Litany of St. Joseph
Kyrie eleison (repeat) Christe eleison (repeat)
Kyrie eleison (repeat) Christe audi nos (repeat)
Christe exaudi nos (repeat)
Pater de caelis Deus, Miserere nobis.
Fili Redemptor mundi Deus, Miserere nobis.
Spiritus Sancte Deus, Miserere nobis.
Sancta Trinitas unus Deus, Miserere nobis.
Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioseph, Ora pro nobis.
Proles David inclyta, etc.
Lumen Patriarcharum,
Dei Genitricis sponse,
Custos pudice Virginis,
Filii Dei nutricie,
Christi defensor sedule,
Almae Familię praeses,
Ioseph iustissime,
Ioseph castissime,
Ioseph prudentissime,
Ioseph fortissime,
Ioseph obedientissime,
Ioseph fidelissime,
Speculum patientiae,
Amator paupertatis,
Exemplar opificum,
Domesticę vitę decus,
Custos virginum,
Familiarum columen,
Solatium miserorum,
Spes ęgrotantium,
Patrone morientium,
Terror daemonum,
Protector sanctę Ecclesię,
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
V. Constituit eum dominum domus suae.
R. Et principem omnis possessionis suae.
Click here for an English translation.
This is a traditional devotion in honor of St. Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus. He was entrusted by God with the care of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. God wanted the Holy Family to be an example to us all, so it would need a man to be its head, and to be a father figure to Jesus. Jesus wished to practice obedience to a mere man, even though He was God, to show us what we must do. Even though a father was not biologically needed in the case of Jesus (who was conceived in a miraculous way), a father WAS needed because Jesus was to live a hidden, normal human life until age 30. God wanted Jesus to be part of a proper human family in the eyes of His fellow Jews. Indeed, they could never say that He was illegitimate. They believed Him to be the son of Joseph.
It teaches us how important a father is, in the eyes of God, to a family - how the job entails so much more than just conceiving children. If that was the chief task of fatherhood, Jesus would have been able to dispense completely with an earthly father. Instead, paternity or fatherhood entails guiding the family, leadership, authority, providing support (spiritual, mental, physical), as well as other duties.
St. Joseph is the patron of families, of fathers, of the Universal Church, and of a happy death. He is the patron we should all invoke in all our difficulties, especially in married life. As Jesus obeyed Joseph as a father while He was on earth, so He chooses to obey and glorify him in Heaven today. In this glorious saint shone forth all the virtues: chastity, humility, trust in God, faith, hope, charity, obedience, generosity, meekness, poverty, etc. Joseph is lacking none of the virtues, and is the greatest saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This is found on the following CD(s):
Chant Compendium 1.
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