This prayer, dedicated to Saint Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary, the foster father of Jesus, and the patron saint of the Universal Church, was originally composed by Pope Leo XIII. This sacred prayer was included in his 1889 encyclical, Quamquam pluries. Pope Leo XIII specifically recommended its recitation at the Rosary’s conclusion, particularly during October, which is devoted to this cherished Marian devotion.
This prayer carries the added blessing of a partial indulgence, as detailed in the Handbook of Indulgences (concession 19). You are encouraged to include this prayer in your devotions after reciting the customary Salve Regina and concluding prayer following the Rosary. Additionally, it can serve as a fitting conclusion for various other Marian devotions, making it a versatile and spiritually enriching addition to your prayers.
Prayer to Saint Joseph
To you, O blessed Joseph,
do we come in our tribulation,
and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse,
we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you
to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God
and through the paternal love
with which you embraced the Child Jesus,
we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance
which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,
and with your 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 kind to us
and from heaven assist us in our struggle
with the power of darkness.
As once you 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 your constant protection,
so that, supported by your example and your aid,
we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness,
and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.
Amen.