First Wednesday Devotion toJOSEPH, PURE OF HEART

Guardian of the Sacred Hearts

I.  Salutation of the Sacred Heart
II.  Invocations on the Crucifix & Angelus on the Pendant

III.  Readings from the Liturgy of the Hours
IV.  The Florilegium Rosary

V.   The Antiphon to Mary and the Litany of Joseph

VI.  The Divine Praises

I

ANTIPHON TO THE SACRED HEART

IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

(A leader begins by reading the verses only, and the rest respond:)

Vs. Hail, very body born of Mary's virgin womb.

Rs.  Hail, very body born to suffer for us 

the sacrifice of the cross.

Vs.  Hail, very body pierced to flow for us 

with saving blood and water.

Rs.  Hail, very body pierced for our foretaste of life 

in the hour of our death.

Vs.  O, gentle Jesus! O, loving Jesus!

Rs.  O Sweet Jesus! Sweet son of Mary!

Or, better, the Latin plainchant is sung antiphonally
between a cantor and the rest.

Ave verum corpus

Vs.  Ave verum corpus natum de Maria virgine.
Rs.  Vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine.

Vs.  Cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine.
Rs.  Esto nobis praegustatum mortis in examine.

Vs.  O Jesu dulcis! *
Rs.  O Jeus pie!

Vs.  O Jesu! *
Rs.  Fili Mariae!

(A leader recites the prayer:)

Let us pray: 

O God,

graciously hear us who believe and confess

that present in this blessed sacrament

is the very body born of the Virgin Mary,

and the very body pierced on the cross for our salvation.

Grant us always to drink worthily from the saving font

that flows to us from this sacred heart.

Through the same Christ our Lord:

Rs. Amen

II

INVOCATIONS ON THE CROSS
& ANGELUS ON THE PENDENTS

(The opening invocations are said on the crucifix.

All make the sign of the cross with it on the lips at the first verse:)

Vs. O Lord, you will open my lips,

and my mouth shall declare your praise.

(Then kissing the crucifix, all make the sign of the cross with it 

on the brow and breast at the second verse:)

Rs. O God, come to my assistance;

O Lord, make haste to help me.

(Allow the head at the name of the Trinity,

crossing themselves as usual. )

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Rs. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, 

world without end. Amen.

Vs. Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me bless his holy name.

Rs. Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits.

(On the large bead of the pendant:)

Vs. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name:

Rs. 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.

Angelus

(This Angelus is said on the three small beads of the pendent, 

the leader leading with the verses, and the rest responding:)

Vs. The angel of the Lord declared unto Joseph: *

Son of David, fear not to take Mary for your wife,

for what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee:

Rs. Blessed art thou among women, and

and Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, holy Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Vs. Rising up, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. *

And when she brought forth her firstborn son, he called his name Jesus,

the name given him by the angel before he was conceived.

Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee:

Rs. Blessed art thou among women, and ...

Vs. All this was done to fulfill what the Lord spoke by the prophet: *

Behold a virgin shall be with child and bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel: God-with-us.

Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee:

Rs. Blessed art thou among women, and ...

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Rs. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

(The leader recites the prayer:)

Grant, we beseech thee, O God,

that your Church unceasingly serve the fulfillment 

of the mysteries of human salvation 

whose beginnings you entrusted to the faithful care of blessed Joseph.

Through the same Christ our Lord:

Rs. Amen

III

READINGS

A SCRIPTURAL READING FROM
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 1:18-25

Now the generation of Christ was in this way. Whereas his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child by the Holy Spirit. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately.

 

But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to you Mary as your wife, for what is conceived in her, is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son: and you shall call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins.

 

Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying:  Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, meaning, God with us.

 

And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife. And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

Responsory:

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt:

No distrust made him waver in the promise of God. *

For strengthened by his faith, he gave glory to God.:

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. It was reputed to him for justice: *

Rs. For strengthened by his faith, he gave glory to God.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. No distrust made him waver in the promise of God. *

Rs.  For strengthened by his faith, he gave glory to God.

A MEDITATION OF POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II
FROM HIS ENCYCLICAL REDEMPTORIS CUSTOS

When, soon after the Annunciation, