THE PEOPLE’S MANUAL OF S. JOSEPH. 
 
 Iw is Mt 
 
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 BY THE 
 
 BISHOP OP SALPOED. 
 
 PRAYERS 
 
 WITH 
 
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 Thouglit? and E}{amplEd 
 
 For Every Day in the Month. 
 
 PRICE FIVE 
 
¥ho is St. Joseph?- 
 
 V' i. 
 
 BT THB • '' 
 
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 BISHOP OF SALFOKD. 
 
 PRAYERS 
 
 WITH 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES 
 
 FOR EVERY DRY IN THE MONTH. 
 
 8t. Joseph’s Seminary, 
 
 BALTIMORE. 
 
 1889. 
 
St. Joseph’s College, 
 
 ^ Mill Hill^ London, Ang. 28,1887. 
 My Dear Father Slattery: 
 
 You have my hearty consent to publish my 
 little manual, ‘‘ Who is St Joseph,” or any other 
 of my manuals, if it will in any way help on our 
 Missions among the Colored Race. ' 
 
 Your devoted Father in Christ, 
 
 f Herbert, Bishop of Salford, 
 Superior General of St. Joseph’s Society. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 / 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Who is St. Joseph?. 5-10 
 
 An Act of Consecration. 11 
 
 Thoughts and Examples for Every Day in 
 
 the Month.12-42 
 
 The Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys..43-47 
 
 The Seven Sundays of St. Joseph. 48 
 
 The Praises of St. Joseph. 49 
 
 Triduuin.50-51 
 
 St. Joseph’s Memorare . 52 
 
 Petition tor Holy Purity. 52 
 
 The Priest’s Prayer.... 53 
 
 Invocations of the Holy Family. 54 
 
 Month of March. 55 
 
 Thirty Days’ Prayer to St. Joseph.50-59 
 
 St. Joseph’s Seminary. 60 
 
 The Negro Missions. 62 
 
 Prayer for Vocations. 63 
 
 Our Duty and Zelators. . 64 
 
I 
 
Joseph, the son of the Patriarch Jacob, was the 
 figure of S. JosEpn, the son gf another Jacob* 
 “Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of 
 whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ.” 
 
 1 .) 
 
 What was truly said of the first'Joseph, as to 
 his future, and as to his goodness, his chastity, his 
 patience, his wisdom, his influence with the king, 
 his power over the people, and his love for his 
 brethren, is verified much more perfectly even to 
 this day, in the second Joseph. 
 
 Of old it was said to the needy and suffering 
 people in the kingdom of Egypt: “ Go to Joseph, 
 and do all that he shall say to you.” {Oen. xli.) 
 
 The same is now said by the Sovereign Pont'ff 
 to all needy and sufieriug people in the kingdom 
 of the Church—“Go to Joseph.” 
 
 If you labor for your bread; if you have a 
 family to support; if you endure privation and 
 suffering; if your heart is searched by trials at 
 home; if you are assailed by some importunate 
 
6 
 
 WHO TS S. JOSEPH? 
 
 .temptation; If your taith is sorely tested,'and your 
 hope seems lost in darkness and disappointment; 
 if you have yet to learn to love and serve Jesus 
 and Mary, as you ought, Joseph, the Head ojf the 
 House, the Husband of Mary, the nursing Father 
 of Jesus— Joseph is your model, your teacher, and 
 5 ’’ 0 ur father. Truly, in all things, S. Joseph is the 
 people’s friend. 
 
 But once more you ask : 
 
 lil&o is S 
 
 ♦ 
 
 • 
 
 He is the adopted father of the God-Man : 
 
 S. Luke. 
 
 He is the most faithful coadjutor of the Incarnation: 
 S. Bernard. 
 
 He is one whose office belongs to the order of the 
 hypostatic Union: Suarez. 
 
 He is the Lord and Master of the Holy Family : 
 8. Bernardins. 
 
 He is the only one found worthy among men to be 
 the spouse of Mary; 8. Greg. 
 
 He is the consoler of Mary in her sorrows and 
 trials ; 8. B&rnard . , 
 
 He is the Savior of the life of the Infant Jesus : 
 8. Matt, 
 
TTHO IS S. JOSEPH ? 
 
 4 
 
 He is the Savior of the honour of His Mother: 
 S. Jerome. 
 
 He is the man who lived 30 years with Jesus and 
 Mary. . 
 
 He is the man more beloved by Jesus and Mary 
 than all other creatures: 8. Iddore. ' 
 
 He is the third person of the earthly Trinity: 
 - Gerson. 
 
 He is the model and image of apostolic men: 
 8. Hilai'y. 
 
 He is more an angel than a man in conduct: 
 (I Lapide. 
 
 He is the model of priests juid superiors: 
 Albertus Mag. 
 
 He is the master oj* prayer and of the interior life : 
 8. Teresa. Lallemani. 
 
 He is the guardian of chastity, and the honour of 
 virginity: 8. Augustine. 
 
 He is the leader In the great procession of the 
 afflicted: Avila. 
 
 He is the patron of the married state: Paul de Pal. 
 He is the procurator of the Church of God: In 
 parv. off. 8t. Jos. 
 
 He is the patron of a happy death: 8. Alphonsus. 
 He is the patron of the Catholic Church : Decree 
 8.C.B. 
 
S. Teresa shall tell us; listen to her words; she is 
 giving the experience other own life: 
 
 “I took for my Patron and Lord the glorious 
 S. Joseph, and recommended myself earnestly to 
 him. I saw clearly that this my Father and Lord 
 deliveied me out of this, and other troubles of 
 greater importance, touching my honour and my 
 soul. He rendered me greater services than I knew 
 how to ask for. I cannot call to mind that I have 
 at any time asked him L r anything which he has 
 not granted; and I am filled with amazement when 
 I consider the great favours God has granted me 
 through this blessed Saint, and the dangers from 
 which he has delivered me, both of body and soul. 
 
 “To other Saints our Lord seems to have given 
 grace to succour men in some special necessity; 
 but to this glorious Saint, I know it by experience, 
 He has given the grace to help us in all things. 
 Our Lord would have us understand that as He 
 was subject to Joseph on earth (S. Joseph bearing 
 the title of His father, and being His guardian, 
 could command Him), so now Our Lord in Heaven 
 grants all his petitions. 
 
B. TERESA ON 8. JOSEPH* 
 
 9 
 
 “I have asked others to recommend themselves 
 to S. Joseph, and they too know the same thing 
 by experience. 
 
 “I used to keep bis feast with all the solemnity 
 I could. 
 
 “Would that X could persuatle all men to be 
 devout to this glorious Saint; for I know by 
 long experience what blessings he can obtain for 
 us from God. I have never known anyone who 
 was really devout to him and who honoured him 
 by particular services, who did not visibly grow 
 more and more in virtue: for he helps in a special 
 way those souls who commend themselves to him. 
 It is now some years since I have always on his 
 feast asked him for something, and I always have 
 it. If the petition be in any way amiss, te din cts 
 it aright for my greater good. 
 
 ‘‘If I were a person who had authority to write, 
 it would be a pleasui’e to me to be diffusive in 
 speaking most minutely of the graces which this 
 glorious Saint has obtained for me and for others. 
 But I ask for the love of God that he who does 
 not believe me will make the trial for himself— 
 when he will find out by experience the great good 
 that results from commending oneself to this 
 glorious Patriarch and in being devout to him. 
 
f 
 
 10 s. TERESA ON 8. JOSEPH. 
 
 “Those who give themselves to prayer should 
 in a special manner always have great devotion to 
 8. Joseph; for I know not how any man can think 
 of the Queen of Angels, during the time that she 
 suffered so much with the Infant Jesus, without 
 giving thanks to Joseph for the services he rendered 
 them then. He who cannot find anyone to teach 
 him how to pray, let him take this glorious Saint 
 for his master, and he will not wander out of the 
 way.”— S. Teresa^8 Life, hy herself^ c. vi. 
 
