Ad Iesum per Mariam: St Joseph, Husband of Mary

As one of the 2 known feastdays of St Joseph (the other one being May 1), today we honour him as St Joseph, Husband of Mary. Under this title, we celebrate him as the loving, compassionate and caring husband of Our Lady and foster father of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and guardian of the Holy Family. St Joseph was a man of great faith and trust in God, and is described in scripture as "a righteous man" (Mt 1:18). We also venerate him as the Patron and Protector of the Universal Church which, for us Catholics, is a particularly relevant role in this time of uncertainty, with the newly-elected Pope Francis. So on this day of special graces obtained by our faithful guardian and patron, we pray:

To Thee, O Blessed Joseph
(by Pope Leo XIII, with partial indulgence attached to prayer)

To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy most 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 to graciously 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 holy, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

Sancte Ioseph, Familiarum columen, ora pro nobis!

Sancte Ioseph, Protector sanctae Ecclesiae, ora pro nobis!

Happy nameday for Roadrunner and me!

After Mass for the solemnity of St Joseph we each lit a candle and said some prayers for Tatay through the intercession of St Joseph, Patron of Fathers.