St. Joseph, Our Loving Protector

"We choose St. Joseph, virginal spouse of the Mother of God, and patron of the Universal Church, as our spiritual father and co-patron, entrusting to his care the spiritual and temporal welfare of our community and of each Sister." - MSSR Constitution

OUR love of Our Lady leads us quickly to a deep appreciation of St. Joseph, her most pure spouse. In keeping with the confidence the Heavenly Father exhibited in entrusting the spiritual and temporal care of the Holy Family to St. Joseph, we too, confide ourselves to St. Joseph's loving protection.

DURING our annual novena to St. Joseph, we call to mind and thank God for his fidelity to grace and to the interior life, his spirit of recollection (so essential for religious life), his tender love for Our Lady and for Jesus.

WE turn gratefully to St. Joseph these days with special confidence, remembering as St. Teresa says, "To the other Saints it appears that the Lord may have granted power to succor us on particular occasions; but to this Saint, as experience proves, He has granted power to help us on all occasions". We are confident that his powerful intercession before God will obtain for us all necessary graces and assistance in accordance with God's will.

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OH ST. JOSEPH whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, our Lord; so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me, and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.