 “Go, then, to Joseph, and do all that he shall say to 
 
 you 
 
 Go to Joseph, and obey him as Jesus and Mart 
 
 obeyed him; 
 
 Go to Joseph, and speak to him as They spoke 
 
 to him; 
 
 Go to Joseph, and consult him as They consult¬ 
 ed him; 
 
 Go to Joseph, and honour him as They honoured 
 
 him; 
 
 Go to Joseph, and be grateful to him as They 
 
 were grateful to him; 
 
 Go to Joseph, and love him as They loved him, 
 
 and as They love him still. 
 
CONSECKATION TO S. JOSEPH. 
 
 11 
 
 However much you love Joseph, your love will 
 always fall short of the extraordinary love which 
 Jesus and Mary bore to him. On the other hand, 
 the love of Joseph necessarily leads us to Jesus 
 and Mary. He was the first Christian to whom 
 it was said, “Take the Child and His Mother.”^ 
 This led a father of the Church to say, “You will 
 always find Jesus with Mary and Joseph.” 
 
 ACT OF CONSECRATION TO ST. 
 
 JOSEPH. 
 
 O dearest St. Joseph ! I consecrate myself to thy 
 honor and give myself to thee, that thou mayest 
 always be my Father, my Protector and my Guide 
 in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a great 
 purity of heart, and a fervent love of the interior 
 life. After thy example may I do all my actions 
 for the greater glory of God, in union with the 
 Divine Heart of Jesus, and with the Immaculate 
 Heart of Mary! And do thou, O blessed St. Joseph, 
 pray for me, that I may share in the peace and joy 
 of thy holy death. Amen. 
 
12 
 
 4 
 
 THOUG-HTS AND EXAMPLES FOR 
 EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH. 
 
 FIRST DAY. 
 
 '■'‘The vemrable Bishops of the whole Catholic world ^ 
 in their own name and in the name of their flocks, 
 humbly begged the Sovereign Pontijf to deign to 
 ifeclare St. Joseph to be the Patron of the Catholic 
 Church. The Bishops in the Sacred General Council 
 of ths Vatican renewed their petitions with increased 
 urgency . . . wherefore the Holy Father 
 
 has solemnly proclaimed him to be the Patron of the 
 Catholic Church.^'’— of the Cong, of Rites 
 8 Dec. 1870) 
 
 • 
 
 Example. —The Catliolics of England have ever 
 shown great devotion to 8t. Joseph He was with 
 them in the days of persecution. During the 
 Vatican Council they sent a petition to the Holy 
 See, signed by nearly 200.000 nam(S, begging that 
 the guardian of Je.' us and Mary might be solemnly 
 declared Patron not of England only but of the 
 Universal Church. 
 
'tttOOOH'tS ANi) EXAM?Lfc8. 18 
 
 SECOND DAY* 
 
 St. Teresa, in her autobiography, writes, “/ wish 
 I could persiiade merybody to he demui to this glorious 
 Saint^ from the great experierice 1 ham of the henejits 
 he obtains for us from God. I ham nemr known any 
 one truly devout to him and rendering Mm special 
 service., who did not advance greatly in virtue; for 
 he wonderfully helps on the sovXs that commend them¬ 
 selves to him'^ —(Life of St. Teresa, c. vi.) 
 
 Example. —St. Teresa wrote of hei'self, “For 
 many years on the day of his feast I have always 
 asked him for something, and my prayer is always 
 heal'd; and if my prayer is not altogether right, he 
 puts it right for my greater good. Weie I a person 
 writing with authority, I would gladly go on into 
 minute details of the favors which this glorious 
 Saint has shown not only to me, but also to other 
 persons.’* 
 
14 
 
 THOUGH'tS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 THIRD DAY. 
 
 St. Joseph has received all power necessary for 
 the salvation of souls. He who is truly devout to 
 St. Joseph may feel sure of salvation. Holy 
 Church sings in the hymn of his feast that 
 gave him to us to be the minister of our salvation^ 
 (Brev. 19 March.) And on the feast of his Patron¬ 
 age, she declares that Qod made Joseph to be as it 
 were the father of the King^ and the master of His whole 
 house, and that He has exalted him in order that he 
 maybe the salvation of many. —(Brev. in Pat. S. Jos.) 
 
 Example. —Isidore of Isolano relates that a 
 venerable prie,st told him of a noble who was 
 accustomed to say a short prayer every day before 
 a picture of S. Joseph that was painted on the wall 
 of a church. After many yeai-s he fell ill. One 
 day, while perfectly awake, and his mind perfect¬ 
 ly clear, he saw St. Joseph enter his room, just as 
 he was represented in the picture. The Saint, by 
 a few words, opened in his soul a fountain of con¬ 
 trition for his sins; the sick man sent at once for a 
 priest, made his confession, and died in perfect 
 peace. 
 
Thoughts ano examples. 
 
 15 
 
 FOURTH DAY. 
 
 The venerable Suarez, one of the greatest theo¬ 
 logians of the Church, speaks thus of St. Joseph: 
 “ J do not think the (/pinion that this Saint exc^U all 
 other Saints in grace and beatitude is rash or vmjyrob^ 
 able^ but on the contrary pious and truthlike. . . . 
 
 The ministry of St. Joseph is 7/iore perfect in kind 
 than that of the apmtolaie^ because it belongs to the 
 order of the hypostatic union.'’' —(Suarez, 3 p. q. 29, 
 sect. 8.) How powerful must he be to help u's in' 
 all our tioubles! 
 
 Example.— St. Jane Frances de Chantal used 
 to carry on her breast a little picture of the Holy 
 Family, and when she was in trouble she used to 
 apply it to her heart. “It is good,” she would say, 
 “to carry our friends about with us.” She did not 
 like to see the tiiree persons of this Earthly Trinity 
 separated. Her delight was to unite them in one 
 picture: where there was a picture of one of these 
 Persons she always wished to add to it a picture 
 of the other two. 
 
is i'HOUGflTS A.ND EXAM^Lfid, 
 
 FIFTH DAY. 
 
 St. Joseph’s heart was full of an extraordinary 
 reference for the Infant Jesus, mother IcM 
 
 Him in the manger. Joseph bending over contem^ 
 plated Him; 1m heart woe full of joy ai His nativity i 
 but-he durst not venture to touch the Holy Infant.^' 
 —(St. John Chrysostom, Horn, in nat. Dom.) 
 
 Example. —The celebrated Father Balthazar Al¬ 
 varez, when kneeling in prayer in the holy house 
 of Loreto, was advised by the Blessed Virgin to 
 cultivate a great devotion towards her most .pure 
 spouse, St. Joseph. He was given to understand 
 that St. Joseph would be of the greatest help to 
 him in the way of perfection. 
 
THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 17 
 
 SIXTH DAY. 
 
 “0, what an union was that between our Lady and 
 the glorious St, Joseph! Through this union Our 
 Lord belonged to Joseph he belonged to our Lojdy^ 
 not according to nature^ but according to grace; for 
 this union gate him a participation in all that belonged 
 to his most dear spouse, Mary was like a mirror,, 
 ^receiving perfectly into her soul the rays of ine Eternal 
 Sun of Justice; the soul of Joseph was like another 
 mirror opposite the first, receiving perfectly into his 
 soul the reflected rays !'*—(St. Francis Sales, 
 Entretien xix.) If we are devout to Joseph we 
 shall belong to Mary. 
 
 Example. —Father Gauchon, a Marist, spent 
 most of his time and resources in propagating 
 devotion to St. Joseph He ufeed to say:—“This 
 great patriarch took charge of the Son of God, he 
 will therefore know well how to take charge of 
 us.” He used also to say;—“By devotion to St. 
 Joseph, I have acquired devotion to Mary.” He 
 died with his picture ip his hands. 
 
18 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 SEVENTH DAY. 
 
 *''If you compare Joseph to the whole Ghurch of 
 Christ do you not see that he is a man specially chosen 
 by God, through whom and under whom Ch/rist was 
 fittingly and honourably introduced into the icorld? 
 If therefore, the holy church is a debtor to the Virgin 
 Mother because through her she teas made worthy to 
 receive Christ, in like manner, after Mary, the church 
 owes special hono^ir and reverence to Josephs —(S- 
 Bernardine of Siena, Serm. de 8. Jos. a 2, c. 2.) 
 Let us g© to the man specially chosen by God, 
 
 Example. —St. Bernardine with permission of 
 the Holy See instituted a reform in the Franciscan 
 order. In a general chapter be placed all the re¬ 
 formed houses under the care of St. Joseph, and he 
 called upon all his religious to pay particular devo¬ 
 tion to the foster-father of Jesus. He gave to the 
 new province, as a seal with which all documents 
 were to be stamped, St, Joseph bearing the Holy 
 Infant in his arms. 
 
