune with God, to speak to our older brothers and sisters in the faith. May we remember that if the first novena brought about the birth of the Church then novenas today can work miracles as well.” 

Day 1

(This prayer was found in the 50th year of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In 1505, it was sent by the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Trust that whatever is the outcome of your novena is truly what is best for you in accordance with the will of God.)

 

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating you – and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (Silently mention your intention.) Amen.

Day 2

Adapted from: PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR ONE NEEDING COUNSEL

(Note: The original prayer was taken from the booklet “Devotions to Saint Joseph” by Brian Moore, S.J., printed and published by the Society of St. Paul.)

Joseph, in your life on earth

you well knew the agonies of doubt and uncertainty,

and yourself experienced deeply the need all people have of guidance.

Look with compassion upon any of us who need financial assistance,

whether it be with income, investments, stewardship, greed, poverty, or debt.

Pray for us to the Spirit of Wisdom, of Counsel,

of Generosity, and of Understanding, to aid us with His light and His truth.

May your own example inspire us to submit wholeheartedly

to the will of God and to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

May your prayers win for us the practical help we need

and the strength to follow God’s leadership;

May we experience the joy to be found in being one with Jesus

in saying, ‘Father, your will be done.’  Amen.

 

Day 3

Adapted from: PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR ONE’S FAMILY

(Note: The original prayer was taken from the booklet “Devotions to Saint Joseph” by Brian Moore, S.J., printed and published by the Society of St. Paul.)

St. Joseph, strengthen in our family every bond of love which unites us:

the marriage bond,

the love of parent and child,

the bonds of mutual love between all.

Joseph, protect our family from every danger from without

and from every threat to peace, unity, and harmony within.

 

St. Joseph, teach us to be

kind and loving towards one another,

careful for one another,

tolerant of one another,

forgiving towards one another.

Joseph, may contentment with our lot and joy in each other abound in our home,

as we seek to faithfully serve and greatly love God.

Joseph, please be a father towards our family,

and pray Mary be a mother to us. 

We ask you both to present our family’s needs before the Holy throne of the Gracious Good Giver.   Amen.

 

Day 4

Adapted from: PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR PROTECTION

(Note: The original prayer was taken from the booklet “Devotions to Saint Joseph” by Brian Moore, S.J., printed and published by the Society of St. Paul.)

 

Great Saint Joseph,

you guided our Lord, Jesus Christ,

in his boyhood and young manhood, and he called you his father.

Be a father to me, too,

since Jesus has made me His brother.

You worked for him and beside him; you taught him to work.

Teach me, too.

You provided your child’s daily bread, and he became bread for the world.

Please provide for us so we can provide for others too.

You kept your family safe in the flight into Egypt;

keep me safe in my journey through life.

Let me never turn aside from the right road

of the love of our Lord, and of faith and hope in Him.

May I, as you did,

have Jesus and Mary at my death-bed;

and, as you are now,

may I be united with them forever in heaven.

Amen.

Day 5

Adapted from: THE ‘OCTOBER’ PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH

(Note: The original prayer was taken from the booklet “Devotions to Saint Joseph” by Brian Moore, S.J., printed and published by the Society of St. Paul. It was written by Leo XIII and is commonly said after praying Our Lady’s Rosary.)

 

To you, St. Joseph,

we come – for we are in need.

We have asked the help of Mary, your wife,

and with confidence we ask, too, for your help.

Remember the love with which you were united to the

Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God;

remember the father’s love you had for the Child Jesus.

By those two loves we pray you look with love on the human race,

which Jesus our Lord won by His blood.

Help us with your power in all our needs.

You were a careful provider for the Holy Family;

Help us, then, carefully provide for our own families.

As a loving father, keep far from us all that could lead us wrong or corrupt us.

Long ago, you rescued the Child Jesus from the danger which threatened His life:

Defend, now, the holy Church of God from the traps the Enemy lays, and from all adversity.

Keep each of us, and those for whom we pray, in your continuing care.

Amen.

Day 6

Adapted from: PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR WORKERS

(Note: The original prayer was taken from the booklet “Devotions to Saint Joseph” by Brian Moore, S.J., printed and published by the Society of St. Paul.)

 

St. Joseph,

by the work of your hands and the sweat of your brow,

you supported Jesus and Mary,

and had the Son of God as your fellow worker.

Teach me to work as you did: with patience and perseverance,

for God and for those whom God has given me to support.

Teach me to see in my fellow workers the Christ who desires to be in them,

that I may always be charitable and forbearing towards all.

Grant me to look upon my work with the eyes of faith,

so that I shall recognize in it my echo of God’s own creative activity

and Christ’s work of passion for us, and so find true joy in it.

When my job is pleasant and productive,

remind me to give thanks to God for it.

And when it is burdensome, teach me to still give thanks

And to offer any pains to God, in reparation for my sins

and the sins of the world.  Amen.

Day 7

Adapted from: PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR ONE’S FRIENDS

(Note: The original prayer was taken from the booklet “Devotions to Saint Joseph” by Brian Moore, S.J., printed and published by the Society of St. Paul.)

 

St. Joseph,

in caring for Christ our Lord, you cared for all who are ‘in Christ’,

all who are His because by His gift they share in His life.

Into your loving care I confidently entrust my friends and all who are dear to me,

all who have asked my prayers,

all for whom I ought to pray

(especially those whom I have injured),

and all who have no one to pray for them.

I pray especially for those who are stricken with

emotional, social, moral, or financial poverty.

Do for them, Joseph, everything you did

for the Son of God, who called you ‘Father.’

To Him present them, Joseph,

asking Him with a father’s confidence

to receive them forever into the shelter of His most Sacred Heart.

 Amen.

  

Day 8

Adapted from: PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR THOSE IN ONE’S CARE

(Note: The original prayer was taken from the booklet “Devotions to Saint Joseph” by Brian Moore, S.J., printed and published by the Society of St. Paul.)

 

Great St. Joseph,

to your loving care were entrusted the Son of God made man

and His Holy Mother, the ever-virgin Mary.

Hear and answer the prayer I make to you

on behalf of those who have been entrusted to my care and keeping

by the same Providence which chose you.

Win for me this grace above all else:

that nothing I do or say shall ever obscure the face of God for them,

or cause them to love Him less.

Give them the same fatherly love and protection you gave Jesus and His Mother:

protect them from harm,

keep them from evil,

counsel them in doubt,

provide for their needs,

and give them the joy that is the inheritance of God’s children.

Amen.

Day 9

Adapted from: PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR ONE NEEDING COUNSEL

(Note: The original prayer was taken from the booklet “Devotions to Saint Joseph” by Brian Moore, S.J., printed and published by the Society of St. Paul.)

 

 

Joseph, in your life on earth

you well knew the agonies of doubt and uncertainty,

and yourself experienced deeply the need all people have of guidance.

Look with compassion upon any of us who need financial assistance,

whether it be with income, investments, stewardship, greed, poverty, or debt.

Pray for us to the Spirit of Wisdom, of Counsel,

of Generosity, and of Understanding, to aid us with His light and His truth.

May your own example inspire us to submit wholeheartedly

to the will of God and to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

May your prayers win for us the practical help we need

and the strength to follow God’s leadership;

May we experience the joy to be found in being one with Jesus

in saying, ‘Father, your will be done.’