Saint Joseph - Blog Posts

March 19th was Saint Joseph's Day. While I worked all day, this looks like a beautiful moment to connect with him. Thank you, joanofarcs-stigmata for sharing this rosary prayer!

Rosary Prayers of St. Joseph for the Feast of St. Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus

Usually when we think of rosaries, we think of Mary-- after all, if you were to pray all 20 mysteries, you'd be saying 200 Hail Marys! But while the traditional rosary uses Mary to center our gaze on Christ, another form less often discussed uses the examples left to us by Saint Joseph to better connect with God. The Saint Joseph rosary uses Joseph to help us better understand purity, fidelity, and humility, all while celebrating Joseph's role in the Holy Family, while asking for his intercession to help us imitate his trust in God.

The 'Hail Joseph':

The Saint Joseph rosary begins like most rosaries, with the sign of the Cross and Apostles Creed, but instead of a 'Hail Mary', we pray the 'Hail Joseph':

Hail Joseph, Son of David, spouse of Mary. Blessed art thou among patriarchs, and blessed is thy Holy Family. Holy Joseph, Guardian of Jesus, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Mysteries:

The Betrothal to Mary: Let us contemplate now how the Blessed Virgin Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, beginning a loving partnership, not of a union of bodies but a communion of souls; through this mystery may we better come to understand Godly relationships, friendships, and devotions, should one experience them.

The Annunciation to Joseph: Let us contemplate now how Joseph, being a righteous man, decided to divorce Our Lady quietly when she was found with child, and how the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and declared unto him that the child had been conceived through the power of Holy Spirit. Through this mystery, may we better come ot understand faith in our fellow man and faith in God's will.

The Nativity and Naming of Jesus: Let us contemplate now how Joseph went up to Bethlehem with Mary, and while they were there, in the city of David, she gave birth to the Savior, Christ the Lord. And when eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus. Through dwelling on this mystery, may we obtain the greater reverence for the Name above all names, Jesus Christ the Lord.

The Flight into Egypt: Let us contemplate now how Joseph, being a devoted spouse and guardian of the Holy Family, took Jesus and Mary to Egypt. Through meditating on this mystery, may we come to have a fiery love of the displaced and oppressed.

The Hidden Life in Nazareth: Let us contemplate how Joseph took Jesus and Mary to Nazareth and there lived a quiet life working as a carpenter with Jesus and Mary at his side, through the joys and sorrows of everyday life, until the end. May we all have the gift of a peaceful death with Jesus at our side.

Closing Prayers:

Pray for us O Blessed Joseph that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Almighty and eternal God, grant, we beseech thee, that by meditating upon the mysteries of the Rosary of Saint Joseph, we may imitate his prayerful trust, and faithfully carry out your holy will, despite difficulties, uncertainties, and fears. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hail, holy Joseph, Hail, Chaste Spouse of Mary, Hail! Pure as the lily flower In Eden’s peaceful vale. Hail, holy Joseph, hail, Prince of the house of God. May His best graces be By thy sweet hands bestowed.

Hail, holy Joseph, hail, Comrade of angels, hail! Cheer thou the hearts that faint, And guide the steps that fail. Hail, holy Joseph, hail! God’s choice were thou alone. To thee the Word made flesh Was subject as a son.

Three churches in Le Havre

This building very much stands out in Le Havre's rebuilt city centre, as it is far more ornate than its surroundings. It's the oldest building in Le Havre, completed in 1638, just 120 years after the founding of the town. Damage by Allied bombings but not completely destroyed, the old church was kept and restored, and, with Le Havre becoming a major town again, it got its own diocese in 1974. The church then became Notre-Dame Cathedral of Le Havre, and is now approaching 50 years in the role (anniversary in December).

As it had been decided to keep the old church, Auguste Perret, the architect in charge of the reconstruction, would build a church of his own elsewhere: the new Church of Saint Joseph, a blocky concrete structure, perfectly in sync with the rest of the urban project. Where the cathedral sticks out as its rounded, classic facade contrasts with the angular buildings around it, Saint Joseph's stands out with its tall central spire. Culminating at 107 m, the tower is inspired by lighthouses, a symbol of Le Havre's maritime nature.

Somewhere in between, other churches further away from the port also survived the war - not without damage, but restoration was chosen over replacement. In the foreground, Saint Vincent de Paul's Church was built in the 19th century in a neo-Romanesque style, its central tower reminiscent of the abbey on Mont Saint Michel.