Devotion to St. Joseph: the seven Sundays to get graces

Among the forms of piety, which are most useful for cultivating our feelings of veneration towards St. Joseph and most suitable for making us obtain graces, the seven Sundays in his honor occupy a distinct place. Devout practice was introduced at the beginning of the last century, while the Church of God underwent bitter struggles.

The devout exercise consists in dedicating particular practices of piety to St. Joseph on seven consecutive Sundays. The practice can be performed at any time of the year; however, many faithful prefer to choose the seven Sundays that precede it in order to better arrange themselves for the feast of March 19th.

There are several practices that can be done on individual Sundays. Some honor in them the seven Sorrows and the seven Allegrezze di San Giuseppe; others meditate on the Gospel passages in which we speak of our Saint; still others remember his precious life. All the mentioned forms are good.

A good thought for each of the seven Sundays

I. We love St. Joseph in every day of our life. He will always be a father and protector. Growing up in the school of Jesus, he penetrated all the heated impulses of love that the divine Redeemer had for us and surrounds us here with thanks.

Fioretto: To respond to the invitation of Heaven, who in the birth of the Savior sings peace to men of good will, to make peace with everyone, even with enemies, and to love everyone, as St. Joseph did.

Intention: To pray for unrepentant agonizers.

Ejaculatory: Patron of the dying, pray for us.

II. Let's imitate St. Joseph in his sublime virtues! We can all find in him a precious model rich in humility, obedience and sacrifice, precisely the virtues most necessary for spiritual life. True devotion, says St. Augustine, is the imitation of him who is venerated.

Fioretto: In all temptations invoke the Name of Jesus in defense; in afflictions invoke the name of Jesus for comfort.

Intention: To pray for unassisted agonizers.

Giaculatoria: O very right Joseph, pray for us.

III. We invoke St. Joseph with confidence and frequency. He is the saint of goodness and with a broad and good heart. St. Teresa declares that she never asked thanks to St. Joseph without having been answered. We invoke his Name alive, confident of being able to invoke him in death.

Fioretto: It will be good to pause every now and then to reflect on our life and what awaits us, entrusting our last hour to St. Joseph.

Intention: To pray for priests who are in agony.

Ejaculatory: O very chaste Joseph, pray for us.

IV. We honor St. Joseph with promptness and sincerity. If the ancient Pharaoh honored Joseph the Jew, we can say that the divine Redeemer wants his faithful Guardian to be honored, who always lived humble and hidden. Saint Joseph must still be known to be invoked and loved by many souls.

Fioretto: Distribute some prints or images in honor of San Giuseppe and recommend devotion.

Intention: To pray for the humility of our family.

Ejaculatory: O very strong Joseph, pray for us.

V. Let us listen to St. Joseph in his exhortations to good. Against the world and its enticements, against satan and its pitfalls, we must appeal to St. Joseph and listen to his word of profound wisdom. He implemented Christian life on earth: we follow the Holy Gospel and we will be rewarded like him.

Fioretto: In honor of Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus, remove that attachment to the occasions, which most put us in danger of sinning.

Intention: To pray for all the missionaries in the world.

Giaculatoria: O most faithful Joseph, pray for us.

YOU. Let's go to St. Joseph with the heart and with prayer. Happy if we know how to find welcome in his good heart! Especially for the moments of agony we hold dear Saint Joseph, who deserved to expire in the arms of Jesus and Mary. We use mercy with the dying and we will find it too.

Fioretto: Always pray for the salvation of the dying.

Intention: To pray for the children who are about to die before Baptism, so that their regeneration will be hastened.

Giaculatoria: O very prudent Joseph, pray for us.

VII. We thank St. Joseph for his favors and his graces. Gratitude pleases the Lord and men so much, but not everyone feels the duty. Let's show it by helping to spread its cult, its devotion. The love for St. Joseph will be of great benefit to us.

Fioretto: Spread the devotion to St. Joseph in any form.

Intention: To pray for the souls of purgatory.

Giaculatoria: O most obedient Joseph, pray for us.