19 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 EIGHTH DAY. 
 
 St. Joseph is the patron and model of apostolic 
 men. ' He carried the Child and His Mother up 
 and down the world, and was driven from place to 
 place, an angel always directing him. '‘ Hu life 
 teas typiml, he was like the apoatles 'aposiolorum 
 habet speciem) to whose care -Christ was confided to be 
 carried over the woiid.^' —(St. Hilary in Matt. c. ii.) 
 O priests of God, imitate St. Joseph. 
 
 Example.—S t. Vincent of Paul used to set St. 
 Joseph before his priests as their model. He made 
 him the patron of his seminaries. He required all 
 his missioners to place themselves and all their 
 labors under St. Joseph, and to spread devotiop 
 to him as well as to the Blessed Virgin, 
 
30 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 NINTH DAY. 
 
 We must all die; let us remember that St. Joseph 
 is the patron of a happy death. “/< ts to he piously 
 hdieved that Ms holy Spouse and her most lomng Son 
 were present at St.^JosepKs death. What wm’ds of 
 'encouragement^ what consolation^ what lights what 
 knowledge of eternal and heavenly truths did not 
 Joseph^ as he was passing away^ receme from his 
 most holy spouse^ and especially from Jesus^ the most 
 sweet Son of Godl^ —(S. Bemardine of Siena, Serm. 
 de S. Jos., c. 11.) Assist me in my last agony. 
 
 Example. —As St. John, the beloved disciple, 
 laid his head on the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the 
 last supper, so St. Joseph, the most beloved foster- 
 father of Jesus, who for so many years had carried 
 Jesus upon his heart, at last laid his aged head 
 upon the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and died, with 
 ^ary by his side. 
 
‘r»OUGHtS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 21 
 
 TENTH- DAY. 
 
 After the dignity of Mother of God, comes that 
 of the foster-father of God. After Mary comes 
 Joseph, “i/ lie tolio adopts a child, not born of his ' 
 spout e, is rightly called fathei', with how much more 
 reason is Jot<eph called father of Jesus Christ, who was 
 actually by thepower of the Holy Qlmi born of his most 
 chaste Spouse ! For what reason does the Gospel call 
 Joseph the father of Christ, but because he was the true 
 spouse of the Mother of Christ f —(St. Augustine, de 
 Consens, Evang., 1, 2., c. 1.) Ask him to be a 
 father to you. 
 
 Example. —St. Teresa used always to speak of 
 St. Joseph as her father. He watched over her in 
 sickness, and when she had been paralyzed, and 
 the doctors for three years and a half had exhaust¬ 
 ed all their resources on her, he appeared to her 
 and cured her. He watched over all her temporal 
 concerns, and found monev for her when it was 
 not to be found by anyone else. He watched over 
 her spiritual life, and taught her how to pray. 
 Many others have also regarded St. Joseph as their 
 father. Why should not you do the same ? 
 
22 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 ELEVEIJTH DAY. 
 
 “ If princes of this earth are most careful in choos¬ 
 ing a tutor for their son, taking every pains to 
 procure the very best that can he found, think you 
 that Ood, in whose hands is the formation of all men, 
 did not select from among his creatures, the man who 
 of all others was the m9st perfectly qualified to he the 
 guardian of his Eternal Son, the Lord of heaven and 
 earthV'' (St. Francis of Sales, Entretien xix.) 
 
 Example, —St. Francis of Sales was enamoured 
 of the great patriarch St. Joseph. He dedicated 
 his writings to him; be kept but one picture in 
 his breviary, that of St. Joseph ; he always spoke 
 of him as his father; he could refuse nothing asked 
 in his name. And once he said to a person, “Do 
 you not know that I belong altogether to St. 
 Joseph ? Happy you, if you can say as much.” 
 
THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 28 
 
 TWELFTH DAY. 
 
 “ Joseph folded in his arms and embraced the Son 
 of God under the appearance of a little child; he 
 tendered Him a thomand services knowing that this 
 Boy was God. Who, he said, has so honoured me 
 that the Son of the Most High should be my Son f 
 The crown of David is restored to me now that the 
 Lord of Kings has come into my arm»T —(St. 
 Ephreni, Semi, in Nat. Dom.) Love Jesus and 
 Jesus will stay with you. 
 
 Example. —The most devoted person to St. 
 Joseph that ever wus or will be, is He who knew 
 him best, namely, Jesus. For thirty years Jesus 
 was subject to Joseph ; He obeyed, He honoured, 
 He loved him with all the filial affection of a child 
 for a father. He set us an example that we may 
 walk in His footsteps. 
 
M THOUGHTS ANH EXAMPLES. 
 
 THIRTEENTH DAY. 
 
 What honour, what glory to be the husband of 
 Mary! If ever marriage was made in heaven it 
 was this. God chose for the spouse of the Queen 
 of Heaven one who was most fit for this relation¬ 
 ship, one most like to her not only in temporal 
 rank and condition, but in all spiritual gifts and 
 virtues. priests were divinely guided in choos¬ 
 
 ing Joseph for Marfs husband.^* —(St. Greg. 
 Nyssen. Orat. in nat. Dni.) 
 
 Example, —Innumerable good Catholics of both 
 sexes recommend themselves to the care of St. 
 Joseph when they are engaged in the anxious duty, 
 of choosing a state of life. Daily experience proves 
 how good ,St. Joseph is in helping people, in the 
 midst of great perplexities, to settle prudently and 
 happily in life. He is the patron of the married 
 state. 
 
THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 25 
 
 FOURTEENTH DAY. 
 
 “ Ry i/ie grace of God every good Christian is now 
 devout to St. Joseph, but most assuredly they receive 
 the greatest graces, who most frequently recommend 
 themselves to him with the greatest confidence in his 
 power and protection. Let us seek graces from him, 
 for he will certainly obtain them for us, if useful to 
 our souV' St. Alphonsus, on St. Jos.) 
 
 I 
 
 Example —St. Teresa is a perfect example of 
 devotion to St. Joseph. She says in her life, “I do 
 not remember ever having asked him for anything 
 without obtaining it. It is wonderful, the number 
 of graces God has granted me by means of this 
 Saint, and the dangers from which he has delivered 
 me both of body and soul." 
 
26 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 FIFTEENTH DAY. 
 
 Gratitude and love of Jesus and Mary should 
 make us love Joseph. “/ knmo not how any one 
 can think of the Queen of Angels during the time she 
 was so occupied with the infancy of Jesus, without 
 giving thanks to St. Joseph for all the help that he 
 gave during that time to the Mother and to the 
 ChildP —(St. Teresa, Life, c. vi.) - 
 
 Example. —The first devotees of St Joseph, 
 says Gerson, were Jesus and Mary. They were 
 dependent upon him for food, clothing, shelter, 
 and every kind of protection. Joseph was the 
 saviour of Mary’s honor before the world; he was 
 also the saviour of His Saviour’s life. The return 
 of love and service made by Jesus and Mary were 
 not merely in proportion to what they had re¬ 
 ceived, but in proportion to the riches of their 
 own power and goodness. What examples for 
 our imitation ! 
 
THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 27 
 
 SIXTEENTH DAY. 
 
 “ Tlie marriage of Mary and Joseph was a most 
 true marriage^ contracted by dimne inspiration; it 
 was the marriage of two souls hound together in the 
 closest uni&n. Gan any rea-soiiable person imagine 
 that the Holy Ghost would have united to the soul of 
 such a Virgin^ any other soul than the one which 
 most resembled her in all virtues and good works ?"— 
 (St. Bernardine of Siena, Serm. S. Jos., c. 1.) How 
 great is the love of Mary for Joseph ! 
 
