30 DAY CONSECRATION TO ST JOSEPH Fr Gerard Skinner
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All biblical quotations are taken from the ESV translation, except Psalms, which are from the Abbey Psalter. Image on p. 13: Icon of St. Joseph in church of Abbazia di San Pietro by unknown artist. First published 2024 by The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society 42-46 Harleyford Road, London SE11 5AY. Tel: 020 7640 0042. www.ctsbooks.org © 2024 The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society. All rights reserved. ISBN 978 1 78469 773 0
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Contents Prepare the Soil of Your Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Possible Consecration Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Apostles’ Creed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Litany of St Joseph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Consecration Days 1-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 “Thirty Days” Prayer to St Joseph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Prayer of Consecration to St Joseph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
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Prepare the Soil of Your Heart To consecrate oneself is a profound spiritual act. It is a simple act and yet a significant one. Words are used, but it is the heart that speaks to the heart of another. To consecrate oneself to St Joseph means turning to him with all one’s heart to seek to become more like Jesus. This consecration is of thirty days’ length, resting on the tradition that St Joseph died just before Jesus began his public earthly ministry at the age of thirty. St Joseph knows and loves the Saviour dearly, and he sees you and loves you as you prepare to consecrate yourself to him over thirty days. To prepare yourself for this month of devotion, it is good to begin by going to confession, so that the soil of your heart and mind may be weeded and tilled, watered by the grace of the sacrament and warmed by the sun of God’s mercy, ready to receive such new seeds of life as God may grant to sow in you. If you are unable to make your confession before beginning the consecration, make sure you manage to do so within the thirty days, and certainly before making the final act of consecration on Day 30. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were undoubtedly good neighbours in the places where they lived, looking out for the good of others. This should encourage you to decide upon some charitable deeds to carry out
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throughout the days of the consecration, as well as to ask for the grace of patience and a heart that desires to be forgiving. I suggest that you also commence the thirty days of consecration by professing your faith through the recital of the Apostles’ Creed and by praying the Litany of St Joseph. Before you begin each day’s consecration prayers and readings, pause for a few moments to remind yourself that you are in the presence of God. Adore him. See St Joseph in your mind’s eye, and simply say, “St Joseph, pray for me”. Conclude every day with the “Thirty Days” Prayer to St Joseph on page 106, adding the Prayer of Consecration to St Joseph on page 109 on the last day. It is important to attend Mass on the day of consecration and say the act within a Church if possible. Finally, the name ‘Joseph’ is rooted in the Hebrew ‘Yosef’, meaning ‘God shall add’. God shall ‘increase’ in the hearts of those who put their trust in him; God will ‘enlarge’ those faithful hearts. May this increase in grace be yours as you make this journey of prayer. Fr Gerard Skinner
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Calendar of Possible Consecration Dates You can pray this consecration whenever you want and as many times as you want. Many people like to complete the consecration on a special feast day, depending upon their reasons for undertaking the consecration and the intentions for which they are praying. The chart below is to help you know when to start the consecration if you would like to finish on a particular feast day. Start date
Feast day on which to finish
End date
25th December
Feast of the Holy Spouses
23rd Jan
4th January
Presentation of the Lord
2nd Feb
18th February*
Solemnity of St Joseph
19th Mar
2nd April
St Joseph the Worker
1st May
14th April
Our Lady of Fatima
13th May
19th July
Our Lady of Knock
17th Aug
3rd October
All Saints
1st Nov
11th November
Our Lady of Loreto
10th Dec
November**
Holy Family
Dec
*In a leap year, the consecration would begin on 19th February. ** The solemnity of the Holy Family usually falls on the first Sunday after Christmas. However, if Christmas is on a Sunday, it is best to check what day has been designated by your local bishop and begin your consecration twenty-nine days before the consecration date (which is Day 30).
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The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
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Litany of St Joseph Renowned offspring of David, Christ, have mercy on us. pray for us Light of Patriarchs, Christ, have mercy on us. pray for us Lord, have mercy on us. Spouse of the Mother Lord, have mercy on us. of God, Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. pray for us God, the Father of Heaven, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us have mercy on us. Chaste guardian of God the Son, Redeemer the Virgin, of the world, pray for us have mercy on us. Foster father of the Son God the Holy Spirit, of God, have mercy on us. pray for us Holy Trinity, one God, Diligent protector have mercy on us. of Christ, pray for us Holy Mary, Servant of Christ, pray for us pray for us St Joseph, Minister of salvation, pray for us pray for us Lord, have mercy on us Lord, have mercy on us.
