The month of March is dedicated to Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. How will you develop a relationship with this saint?
Below are six ways to grow closer to Saint Joseph during March:
1) Entrust every intention to his intercession.
2) Honor the fathers in your life.
3) Pray the Saint Joseph novena. (His feast day is March 19th!)
4) Offer up your work to Saint Joseph the Worker.
5) Dedicate every Wednesday to his chaste heart.
6) Consecrate yourself (or your family!) to him.
Here’s a closer look into each of these suggestions:
1) Entrust every intention to his intercession.
Prayers calling on Saint Joseph are unique!
St. Thomas Aquinas explained:
“Some saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.”
His patronage covers a vast amount of needs and requests ranging from family troubles to finances, and many things in between.
There are various prayers calling on the intercession of Saint Joseph.
Here’s one prayer outlined in Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical "Quamquam Pluries" (August 15, 1889):
"To thee, O blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our affliction,and having implored the help of thy thrice holy Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence, earnestly beg thee also to take us under thy protection.
By that charity wherewith thou wert united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and by that fatherly love with which thou didst cherish the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray that thou wilt look down with gracious eye upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His blood, and wilt succor us in our need by thy power and strength.
Defend, O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen offspring of Jesus Christ.
Keep from us, O most loving Father, all blight of error and corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in this conflict with the powers of darkness.
And even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the peril of His life, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Shield us ever under thy patronage, that, following thine example and strengthened by thy help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and attain to everlasting bliss in Heaven.
Amen."
2) Honor the fathers in your life.
Saint Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus Christ and spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which earned him the title, "Pillar of Family Life."
During the month of March, consider honoring the fathers in your life in a special way. This can range from making a meal for your local priest(s), writing a special letter of gratitude for your own father, or offering up special prayers for an increase in virtuous fatherhood in our country.
3) Pray the Saint Joseph novena.
The feast day of Saint Joseph is March 19th. Traditionally, we begin the novena to Saint Joseph on March 10th.
You can find the full set of novena prayers here.
4) Offer up your work to Saint Joseph the Worker.
Devotion to Saint Joseph as a worker dates back to the Middle Ages when Catholic theologians and writers began to emphasize the role of Saint Joseph as a model of humility, hard work, and dedication.
Here is the full text of Pope St. Pius X’s prayer for his intercession:
O Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance for the expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations; to work with thankfulness and joy, considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience, never shrinking from weariness and trials; to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self, keeping unceasingly before my eyes death and the account that I must give of time lost, talents unused, good omitted, and vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thy example, O Patriarch, Saint Joseph.Such shall be my watchword in life and in death. Amen.
5) Dedicate every Wednesday to his chaste heart.
The Catholic Church traditionally dedicates Wednesday to Saint Joseph.
Whether it involves praying the Litany to Saint Joseph or attending daily Mass, set aside time for prayer and reflection every Wednesday this month.
Although the Church does not have an official “First Wednesday” devotion, you can make the Nine First Wednesdays in a manner similar to the Nine First Fridays of the Sacred Heart or the Five First Saturdays to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Devotion to the Most Chaste Heart of Saint Joseph is celebrated on the First Wednesday of each month based on apparitions approved by Bishop Dom Carillo Gritti in 2010.
6) Consecrate yourself or your family to Saint Joseph.
More recently, Father Donald Calloway, MIC., popularized this spiritual practice.
In a previous interview with ChurchPOP, Father Calloway explained it as, “…entrusting our lives into the hands of our Spiritual Father, so that he, with Our Lady, can help us grow in holiness. And I think now is the time for this.”
Check out our reporting on Father Donald Calloway’s book, Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.