 Example.— St. Teresa relates, in the 33rd chap¬ 
 ter of her Foundations, that upon the feast of the 
 Assumption, she miraculously saw herself clothed 
 in a white and shining mantle by the Blessed 
 Virgin and St. Joseph, as a sign that her sins were 
 forgiven. Filled with spiritual joy she felt herself 
 holding the hands of the Blessed Virgin, who said 
 to her that she was greatly pleased to see her so 
 intent upon devotion and service to her holy 
 spouse, and that she should obtain what she asked 
 for in the business of her convent. 
 
28 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 SEVENTEENTH DAY. 
 
 The grace of all graces is the love of God. Now 
 St. Alphonsus, that great doctor of the church, 
 says: “jBbZdJ this for certain^ that the most special 
 grace which St. Joseph obtains for his clients is a 
 tender love for the Incarnate Word^ by the tender 
 love which the Saint himself bore to Him in this 
 worldl' (Serm. on St. Jos.) » 
 
 Example. —St. Joseph is the most perfect ex¬ 
 ample, after Mary, of love for Jesus. The com¬ 
 mand of the angel, “Take the Child and His 
 Mother,” was fulfilled in the heart of Joseph more 
 perfectly than in any other creature. Never were 
 they absent from his mind and heart. He was 
 wholly absorbed in their love and contemplation. 
 St. Francis of Sales and other learned ascetics 
 hold that the parting in death of St. Joseph’s soul 
 and body was caused by an act of sweetest love. 
 
THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 29 
 
 EIGHTEENTH DA.y. 
 
 “ What a happiness for 8t. Joseph^' exclaims St. 
 Bernard, “noi only to see Jesus Christy but also to 
 hear to carry Him in his armSy to lead Him 
 from place to place, to embrace and caress Him^ to 
 feed and clothe Him, and to be priry to all the great 
 secrets which were concealed from the great ones of 
 the world P —(Super missus) In the smallest de¬ 
 tails Joseph thought of Jesus. 
 
 Example. —St. Joseph’s poor cloak was often 
 used to protect the Divine Infant from the cold ; 
 now in the manger, now on the wayside; and now 
 St. Joseph would carry Him under his cloak. You 
 may imitate this example by giving some of your 
 own clothing to the poor, and by clothing Jesus 
 with a mystical mantle, made up of charity and 
 other virtues, "" 
 
30 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 NINETEENTH DAY. 
 
 “ 0 astonishing demtion / 0 unparaUeled dignity ! 
 that the Mother of Oody Queen of HeaveUy shaU call 
 you her ‘ Lord that Ood Eimsdf made man should 
 call you ^Father' and obey your commands. 0 
 glorious Trinity on earthy Jesus, Mary, Joseph, 
 Turn dear a family to the glorious Trinity in heaxeny 
 Father, Son and Holy Ghost I Nothing on 
 earth is so greaty so good, so exodlenV —(Gerson, 
 Serm. in Nat.) 
 
 Example. —Many devout souls have begged of 
 St. Joseph, as head of the Holy Family,to receive 
 them as humblest servants into His Family: and 
 have even taken a vow to pay to Jesus, Mary and 
 Joseph a daily special honour and service in recog¬ 
 nition of their position and duty as servants of the 
 Holy Family. 
 
THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 31 
 
 TWENTIETH DAY. 
 
 People given to prayer ought to have a particular 
 affection for St. Joseph. Let him., who has not found 
 a master to teach him how to pray, take this glorious 
 saint for his master, and he will not go astray ?'— 
 (St. Teresa, Life, c. vi.) We all desire to become 
 men of prayer; but of ourselves we can do nothing* 
 
 Example. —The great masters of prayer and of 
 the spiritual life, such as St. Teresa, St. Peter of 
 Alcantara, St. .John of the Cross, St. Alphonsus, 
 St. Paul of the Cross, the venerable Fr. Lallement, 
 and entire Religious Orders, such as the Carmelites, 
 the Franciscans, the Lazarists, the Redemptorists, 
 and others, honour St. Joseph as the special patron 
 of prayer and of the spiritual life. 
 
32 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST DAY. 
 
 “ The name of Father of the Son of God was never 
 given to any angel; it was refused to every man hut 
 QyiQ—lo that one it was f reely given^ together with the 
 affection and authority of a fatherf — (St. John 
 Damascene.) What a singular privilege and honour 
 for a man to be related to the Son of God by the 
 title of father I 
 
 Example. —St. Vincent Ferrers relates that a 
 certain man in Valencia used every year, on 
 Christmas Day, to give hospitality to a poor 
 woman with an infant and to an aged man, in 
 honour of the Holy Family; and that when he was 
 on the point of death, Jesus, Mary and Joseph 
 appeared to him and said: “Thou hast often 
 invited us to thy home and table; come now, good 
 and faithful servant, and we will conduct thee to 
 our home in Paradise,” 
 
THOUGHTS AND EXAltfPLES, 
 
 38 
 
 TWENTY-SECOND DAY. 
 
 “i affirm that Joseph was ever a virgin as well as 
 Marpy and that in their virginal marriage a Virgin 
 Son was born. Joseph continued to be a virgin with 
 Mary, and by his virginity was worthy to be called the 
 father of the Lord"*' —(St. Jerom. Adv. Helvid. n. 
 19.) By his virginity Joseph has become the 
 special patron of chastity. 
 
 Example. —St. Margaret, the wonderful peni¬ 
 tent of Cortona, attributed her conversion and 
 sanctification to the great St. Joseph. Our Lord 
 one day appeared to her and said: “I desire thee 
 to pay daily some special mark of devotion and 
 praise to my holy foster-father, for blessed are the 
 clean of heart, because they shall become worthy 
 to see God.” She used to recite a hundred Paters 
 daily in his honor, and perform the most severe 
 penances. St. Joseph assisted her to overcome the 
 most terrible impure temptations, and such were 
 her prayers and penances that our Lord assured 
 her that her sins were entirely forgiven and that, 
 in spite of her past sins. He would rank her in 
 chastity among the virgins, 
 
34 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. ' 
 
 TWENTY-THIRD DAY. 
 
 “ Mary is the Qiieen of Saints and of Angels, so 
 by law Joseph is the King of Saints and of Angels. 
 If you often honour the Virgin by the title, Queen of 
 Saints, Queen of Angels, pray for us—so ought you 
 in the same way to honour Joseph by saying—King 
 of Saints, King of Angels, pray for usf —(Blessed 
 Leonard on St. Joseph.) 
 
 Example. —In England, at the present moment, 
 how many bishops, priests and nuns have conse¬ 
 crated themselves and their undertakings to this 
 glorious Saint! Their practical and daily expe¬ 
 rience proves beyond the power qf words the won¬ 
 drous goodness and protection of St. Joseph. Truly 
 St. Joseph behaves like a king to those who serve 
 him. 
 
THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 35 
 
 TWENTY-FOURTH DAY. 
 
 ^^Ood has ordained that Joseph should he the special 
 advocate of every doss of persons and the universal 
 intercessor^ so that all classes and persons may feel 
 themselves beholden to him for somethingf —(Blessed 
 Leonard, On S. Joseph.) 
 
 Example. —Cosmo, one of the sovereign princes 
 of Tuscany, was so devout to St. Joseph, and so 
 persuaded of the power of his intercession, that on 
 one occasion he took off his crown, and placing it 
 on the head of the statue of St. Joseph, consecrated 
 all his subjects to this great patriarch, thus placing 
 the whole country under |ihe Saipt’s special 
 patronage. 
 
86 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 TWENTY-FIFTH DAY. 
 
 / 
 
 The Cburch, or rather the Holy Ghost, declares 
 of St. Joseph that God Himself hm made him the 
 Lord of his House and the Prince of all His possessions. 
 (Breviary.) This position of St. Joseph brings him 
 into direct relationship with every true Christian. 
 What then can this Lord and Prince so much 
 desire as the salvation of souls, which form Christ’s 
 household and his dearest possessions? 
 
 Example. —The Emperor Leopold I chose St. 
 Joseph to be the patron of the house of Austria. 
 He raised a statue of massive silver to his honour, 
 and had public processions made for eight con¬ 
 secutive days in order to move St. Joseph to obtain 
 for him an heir to the throne. His prayer was 
 heard, and he named his son Joseph. In gratitude 
 he wished to raise another statue to the Saint, but 
 he died before he was able to do so. His son ful- 
 ^lled his fathers vow on tbe 19ih March, 1709. 
 
THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. St 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH DAY. 
 
 % 
 
 %eemi that the Lord has granted to the other 
 Saints the grace to help us in some particular eases^ 
 hut to this gloi'ious Saint the power to help us in 
 erei'ything, as I have experienced. The Lord wishes 
 to show us that as Joseph was called His Father, and 
 commanded Him on earth, so now in heaven He grants - 
 whatever he (St. Teresa, Life, c. vi.) 
 
 We read iu the life of St. Peter of Alcantara, 
 that a certain noble family being much grieved 
 that God had given them no heir, the Saint desired 
 them to recommend themselves to St. Joseph, 
 saying that he had himself received many favours 
 from the most pure spouse of Our Lady. The 
 marchesa did more; she felt inspired to make a vow 
 to build a convent and dedicate it to St. Joseph, if 
 her prayer were heard. It was heard, she had a 
 son, and she built the convent; in course of time 
 three other sons were born to her. 
 
38 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 TWENTY SEVENTH DAY. 
 
 As Joseph stood by the side of Simeon, he heard 
 and understood the terrible words of the prophecy: 
 This child shall be set up as a sign to be contradicted ^ 
 and the heart of His Mother shall be pierced with a 
 sword of sorrow. He pondered these words all his 
 life and suffered a double sorrow, through his inex¬ 
 pressibly tender love for Jesus and for Mary. St. 
 Joseph is pleased when we honour his sorrows as 
 well as his joys. 
 
 Example. —A ship containing a number of 
 passengers was wrecked off the coast of Holland. 
 Two Franciscan friars who had clung to a plank 
 for two days, were saved by a man of venerable 
 appearance, who miraculously brought them to 
 shore. Upon their asking him who he was, he 
 replied, *T am Joseph, and I •desire you to honour 
 my seven sorrows and seven joys.” This was the 
 origin of the indulgenced devotion to the sorrows 
 and joys of St. Joseph. 
 
thoughts and examples. 
 
 39 
 
 TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY. 
 
 Joseph was the mysterious veil which covered the 
 virginity of Mary and the splendour of the Saviour 
 of souls. He saw Jesus and was silent; he tasted 
 Rim and spoke not; he fulfilled his vocation as the 
 minister and companion of the Ridden Life .''— 
 (Bossuet, On St Joseph.) St. Joseph was a cloud, 
 luminous with the golden light of the Sun, which 
 it shadowed for a time from men. 
 
 Example. —St. Frances of Rome was favoured 
 with a vision of the Holy Family in Bethlehem. 
 She beheld St. Joseph in the stable, absorbed in 
 silent contemplation of the Incarnate Sou of God. 
 St. Joseph spoke few words with his lips, but his 
 mind and heart were ever intent upon Jesus and 
 Mary. He united most perfectly the contemplative 
 with the active life. 
 
40 
 
 TflOtrGHTS AND EXAMPL^SS. 
 
 TWENTY-NINTH DA.T. 
 
 “JGTomj dear art thou to Ood^ 0 incomparable 
 Joseph! since He confided to thee these three great 
 treasures, the mrginity of Mary, the Person of His 
 only Son, and the secret of the ‘whole mystery of the 
 Incarnationr —(Bossuet, On St. Joseph.) O that I 
 might leaTn from thee, fidelity to the graces which 
 God oflTers to me for my sanctification and salva¬ 
 tion ! 
 
 Example. —St. Francis Borgia said that we 
 ought to examine closely into the life of St. Joseph, 
 and that we shall therein find a perfect example 
 of obedience to the holy inspirations with which 
 God is wont.to visit the soul. 
 
I'llOtJGtITB ANt) examples. 4l 
 
 THIRTIETH DAY. 
 
 “ On account of the great dignity and position 
 granted by Ood to St Joseph, the Church holds him 
 in the highest honour and praise, after the Blessed 
 Virgin, and by an act of preference directs her pray¬ 
 ers to him in her necessities!'' —(Decree of 8 Dec., 
 1870.) 
 
 Example.— Many of the Popes have entertained 
 a particular devotion to St. Joseph. Innocent XI 
 made him the patron of the Jesuit Missions in 
 China; Clement X composed in his honour the 
 beautiful hymn Te Joseph; Clement XE recom¬ 
 posed his office; Benedict XEII inserted his name 
 in the Litany; Benedict XIV established the feast 
 of the Patronage; Pius IX declared him to be the 
 patron of the Catholic Church; and Leo XIII has 
 the greatest devotion to him, and often refers to 
 him in his Apostolic Letters. 
 
42 
 
 THOUGHTS AND EXAMPLES. 
 
 THIRTY-FIRST DAY. 
 
 Joseph is the model of the Prelates wlw govern the 
 Church. ” (Albertus Magaus in 1 Luc.) “ Thou 
 {Joseph) shalt he over my house, and, at the command^ 
 ment of thy mouth all the people shall obey. . . Go 
 
 to Joseph and do all that he shall say to youT —(Gen. 
 xli.) These words, spoken of the first Joseph, were 
 perfected in the second. 
 
 Example— Bishops and Prelates naturally have 
 recourse to St. Joseph when it is a question ofv 
 making laws for the government or reform of the 
 Church. St. Peter of Alcantara wrote to St. Teresa 
 to say that he had placed his Province and his 
 Reform under the same great Saint, for he had ex 
 perienced great help and consolation in all he had 
 done, and had received many graces in conse¬ 
 quence. 
 
48 
 
 THE SEVEN SORROWS AND SEVEN JOYS. 
 
 WHEREBY ST. JOSEPH BECAME • THE MORE 
 CLOSELY UNITED'TO JESUS AND MARY. 
 
 (To be said dunng the Novenas before his feasts^ <&c.) 
 
 I. St. Joseph, pure spouse of most holy Mary, 
 the trouble and anguish of thy heart were great, 
 when, being in sore perplexity, thou wast minded 
 to put away thy stainless spouse; but thy joy was 
 inexpressible when the archangel revealed to thee 
 the high mystery of the Incarnation. 
 
 By this thy sorrow and thy joy, w e pray thee 
 comfort our souls now, and in their last pains, 
 with the consolation of a well-spent life, and a holy 
 death like unto thine own, with Jesus and Mary 
 at our side. 
 
 Pater, Are, and Gloria. 
 
 [A Stanza of a hymn may be sung after each Qkn'ia.] 
 
 II. St. Joseph, blessed Patriarch, chosen to the 
 office of Father of the Word made Man, thy pain 
 was keen when thou didst see the Infant Jesus 
 born in abject poverty; but thy pain was changed 
 into heavenly joy when thou didst hear the har¬ 
 mony of angel-choirs, and behold the glory of that 
 night. 
 
44 THE SEVEJ? SORBOW8 AND SEVEN .JOVS. 
 
 By this thy sorrow and thy joy, we pray thee ob¬ 
 tain for us that,when the journey of our life is ended, 
 we too may pass to that blessed land where we shall 
 hear the angel-chants and rejoice in the bright 
 light of heavenly glory. Pater^ Ave, and Qloria, 
 
 III. St. Joseph, ever most obedient in executing 
 the law of God, thy heart was pierced with pain 
 when the Precious Blood of the Infant Saviour was 
 shed at his circumcision; but the name of Jesus 
 brought the new life and heavenly joy. 
 
 By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain for us, 
 that, being freed in life from every vice, we too may 
 cheerfully die, with the sweet name of Jesus in our 
 hearts and on our lips. Pater, Ave, and Gloria. 
 
 IV. St. Joseph, faithful Saint, partner in the 
 mysteries of man’s redemption, the prophecy of 
 Simeon foretelling the sufferings of Jesus and Mary 
 caused thee a pang like that of death; but at the 
 same time, his prediction of the salvation and 
 glorious resurrection of innumerable souls, filled 
 thee with the greatest joy. 
 
 By this thy sorrow and thy joy, help us with 
 thy prayers to be of the number of those who, by 
 the merits of Jesus and the intercession of His Vir¬ 
 gin Mother, shall be partakers of the Resurrection 
 to Glory. Pater, Ate, and Qloria. 
 