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Head of the Holy Family, pray for us
Guardian of virgins, pray for us
Joseph most just, pray for us
Pillar of families, pray for us
Joseph most chaste, pray for us
Support in difficulties, pray for us
Joseph most prudent, pray for us
Solace of the wretched, pray for us
Joseph most courageous, pray for us
Hope of the sick, pray for us
Joseph most obedient, pray for us
Patron of exiles, pray for us
Joseph most faithful, pray for us
Patron of the afflicted, pray for us
Mirror of patience, pray for us
Patron of the poor, pray for us
Lover of poverty, pray for us
Patron of the dying, pray for us
Model of workers, pray for us
Terror of demons, pray for us
Glory of family life, pray for us
Protector of Holy Church, pray for us
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Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord. He made him the lord of his household, and prince over all his possessions. Let us pray: O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother: grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector: You who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
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[There is] a prayer to Saint Joseph to which I am particularly attached and which I have recited every day for more than forty years. It is a prayer that I found in a prayer book of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary, from the 1700s, the end of the 18th century. It is very beautiful, but more than a prayer it is a challenge, to this friend, to this father, to this our guardian, who is Saint Joseph. It would be wonderful if you could learn this prayer and repeat it. I will read it. “Glorious Patriarch St Joseph, whose power makes the impossible possible, come to my aid in these times of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome. My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power.”1 Pope Francis
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30 DAY CONSECRATION TO ST JOSEPH
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Day 1 – Holy Trinity, One God Theme: “…until Christ is formed in you.” (Ga 4:19) Opening Prayer emember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never has it been known that anyone who asked for your help and sought your intercession was left unaided. Full of confidence in your power, I hasten to you, and beg your protection. Listen, O foster father of the Redeemer, to my humble prayer, and in your goodness hear and answer me. Amen.
R
Scripture For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the
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church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. (Ep 3:14-21) Reading from St John Henry Newman When, for our sakes, the Son came on earth and took our flesh, yet he would not live without the sympathy of others. For thirty years he lived with Mary and Joseph and thus formed a shadow of the Heavenly Trinity on earth. O the perfection of that sympathy which existed between the three! Not a look of one, but the other two understood, as expressed, better than if expressed in a thousand words – nay more than understood, accepted, echoed, corroborated. It was like three instruments absolutely in tune which all vibrate when one vibrates, and vibrate either one and the same note, or in perfect harmony.2 Reflection Through the intercession of St Joseph and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we hope and pray that the image of Christ, whom the saint so lovingly nurtured, will be restored in our hearts and minds and that our lives are pleasing to our heavenly Father. Let us ponder on the union with Christ that we enjoy through the Sacrament of Baptism when we became the adopted children of God, privileged to speak to him in prayer and to say, “Our Father”.
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Prayer of Pope St John XXIII St Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste husband of Mary, you passed your life in loving fulfilment of duty. You supported the holy family of Nazareth with the work of your hands. Kindly protect those who trustingly come to you. You know their aspirations, their hardships, their hopes. They look to you because they know you will understand and protect them. You too knew trial, labour and weariness. But amid the worries of material life, your soul was full of deep peace and sang out in true joy through intimacy with God’s Son entrusted to you and with Mary, his tender Mother. Assure those you protect that they do not labour alone. Teach them to find Jesus near them and to watch over him faithfully as you have done. Amen.
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Day 2 – Abraham, Our Father in Faith Theme: Faith in God Opening Prayer emember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never has it been known that anyone who asked for your help and sought your intercession was left unaided. Full of confidence in your power, I hasten to you, and beg your protection. Listen, O foster father of the Redeemer, to my humble prayer, and in your goodness hear and answer me. Amen.
