Why prayer to St Joseph asking for intercession and protection? It is very important to understand why we turn to the saints and ask for their intercession.
They are our brothers and sisters who lived before us, discovered God, accepted the Lord Jesus into their lives as Savior and Messiah. The Word of God was their guide. Today they triumph, after the journey of life, reaching the Kingdom of God, being with God, and looking daily at His face.
Therefore, we appeal to these of our brothers and sisters and ask for intercession. We pray that they will intercede for us and ask God directly for help for us. Just as they live on earth, so as they are in Heaven, they remain members of our community, our Church.
Who is St Joseph?
St. Joseph is known to us from the Bible. He is the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Joseph was descended from the tribe of the legendary king of Israel, David.
St. Joseph was a craftsman, a carpenter.
In the Bible he first time mentioned in the gospels of Luke and Matthew when both speak about the genealogy of Jesus showing his origin from King David.
St. Joseph is a very special man. God chose him and called him to be the guardian and custodian of Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that God sent the angel Gabriel to him. The angel tells Joseph not to be afraid to take on the mission that God intended for him.
And St. Joseph obeys, he accepts that sacred service. He marries Mary. Participates in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. He saves his family, Mary, and Jesus, from King Herod, and flees to Egypt. After Herod’s death, they all return from emigration back to Israel and settle in the city of Nazareth.
So Joseph played important role in the early life of Jesus as guardian of the Redeemer. Joseph protected his family and kept it safe.
There are two St. Joseph feast days – March 19th for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1 for Joseph the Worker.
When can you ask St Joseph for intercession
Let us remember what the Church as a community of believers is. It consists not only of the believers who live on the earth and travel to the Kingdom of God. To Church also belong those, who are already dead in God’s Grace and now are in the Kingdom of God.
As the Bible states, Joseph’s family had many difficulties. They were persecuted and lived many years in emigration. Taking into account these events, which are described in the Bible, St. Joseph is known as a patron of the Church, unborn children, fathers, travelers, immigrants, house sellers and buyers, working people in general, and a happy death.
So there are many reasons when we can ask St Joseph for intercession. Pray to God and ask St Joseph’s intercession in all above-mentioned occasions and situations, but never forget to thank God for Joseph’s dedication to his Holy Family. Say this St Joseph prayer, which is one of the earliest prayers to this Saint.
Prayer to St Joseph
Say St Joseph prayer for your and Church protection in difficult situations.
This prayer to St. Joseph was first used in 1889. We ask for intercession for the whole Church throughout the world and for every Christian. It is recommended that this prayer be prayed after the Rosary. We pray this prayer especially in 2021 because it is the St. Year of Joseph.
More Saints prayers:
How to Pray asking for intercession
Say a prayer to God and ask St Joseph for intercession when you are in difficult times or need help in the situations St Joseph is the patron. As with any other prayer, you should pray with deep and sincere faith and pray for the cause in your mind constantly and really mean the words you say. Words prayed from the heart reach our God and with the intercession of St Joseph can make difference in your life or situation.
Also read: ST ANTHONY PRAYER- asking for help in finding lost things