THE SEVEN SORROWS AND SEVEN JOYS. 45 
 
 V. St. Joseph, watchful guardian and intimate 
 friend of the Incarnate Son of God, how greatly 
 didst thou toil to nurture and to serve the Son of 
 the Most High, especially in the flight thou madest 
 with Him into Egypt! but how great thy joy in 
 having God himself always with thee, and in seeing 
 the overthrow of the idols of^gypt. 
 
 By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain for us 
 the grace to keep far out of the reach of the 
 enemy of our souls, by quitting all dangerous 
 occasions, that so no idol of earthly afiection may 
 any longer occupy our hearts, but that, being, like 
 thee, entirely devoted to the service of Jesus and 
 Mary, we may live and die for them alone. Pater^<Sic. 
 
 VI. St. Joseph, angel on earth, who didst so 
 marvel to see the King of Heaven obedient to thy 
 bidding, if the consolation of thy heart, on bearing 
 Him home, was disturbed by the fear of Archelaus, 
 yet, being reassured by the angel, thou didst return 
 with joy and dwell most peacefully in Nazareth, 
 in the company of Jesus and of Mary. 
 
 By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain for us, 
 that, having our hearts freed from idle fears, we 
 may enjoy the peace of a tranquil conscience, 
 dwelling safely with Jesus and Mary, and dying at 
 last in their arms. Pater^ 
 
46 THE SEVEN SORROWS AND SEVEN JOTS. 
 
 VII. St. Joseph, bright example of every virtue, 
 in great sorrow thou didst search for Jesus, the 
 Holy Child, for three long days, until with joy un¬ 
 speakable thou didst find Him, who was thy life, 
 amidst the doctors in the temple. 
 
 By this thy sorrow and tby joy, we pray thee 
 with our whole heart so to interpose in our behalf 
 that we may never lose Jesus by mortal sin; and if 
 (which God avert) we are at any time so wretched 
 as to lose Him, then we pray thee, aid us to seek 
 Him with such ceaseless sorrow until we find Him, 
 particularly in the hour of our death, that we may 
 pass from this life to enjoy Him for ever in heaven, 
 there to sing with thee His divine mercies without 
 end. Pater^ <&c. 
 
 Ant. Jesus Himself was about thirty years old, 
 being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph. 
 
 V. Pray for us. Holy Joseph, 
 
 R. That we may be made worthy of the promises 
 of Christ. 
 
 Let m pray. 
 
 O God, who in Thine ineffable providence didst 
 vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the hus¬ 
 band of Thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech 
 Thee, that we may have him for our intercessor in 
 heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy 
 protector. Who livest and reignest world with¬ 
 out epd. Anjep. 
 
THE 8EVKX SORROWS AND SEVEN JOTS. 47 
 
 i. An Indulgence of 100 da.ts once a day. 
 
 I 
 
 ii. An Indulgence of 300 days, every Wednesday 
 in the year, and every day of the two novenas preced¬ 
 ing the two feasts of St. Joseph. 
 
 iii. A Plenary Indulgence, on each of these two 
 feasts after confession and communion. 
 
 iv. A Plenary Indulgence once a month after 
 confession, communion and prayer according to the 
 intention of the Boverign Pontirf, to all who say these 
 prayers daily for^ month. 
 
48 
 
 THE SEVEN SUNDAYS OF ST. JOSEPH. 
 
 Gregory XVI and Pius IX granted the follow¬ 
 ing indulgences to all the faithful who say the de¬ 
 votion of the Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys on any 
 seven consecutive Sundays of the year, viz.:— * 
 
 i. 300 Days’ Indulgence on e^ch of these Sun¬ 
 days. 
 
 ii. A Plenary Indulgence on the seventh, after 
 confession, communion, and prayers for the Sovereign 
 Pontiif. S.C. Jnd., 22iid Jan., 1830. 
 
 iii. A Plenary Indulgence on each of the seven 
 Sundays kept as above in honour of the holy Patri¬ 
 arch St. Joseph, at any timd in the year whatever, 
 provided only they be kept consecutively, and pro¬ 
 vided also the usual conditions are. observed of con¬ 
 fession, communion, visit to a church, and prayer 
 according to the mind of His Holiness. The same 
 indulgence is also granted to the poor and illiterate, 
 wherever this devotion is not publicly practised, 
 provided only they say seven Faier Nosters, seven Ave 
 Marias, and seven Gloria Fairis, instead of the prayers 
 above enjoined, and provided also they fulfill the other 
 prescribed conditions. Feb. 1, 1847, Maf. 22, 1847, 
 
¥HE PRAiSES OF Si;. JOSEPH. 
 
 {Composed hy the Ten. Olier.) 
 
 Hail Joseph, image of God the Father, 
 
 Hail Joseph, father of God the Son, 
 
 Hail Joseph, treasury of the Holy Spirit* 
 
 Hail Joseph, delight of the Blessed Trinity, 
 
 Hail Joseph, most faithful coadjutor of the Incamatiou, 
 Hail Joseph, most worthy spouse of the Virgin Mary, 
 Hail Joseph, father of all the faithful. 
 
 Hail Joseph, guardian of holy virgins, 
 
 Hail Joseph, greatest lover of poverty. 
 
 Hail Joseph, example of meekness and patience. 
 
 Hail Joseph, mirror of humility and obedience; 
 
 And blessed be thy eyes which have seen the things 
 which thou hast seen. 
 
 Blessed art thou above all men: 
 
 And blessed be thy ears, which have heard the things 
 which thou hast heard; 
 
 And blessed be thy hands, which have touched and 
 handled ihe Incarnate Word; 
 
 And blessed be thy arms, which have carried Him 
 who carries all things; 
 
 And blessed be thy breast, on which the Son of God 
 most sweetly rested; 
 
 And blessed be thy heart, inflamed with burning love; 
 And Blessed be the Eternal Father, who chose 
 thee; 
 
 And Blessed be the Son, who loved thee; 
 
 And Blessed be the Holy Spirit, who sanctified thee; 
 And blessed be thy spouse Mary, who loved thee as a 
 spouse and a brother; 
 
 And blessed be the angel who watched over thee; 
 
 And blessed be for ever all who bless and love thee; 
 
 Amen. 
 
60 
 
 TRIDUUM FOR tHE OAlNlNO OP SOME 
 SPECIAL GRACE. 
 
 L Most loving spouse of Mary ever Virgin, and 
 my dearest advocate, St. Joseph, I humbly have 
 recourse to thee through those seven most bitter 
 sorrows which transfixed thy heart during the 
 course of thy mortal life, and with tears in my eyes 
 I commend to thee this affair which I have so much 
 at heart. Obtain for Qie, O great Saint, this 
 ardently-desired favour, in memory of the most 
 affectionate care thou didst receive from Mary 
 during the agony which preceded thy precious 
 death. Present me before her throne of pity, and 
 say to her: ‘ Have pity, O Mary, on this poor 
 creature, for the love which I bore to thee as my 
 beloved spouse ” Pater^ Ave, Gloria. 
 
 II. Most loving foster-father of Jesus, my Re¬ 
 deemer, I suppliantly fly to thee by the seven joys 
 which overflowed thy heart, and I recommend to 
 thee this affair which so occupies my thoughts. 
 Obtain for me, O great saint, this much desired 
 favour, in memory of that wonderful consolation 
 which Jesus gave thee during the last hours of thy 
 life on earth. Present me before his most kind 
 

 §1 
 
 and generous throne, and say to Him: “Have 
 pity, O Jesus, have pity on this poor creature, for 
 the love which I bore to Thee as my most dearly 
 beloved Son.” Pater, &&. 
 
 III. O most faithful guardian on earth of heav¬ 
 enly treasures, my most loving father and advocate, 
 St. Joseph, I have devout recourse to thee, through 
 the riches and splendour of the high'gifts and fa¬ 
 vours thou hast received in heaven. I recommend 
 to thee with full and open heart this affair which 
 is before me. Obtain for me, O great saint and 
 blessed father, this favour, which I implore in 
 memory of the ineffable glory into which thou 
 wast taken by the Blessed Trinity, as soon as 
 heaven was opened to thee by Jesus. Present me 
 before the most clement throne of God, and say : 
 “O blessed Trinity, pity this poor creature, for the 
 humble reverence and love I bore to Thee on 
 earth, and for this most sublime degree of glory 
 with which it has pleased Thee to honour me in 
 heaven.” Pater, Am, Gloria. 
 