R
Scripture For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring – not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations” – in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall
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your offspring be.” That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness”. (Rm 4:13, 16-18, 22) Reading from Pope Benedict XVI The Gospel of Matthew highlights in a special way the Messianic prophecies which reached fulfilment through the role that Joseph played: the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (Mt 2:1-6); his journey through Egypt, where the Holy Family took refuge (Mt 2:13-15); the nickname, the “Nazarene” (Mt 2:22-23). In all of this he showed himself, like his spouse Mary, an authentic heir of Abraham’s faith: faith in God who guides the events of history according to his mysterious salvific plan. His greatness, like Mary’s, stands out even more because his mission was carried out in the humility and hiddenness of the house of Nazareth. Moreover, God himself, in the person of his Incarnate Son, chose this way and style of life – humility and hiddenness – in his earthly existence. From the example of St Joseph we all receive a strong invitation to carry out with fidelity, simplicity and modesty the task that Providence has entrusted to us.3 Reflection “In hope he believed against hope”. For both Abraham and St Joseph, their faith in God was greatly tested. They trusted, yet they hesitated, ultimately believing
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having first questioned. “We have believed, and have come to know,” responded St Peter to Jesus in the Gospel of John (6:69) – to discern God’s ways, to know him and begin to perceive his plan, we first need the eyes of faith. “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24). Prayer O Lord, we commend ourselves to St Joseph, the glorious Patriarch whom you chose as the head of the Holy Family and the patron and protector of the whole Church. Trusting in the power of his intercession in heaven, we entrust especially to you our families and all our intentions: keep us united in your love and tend to all our needs, be they material or spiritual. We beseech you, that we may be helped by the merit of the Spouse of your most holy Mother, so that what we cannot obtain by ourselves may be obtained by his intercession. Amen.
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Day 3 – Joseph in Egypt Theme: Love of the Eucharist Opening Prayer emember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never has it been known that anyone who asked for your help and sought your intercession was left unaided. Full of confidence in your power, I hasten to you, and beg your protection. Listen, O foster father of the Redeemer, to my humble prayer, and in your goodness hear and answer me. Amen.
R
Scripture And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. (Gn 41:49) Readings from St Bernardine of Siena and Pope St John Paul II Let us consider this man Joseph in connection with the Universal Church of Christ. Is he not that elect and chosen one, through whom, and under whom Christ is orderly and honestly brought into the world? If, then, the Holy Universal Church be under a debt to the Virgin Mother (because through her the Church has been made to receive Christ), next to Mary the Church owes thanks and reverence to Joseph. He verily is the
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key which unlocked the treasures of the Church of the Old Testament, for in his person all the excellence of Patriarchs and Prophets comes to the completion of achievement, seeing that he alone enjoyed in this life the full fruition of what God has been pleased to promise aforetime to them. It is therefore with good reason that we see a type of him in that Patriarch Joseph who stored up corn for the people. But the second Joseph has a more excellent dignity than the first, seeing that the first gave to the Egyptians bread only for the body, but the second was, on behalf of all the elect, the watchful guardian of that Living Bread which came down from heaven, of which whosoever eats will never die.4 St Bernardine of Siena In the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the Church venerates the memory of Mary the ever-Virgin Mother of God and the memory of St Joseph, because “he fed him whom the faithful must eat as the bread of eternal life”.5 Pope St John Paul II Reflection The Joseph of whom we read in the Book of Genesis prefigures St Joseph. As the former was sold into slavery and taken to Egypt, so St Joseph brings the Holy Family to that place. The Old Testament Joseph became Pharoah’s steward; the New Testament Joseph
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is given custody of the Son of God himself. The work of steward for the Pharaoh included guarding the vast royal stores of grain; St Joseph is guardian of the Bread of Life, born in the royal city of Bethlehem, a name that means ‘House of Bread’. When we receive Holy Communion, we are entrusted with worthily receiving the Saviour of the world. May St Joseph inspire us to have greater love for this inestimable sacrament and instil in us trust when the path of life seems incomprehensible. Prayer of St John Henry Newman God has created me to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission – I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for his purposes, as necessary in my place as an Archangel in his – if, indeed, I fail, he can raise another, as he could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do his work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep his commandments and serve him in my calling.
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Therefore I will trust him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; he may prolong my life, he may shorten it. He knows what he is about. He may take away my friends, he may throw me among strangers, he may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me – still he knows what he is about. O Adonai, O Ruler of Israel, Thou that guidest Joseph like a flock, O Emmanuel, O Sapientia, I give myself to Thee. I trust Thee wholly. Thou art wiser than I – more loving to me than I myself. Deign to fulfil Thy high purposes in me whatever they be – work in and through me. I am born to serve Thee, to be Thine, to be Thy instrument. Let me be Thy blind instrument. I ask not to see – I ask not to know – I ask simply to be used.
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