Saint Joseph, I honor you as the true husband of Mary. Scripture says: “Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, and of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.” Your marriage to Mary was a sacred contract by which you and Mary gave yourselves to each other. She really belonged to you with all she was and had. No other person won her esteem, obedience and love so much. You were also the protector and witness of Mary's virginity. By your marriage you gave to each other your virginity. This mutual gift also belonged to the divine plan of the Incarnation, for God sent His angel to assure you that motherhood and virginity in Mary would be united. Your marriage not only brought you into daily association with Mary, the loveliest of God's creatures, but enabled you to share with her a spiritual life. What great honor comes to you, St. Joseph, from this close union with her whom the Son of God calls Mother and whom He declared the Queen of heaven and earth!

St. Joseph, after God and the Divine Child, you loved no one as much as Mary. She responded to this love by submitting to your guidance with naturalness and easy grace and confidence. The Holy Spirit Himself was the bond of the great love which united your hearts. Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being Mary’s husband.  As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to love Jesus with all my heart, as you did, and love Mary with some of the tenderness and loyalty with which you loved her.

Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. After Jesus and Mary, I place my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and never abandon those who call upon you. Therefore, I ask, by your love for Jesus and Mary, to help me during life, to assist me as I help others as their deaths approach, and at the hour of my own death. Spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a humble and charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide and my model through life that I may die as you did, in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Faithful Saint Joseph, follower of Jesus the Lord, I raise my voice to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special intention I now request: (Here please offer your special intention or request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers for me will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.