63 
 
 ST. JOSEPH*S MEMOKAREi 
 
 Remember, O most pure spouse of the blessed 
 Virgiu Mary, my sweet protector, St. Joseph, that 
 no one ever had recourse to thy protection, im¬ 
 plored thy help, or sought thy mediation without 
 obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in thy good - 
 ness, I come into thy presence and fervently 
 recommend myself to thy care and protection. 
 Oh, despise not, most loving foster-father of my 
 Redeemer, the petition of thy humble client, but 
 graciously hear and grant it. Amen. 
 
 300 DAYS: applicable to the souls in purgatory. 
 June 26, 1863. 
 
 PETITION FOR HOLY PURITY. 
 
 Guardian of virgins, and holy father Joseph, 
 to whose faithful custody Christ Jesus, Innocence 
 itself, and Mary,Virgin of virgins, were committed; 
 I pray and beseech Thee, by these dear pledges 
 Jesus and Mary, that being preserved from all un¬ 
 cleanness, I may with spotless mind, pure heart, 
 and chaste body, ever most chastely serve Jesus 
 and Mary all the days of my life. Amen. 
 
 An indulgence of one year. 
 
 \ 
 
 
58 
 
 THE PRIEST’S PRAYER. 
 
 Thrice happy man, blessed Joseph, to whom it 
 was granted to see and to hear that which many 
 kings desired to see and did not see, to hear and 
 did not hear,—and not only to see and to hear,— 
 but to carry, to caress, to clothe, and to protect I 
 
 V. Pray for us, O blessed Joseph. 
 
 R. That we may be made worthy of the promises 
 of Christ. 
 
 Lei us pray. 
 
 O God, who has given to us thy servants a royal 
 priesthood; grant, we beseech Thee, that as bless¬ 
 ed Joseph deserved reverently to touch with his 
 hands, and to bear in his arms, Thine only-begotten 
 Son, born of Mary the Virgin, so may we be pre¬ 
 pared by Thy grace to serve at Tby holy altar with 
 a clean heart and innocent life, and thus this day 
 worthily receive the holy Body and Blood of Thy 
 Son, and in the w'orld to come deserve an eternal 
 reward. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 An Indulgence op one tear to priests who shall 
 say the above before Mass'. 
 
INYOCATIONS OF THE HOLT FAMILY. 
 
 Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart 
 
 and my soul. 
 
 Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last 
 agony. 
 
 Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth 
 my soul to you in peace. 
 
 N 300 days’ indulgence. 
 
 S. Joseph, friend of the Sacred Heart, pray for us. 
 
 100 days’ indulgence, once a dtfy. Pius IX ., 
 Zrd June, 1874. 
 
 To all members of 8. Joseph’s Society, for 
 saying three Glorias and 
 
 S. Joseph, pray for the heathen. 
 
 300 Days, each time; and Plen. Indulgence once 
 a month, if they pray after communion for the con¬ 
 version of the heathen.— Leo XIIL 
 
MONTH OF MARCH. 
 
 Pius IX, by a rescript, June 11, 1855, granted to 
 those -who dedicate the entire month of March to 
 the honor of S. Joseph. 
 
 300 D.A.ys’ INDULGENCE each day of the month. 
 
 A PLENARY INDULGENCE, ou any One daj’, on con¬ 
 dition of confession and communion, and prayer for 
 the Pope’s intention. 
 
 He granted also the same indulgences to those who, 
 being unable to dedicate March, shall dedicate any 
 other month to the honor of S. Joseph. 
 
 By a decree, April 27, 1865, he’ extended the same 
 indulgences to any practice of devotion whatever, 
 performed on each day of March, as he had done for 
 any pious practice during May, in honour of the 
 blessed Virgin. 
 
 Also by a decree, Feb. 4, 1877, he declared that the 
 same indulgences can be gained by the faithful who 
 begin the said exercise of devotion, so as to end it on 
 the feast of St. Joseph, March 19th. 
 
THIRTY DAYS> PRAYER. 
 
 IN HONOUR OF THE THIRTY YEARS SPENT WITH 
 JESUS AND MARY. 
 
 Foi' any Special Intentian. 
 
 Ever blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and 
 indulgent father, and compassionate friend of all 
 in sorrow ! through that bitter grief, with which 
 thy heart was saturated when thou didst behold 
 the sufferings of the Infant Saviour, and in pro¬ 
 phetic views did contemplate his most ignomin¬ 
 ious passion and death, take pity, I beseech thee, 
 on my poverties and necessities, counsel me in my 
 doubts, and console me in all my anxieties. Thou 
 art the good father aud protector of orphans, the 
 advocate of the defenceless, the patron of those 
 who are in need and desolation. Do not then dis 
 regard the petition of thy poor child; my sins have 
 drawn down upon me the just displeasure of my 
 God, and hence I am surrounded with sorrows. 
 To thee, O loving guardian of the poor fleglected 
 family of.Nazareth, do I fly for shelter and pro¬ 
 tection. 
 
 Listen then, I entreat of thee, with a father’s 
 solicitude, to the earnest prayer of Thy poor sup¬ 
 plicant, and obtain for me the object of my petition. 
 1 ask it by that infinite mercy of the eternal Son of 
 God, which induced Him to assume our nature, and 
 to be born into this world of sorrow. I ask it by 
 
THIRTY days’ PRAYER. (i7 
 
 that grief which filled thy heart, when ignorant of 
 the mystery wrought in thy Immaculate Spouse, 
 thou didst fear thou shouldst be separated from her. 
 
 I ask it by that weariness, solicitude, and sufier* 
 ing, which thou didst endure when thou soughtest 
 in vain at the inn of Bethlehem a shelter for the 
 Holy Virgin, and a birth-place for the Infant God, 
 and, when being everywJiere refused, thou wert 
 obliged to consent that the Queen of Heaven 
 should give birth to the World’s Redeemer in a 
 wretched stable. 
 
 I ask it by the painful blood-shedding thou didst 
 witness at His circumcision. I ask it by the sweet¬ 
 ness and power of that sacred name, Jesus, which 
 thou didst confer on the adorable Infant. I ask it 
 by that mortal anguish inflicted on thee, by the 
 prophecy of holy Simeon, which declared the 
 Child Jesus and His holy Mother to be the future 
 victims of their own great love for us and of our 
 sins. I ask it through that sorrow and anguish 
 which filled thy soul, when the angel declared to 
 thee that the life of the Child Jesus was sought by 
 His enemies, from whose impious design thou wert 
 obliged to fly with Him and His blessed Mother 
 into Egypt. 
 
 I ask it by all the pains, fatigues and toils of 
 that long and perilous journey. I ask it by all the 
 sorrows thou didst endure when in Egypt, when 
 sometimes thou wert not able, even by the sweat 
 of thy brow, to procure daily food for thy poor 
 family. 
 
58 
 
 THIRTY days’ PRAYER. 
 
 I ask it by all thy solicitude to preserve the 
 Sacred Child and His Immaculate Mother, during 
 thy second journey, when thou wert ordered to 
 return to thy native country. I ask it by thy 
 peaceful dwelling in Nazareth, in which so many 
 joys and sorrows were mingled. I ask it by thy 
 extreme affliction, in being three days deprived of 
 the company of the Adorable Child. I ask it by 
 thy joy at finding Him in the temple, and by the 
 unspeakable consolation imparted to thee in the 
 cottage of Nazareth, while living in the society of 
 the Infant Jesus. I ask it by that wonderful con¬ 
 descension, by which He subjected Himself to thy 
 will. 
 
 I ask it through that sorrowful foresight thou 
 hadst continually in thy mind, of all the Infant 
 Jesus was to sufier, when thou shouldst be no 
 longer by His side. 
 
 I ask it by that painful contemplation, by which 
 thou foresawest those divine infant hands and feet, 
 now so active in serving Thee, one day pierced 
 with cruel nails; that head, which rested gently 
 on thy breast, crowned with sharp thorns; that 
 delicate body, which thou didst tenderly fold in 
 thy mantle and press to thy heart, stripped, man¬ 
 gled, and extended on a cross. 
 
