Fourth Day of the Saint Joseph Novena (March 13) & (April 25)
Saint Joseph Novena - DAY 4
You can follow along with the words of the Church-approved Saint Joseph Novena DAY-4 prayers and reflections here. Since his feast days are on March 19 and May 1, DAY FOUR is on March 13 or April 25. We can also pray a sequence of nine days year-round.
Need a different day? Links are at the end of this post.
Saint Joseph Novena- DAY 4
DAY FOUR: March 13, April 25, or anytime
Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
OPENING PRAYER
LET US PRAY,
O God, in Your ineffable providence, You were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother, grant, we beg You, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector; You Who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen
(mention your petition)
REFLECTION:
1.
Wedded to the loveliest of brides, entering marriage with strong ideals and trust in God’s provident care, Joseph had a right to expect love and security that come with consecrated marriage.
2.
While marriage for him was the beginning of high honor, it was also the beginning of new pain. While it added to his royal dignity, it was also the occasion of poverty, patience, exile, obscurity, confusion, and wonderment.
3.
For at once he found that his virgin bride was with child. What could this possibly mean? He wanted to think her stainless, but what of this clear evidence? He was confused and bewildered. And while it was distasteful to a man of his simple reticence, the law of his people demanded that he put her away.
4.
Since Mary herself did nothing to enlighten him (for she was committed by God to secrecy) his confusion gave way to grave doubt, and doubt in turn gave way to firm, honorable resolve to take action.
5.
What a period of suffering and suspense this must have been to Joseph. In His own good time, God would reveal the wonders of the Incarnation of His Divine Son. But to prepare his soul for so great a miracle, God chose to cleanse his heart in suffering.
6.
Remembering his trial and suffering, we pray:
ST. JOSEPH MEMORARE
Remember, O most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked your aid without obtaining relief.
Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, Foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them.
Closing Prayers
God our Father and ruler of the universe, in every age You call human beings to develop and use their gifts for the good of others. With Saint Joseph as our example and guide, help us to do the work You have asked and come to the rewards You have promised.
Inspired by the example of Saint Joseph, may our lives manifest Your love, and may we rejoice forever in Your peace.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
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CREDITS
The LOGO image of Our Lady of Grace is original artwork by Martin Lariviere in 2009. We have the artist’s permission (my son). It is our exclusive trademark logo image.
A beautifully photographed sky by Donald Tong inspired the website’s colour scheme. Cropped portions of it are the background for the footer Bible verse. He shared it as a free download on pexels.com.
All of the prayers for this novena are from one book, The Treasury of Novenas, New Jersey: Catholic Book Publishing Corp., 1986-2004, pp.238-242. (NIHIL OBSTAT: Francis J. McAree S.T.D., Censor Librorum; IMPRIMATUR: Patrick J. Sheridan, D.D., Vicar General, Archdiocese of New York).
Reflections are NIHIL OBSTAT: John M. Fearns S.T.D., and IMPRIMATUR: Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop, New York.
Our information is from general knowledge, experience, and shared internet sources. We’d like you to use it as a starting point for your research to verify facts and build a reference list.
Art
Raphael painted The Sistine Madonna circa (1513-1514). We made circular cut-outs from the original image.
Among his many paintings of the Holy Family by Bartolome Esteban Murillo, we were happy to choose this one as our featured image. He painted it circa 1668 to 1670.
Carlo Esteban Murillo painted St. Joseph and the Child Jesus circa 1670 to 1675.
Bartolome Esteban Murillo painted Saint Joseph with the Infant Saviour circa the 17th Century.
Saint Joseph lovingly hands the Infant Jesus to His Mother in this captivating painting by Bartolome Esteban Murillo circa 1660.
Juan Simon Gutierrez painted The Holy Family circa the 17th Century.