The Chaplet of Saint Joseph
On 8 December 2020, Pope Francis proclaimed a “Year of St Joseph” to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. The Chaplet of St Joseph leads us on a beautiful journey through his Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries.
- Crucifix or Medal — Sign of the Cross & Apostles’ Creed: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe In the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
- First Bead — Our Father: Our Father. Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not Into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.
- Second Bead — Pius X Prayer: O Joseph. virgin father of Jesus. pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray for us daily to the Son of God, that, armed with the weapons of His grace, we may fight as we ought in life, and be crowned by Him in death. Amen.
- Third Bead — Hail Mary: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
- Fourth Bead — Glory Be: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
- Mystery & Our Father: Announce and read the reflection for the mystery, then pray the Our Father.
- Hail Joseph x 3: Hail Joseph, Son of David, God is with you. Blessed are you among men, and blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ! Holy Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us and be with us, now and as we sigh our last breath. Amen.
- Holy Family Aspiration: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.
After praying the five mysteries:
- Ancient Prayer to St. Joseph: O 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. O 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. O 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.
- The Divine Praises & Sign of the Cross: Blessed be God, Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be His Most Precious Blood, Blessed be Jesus In the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy. Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her Glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints. In the name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Joyful Mysteries of Saint Joseph
- Sanctification of Joseph — St. Joseph had three graces which were special to him. Firstly, he was sanctified in his mother’s womb. Secondly, he was confirmed in grace. Thirdly, that he was always exempt from impurity. — St. Alphonsus de Liguori
- Holy Espousals — God spoke to the heart of the high priest, inspiring him to give each of the young men a dry stick; by a sign He would show whom He had chosen to be the spouse of Mary. While they prayed, the rod which Joseph held was seen to blossom and a dove of purest white descended upon him. And so the priest espoused Mary to the most chaste and holy of men, St. Joseph. — Venerable Maria de Agreda
- Annunciation to Joseph — The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying. “Joseph, son of David . . . the child conceived in Mary is of the Holy Spirit: she will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus: He will save His people from their sins.” — St. Matthew 1: 20-21
- Birth of Jesus — On that holy night, In Bethlehem, with Mary and the Child, is Joseph. to whom the Heavenly Father entrusted the daily care of His Son, which Joseph carried out in humility. . . . Think of the love of Joseph who was the first man to set eyes on the human face of God. — Pope Benedict XVI
- Life with Jesus and Mary — What flames of holy love must have been burning in the heart of Joseph, who for thirty years conversed with Jesus Christ, and listened to His words of eternal life! — St. Alphonsus de Liguori
Sorrowful Mysteries of Saint Joseph
- Joseph Resolves to Leave Mary — Joseph, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example. was minded to put Mary away privately. — St. Matthew 1:19
- Poverty of Jesus’ Birth — Joseph is a witness to the birth of the Son of God, which took place in conditions that, humanly speaking, were embarrassing — a first announcement of that self-emptying which Christ freely accepted. — St. John Paul II
- Simeon’s Prophecy — This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed. And a sword shall pierce through Mary’s soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. — St. Luke 2:34-35
- Exile in Egypt — Joseph guarded from death the Child threatened by a monarch’s jealousy, and found for Him a refuge: in the miseries of the journey and in the bitterness of exile he was always the companion, the assistance, and the upholder of the Virgin and of Jesus. — Pope Leo XIII
- Loss of the Adolescent Jesus — When He was twelve years old, Jesus’ parents brought Him to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. On their return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it. Assuming that He was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for Him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. . . . and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Behold, your father and I have searched for you in sorrow.” — St. Luke 2: 41-48
Glorious Mysteries of Saint Joseph
- Holy Death of Joseph — After having faithfully served Jesus and Mary, St. Joseph reached the end of his life in the house at Nazareth, There, surrounded by angels. assisted by Jesus Christ the King of angels, and by Mary, his spouse, filled with the peace of paradise, he departed from this life. — St. Alphonsus de Liguori
- Glorification of Joseph in Heaven — How could we doubt that our Lord raised glorious St. Joseph up into Heaven. body and soul? For Joseph had the honor and grace of carrying Jesus so often in his blessed arms. St. Joseph is therefore in Heaven body and soul, without a doubt. — St. Francis de Sales
- Intercession of St. Joseph — St. Joseph, with the love and generosity with which he guarded Jesus, so too will he guard your soul, and as he defended Him from Herod, so will he defend your soul from the devil! All the care that the Patriarch St. Joseph has for Jesus, he has for you and will always help you with his patronage. He will not allow your heart to be estranged from Jesus. Go to Joseph with extreme confidence, because I do not remember having asked anything from St. Joseph, without having obtained it readily. — St. Padre Pio
- Patron of Workers — The glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, humble and just worker of Nazareth, has given to all Christians an example of a perfect life through diligent labor and admirable union with Jesus and Mary. — Venerable Pius XII
- Patron of the Church — In these latter times in which a monstrous and most abominable war has been declared against the Church of Christ . . . we should more efficaciously implore the compassion of God through the merits and intercession of St. Joseph, Hence, by a special decree We solemnly declare the blessed patriarch Joseph to be Patron of the Universal Church! — Blessed Pius IX