The great promise of Saint Joseph

Fra Giovanni da Fano (1469-1539) described an apparition of Saint Joseph to two young friars, from which the devotion of the "Seven sorrows and joys of Saint Joseph" was born in the Church, indulged by great Pontiffs such as Pius VII, Gregory XVI and Pius IX.

Here is what he reported: “I was told by a friar minor of the Observance, worthy of faith, who, being two friars of the said Order in a ship that went to Flanders, with about three hundred people, had a great storm for eight days.
One of those friars was a preacher and very devoted to St. Joseph, to whom he wholeheartedly recommended himself.
The ship was submerged with all those men and the friar, with his companion, found themselves in the sea on a table, always recommending themselves with great faith to St. Joseph.
On the third day a beautiful young man appeared in the middle of the table and, with a cheerful face, greeting them, said: "God help you, do not doubt!".
Having said that, all three with the table were on the ground.
Then the friars, kneeling, with much devotion thanked the young man, then the preacher said:
"O most noble young man, please for God's sake tell me who you are!"
And He replied: “I am Saint Joseph, the most worthy Spouse of the most blessed Mother of God, to whom you have recommended yourselves so much. And for this, I was sent by the most kind Lord to free you. And know that if this was not the case, you would have drowned together with the others. I have implored from the infinite divine clemency that any person will say every day, all a year, seven Our Father and seven Hail Marys in reverence of the seven pains that I had in the world obtain every grace from God, provided that it is right "(that is, convenient, in conformity with the own spiritual good).

SEVEN PAIN AND JOY OF ST. JOSEPH
To be recited every day, for a whole year, to obtain thanks

1. The most pure spouse of Mary Most Holy,
great were the anguishes of your heart,
agitated by fear
of having to abandon your beloved Bride,
because she became Mother of God;
but ineffable was also the joy you felt,
when the Angel revealed the great mystery of the Incarnation to you.
For this your pain and for your joy,
please help us now
with the grace of a good life
and, one day, with the comfort of a holy death,
resembling yours, next to Jesus and Mary.
Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.

2. Very Happy Patriarch,
that you were elevated to the highest dignity
of virginal Father of the Incarnate Word,
the pain you felt in seeing the Child Jesus born
in such poverty and indifference of the people
immediately changed into joy,
hearing the song of the Angels
and to attend the tribute
made to the Child by the shepherds and the Magi.
For this your pain and for your joy,
we beg you to get there
that, after the journey of this earthly life,
we can enjoy eternally
of the splendors of heavenly glory.
Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.

3. Glorious Saint Joseph,
the Blood that the Baby Jesus
scattered in the circumcision
your Heart pierced you,
but he comforted you as Father
to impose the name of Jesus on the Child.
For this your pain and for your joy
get us that, purified from all sin,
we can live with the name of Jesus
on the lips and in the heart.
Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.

4. Most faithful Saint Joseph,
that you participated in the mysteries of the Redemption,
if the prophecy of Simeon
about what Jesus and Mary should have suffered
also pierced your Heart,
however, certainty comforted you
that many souls would be saved
for the Passion and Death of Jesus.
For this your pain and for your joy,
get us that we too
we can be in the number of the elect.
Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.

5. Solicitous Guardian of the Son of God,
how much you suffered in having to save
from the King Herod the Son of the Most High!
But how much you rejoiced, always having your God with you,
together with Maria, your beloved Bride!
For this your pain and for your joy,
impetraci that, moving away from us
every occasion of sin,
we can live holy,
in the service of the Lord and for the good of others.
Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.

6. Angel protector of the Holy Family,
that you admired the King of Heaven as your subject,
if your joy in bringing it back from Egypt
he was upset for fear of Archelaus,
warned by the Angel,
with Jesus and Mary you lived in Nazareth
in full joy until the end of your earthly life.
For this your pain and for your joy,
get us that, free from all anxiety,
we can live peacefully
and come one day to a holy death,
assisted by Jesus and Mary.
Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.

7. Most Holy Joseph,
you who lost the child Jesus without your guilt,
with anxiety and pain you sought him for three days,
until with great joy
you found him in the Temple among the doctors.
For this your pain and for your joy,
we beg you that it never happens that we lose Jesus
because of our sins;
but, if by misfortune we lose it,
get us to search for it promptly,
to enjoy it in Heaven, where forever
we will sing with You and the divine Mother
his divine Mercy.
Our Father, Ave Maria, Gloria.