 I ask it by that heroic sacrifice of thy will and 
 best affections, by which thou didst offer up to the 
 Eternal Father the last awful moment, when the 
 Man-God was to expire for our salvation. 
 
 I ask it by that perfect love and conformity, 
 -with which thou didst receive the divine order to 
 depart from this life, and from the company of 
 
THIRTY days’ PRAYER. 
 
 59 
 
 Jesus and Mary. I ask it by that exceeding great 
 joy which filled thy soul, when the Redeemer of 
 the world, triumphant over death and hell, entered 
 into the possession of His kingdom, and conducted 
 thee also into it with especial honours. I ask it 
 through Mary’s glorious assumption, aud through 
 that endless bliss, which with her thou wilt eter¬ 
 nally derive from the presence of God. 
 
 O, Good Father! I beseech Thee, by all Thy 
 sufferings, sorrows, and joys, hear me, and obtain 
 the grant of my earnest petitions. [Here name 
 them or reflect on them.] Obtain for all those who 
 have asked my prayers, all that is useful to them 
 in the designs of God. And finally, my dear 
 patron and father, be thou with me and all who 
 are dear to me, in our last moments, that we may 
 eternally chant the praises of 
 
 Jesus, Mary and Joseph. 
 
 • “A blameless life, St. Joseph, may we lead. 
 
 By thy kind patronage, from danger freed.” 
 
 Indulgence of 300 days—Leo XIII. 
 
WHERE IS ST. JOSEPH’S SEMINARY 1 
 
 St. Joseph’s Seminary is located on the S. E. 
 corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and St. Mary’s 
 Street, Baltimore, Md., immediately adjoining St. 
 Mary’s Seminary. Its students attend the lectures 
 at St. Mary’s, receiving together "with the diocesan 
 clergy the superior training imparted by the Fathers 
 of St. Sulpice, who are specially devoted to the 
 work of fostering the Priesthood. 
 
 St. Joseph’s Seminary and Society. 
 
 1. St. Joseph’s Society is composed of clergy and 
 laity. The former devote themselves to the evan¬ 
 gelization of the colored people, while the latter 
 contribute of their means to support the missions. 
 
 2. Annual subscribers to the Colored Harvest 
 become members of St. Joseph’s Society. 
 
 3. The yearly subscription is twenty-five cents. 
 
 4. Any person willing to undertake the office of 
 Zelator, by getting twenty subscribers, will please 
 address: 
 
 Bev. John R. Slattery, 
 
 St. JosepKs Seminary^ 
 
 Baltimore^ Md. 
 
61 
 
 Spiritual l&eneftts of Membership. 
 
 1. The spiritual benefits of membership consist 
 of a participation in the merits of the Missionaries, 
 in their sufferings, labors, and good works; as 
 well as in the prayers daily recited by rule in 
 the Seminary, and in the Holy Sacrifice offered 
 every month for all the members of the Society, 
 living and dead. 
 
 3. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered 
 for the intentions of all the subscribers to “ The 
 Colored Harvest,” as often as announced in its 
 columns. 
 
 3. A novena of Masses in preparation for the 
 feast of St. Joseph, beginning on March 10th, yearly, 
 will be said for the intentions of the subscribers. 
 
 4. A second novena of Masses will also be yearly 
 made for their intentions in preparation for the 
 feast of the patronage of St. Joseph. 
 
 5. On the first Friday of every month, Mass will 
 be offered up for the Zelators. 
 
 Subscribers may apply all these benefits to the 
 suflfering souls. 
 
 6. Dead friends may be enrolled. 
 
62 
 
 WHERE THE NEGROES LITE. 
 
 7,000,000 negroes are in the whole United States. 
 
 500,000 live in the Northern and Western States 
 from Maine to Oregon. 
 
 1,500,000 live in Delaware, Maryland, West 
 Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkan¬ 
 sas and Texas; all formerly slave states. 
 
 6,000,000 dwell between the Potomac and 
 the Gulf, in Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro¬ 
 lina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and 
 Louisiana. 
 
 In these eight states there are as many 
 Negroes as Whites. 
 
 WHAT THE NEGROES BELIEVE. 
 
 3,000,000 communicants and members all told, 
 are claimed by the various Protestant sects. 
 
 200,000 hardly are Catholics. 
 
 3,000,000 and more, consequently, hare rio pi'o- 
 fessed religion: not indeed from any fault of theirs, 
 for they are naturally a religious people; but 
 because; 
 
 ^^Tlie little ones ask for bread and^there is none to 
 break it to them^ Lam , iv. 4. 
 
 omr and help us^^' they cry out to us. 
 
 NEED OF MISSIONARIES. 
 
 “By the bowels of the mercy of God, we beg and 
 implore Priests, as far as they can, to consecrate 
 their thoughts, their time and themselves wholly 
 and entirely, if possible, to the service of the color¬ 
 ed people.” {ll Plen. Gone. No. 488.) 
 
63 
 
 “Since the greatest part of the neerroes are as 
 yet outside the Fold of Christ, it is a matter of neces¬ 
 sity to seek workmen, inflamed with zeal for souls, 
 who will be sent into this part of the Lord’s har¬ 
 vest.” {Ill Plm. CoTiG. No. 339.) 
 
 “And seeing the multitudes, He had compassion 
 on them, because they were distressed and lying 
 like sheep that have no shepherd. Then He saith 
 to His disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but 
 the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord 
 of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into 
 His harA^est.” {Matt.^ ix. 36-38.) 
 
 PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH. 
 
 Fok an Inckease op Vocations to this Mis¬ 
 sionary Priesthood. 
 
 Hail 1 through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 
 O blessed Joseph! dearly-beloved spouse of the 
 most holy Mother of God, foster-father of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, happy consummation of the 
 patriarchal line most deeply rooted in humility, 
 most ardent in love, most certain in faith and hope, 
 most strenuous in every good work, most solicitous 
 for the salvation of all, most highly raised in con¬ 
 templation, most pure in virginity, most perfectly 
 like unto thy Spouse, the Mother of God, in the 
 practice of all virtues. Deign, then, to pray for 
 me and for us all (and especially for the reception, 
 multiplication, advancement, and perseverance of 
 Missionaries to the Colored Missions), that the 
 people faithfully serving God may increase in 
 number and merit. Amen. 
 
64 
 
 OtR DUTY. 
 
 Try to realize to yourself—you who live in the . 
 possession of the Faith and of the Holy Sacra¬ 
 ments—that there are at this moment in our land 
 7,000,000 of Negroes. Of these nearly all are out¬ 
 side the true Church. 
 
 Every day nearly 400 negroes pass into the pres¬ 
 ence of the awful tribunal of the Soverign Judge, 
 What instruction have any of them ever received 
 at our hands on their duties to the Great God ?— 
 what knowledge has been carried to them of the 
 Redemption by the Most Precious Blood—shed for 
 them as for us ? 
 
 What have you hitherto done to become a Mes¬ 
 senger of Peace, an Angel of Salvation to these 
 unhappy millioijs, who pas^ their days and die in 
 alienation of soul from their Supreme God ? 
 
 WHO IS A ZELATOR. 
 
 A ZELATOR is one who gets at least twenty 
 ^ subscribers for “The Colored Harvest.” To every 
 ZELATOR a copy of this manual will be sent, as 
 also a medal of our Lady of the Rosary and St. 
 Joseph. Besides, the Holy Mass will be specially 
 offered up for their intentions on the first Friday 
 of every month. 
 
 Become, then, a ZELATOR. 
 
 I 
 
THE 
 
 it 
 
 COLORED harvest:’ 
 
 OBJKCTT ; 
 
 TO FOSTER VOCATIONS FOR THE COLORED MISSIONS 
 AND TO> SECURE THEIR SUPPORT. 
 
 PUBLISHED EVERY OCTOBER. 
 
 25 CTS. YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION. 
 
 FOB THE 
 
 “COLORED harvest; 
 
 And G-et the Certificate as 
 Your Receipt. 
 
 Become a ZELATOR, and get 
 Twenty Subscribers.