St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus, is the patron and protector of the whole Church. This traditional prayer, written by Pope Leo XIII, asks him to guard the Church and each of us as he once guarded the Holy Family.
To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy thrice-holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also.
Through that charity which bound thee to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and through the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by His Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us, and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and as once thou rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity.
Shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.
A Short Prayer
When you need St. Joseph's help quickly:
St. Joseph, guardian of Jesus and protector of the Church, pray for us.
When to Pray It
- In October, after the Holy Rosary. Pope Leo XIII asked that this prayer be added to the Holy Rosary during the month of October.
- On Wednesdays, traditionally dedicated to St. Joseph
- During March, the month of St. Joseph
- For your family, your work, a good death, or the needs of the Church
Who Is St. Joseph?
St. Joseph was a carpenter from Nazareth and the husband of the Virgin Mary. The Gospel calls him a "just man" (Matthew 1:19). He protected Mary and Jesus, led them to safety in Egypt, and raised Jesus in their home in Nazareth.
He is the patron of:
- The Universal Church, proclaimed by Pope Bl. Pius IX in 1870
- Fathers and families
- Workers
- A happy death, because he is traditionally believed to have died in the arms of Jesus and Mary
Feast days:
- March 19: Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- May 1: St. Joseph the Worker
Where It Comes From
Pope Leo XIII wrote this prayer in his 1889 encyclical Quamquam Pluries, on devotion to St. Joseph. He wrote it during a difficult time for the Church and asked Catholics everywhere to seek St. Joseph's protection.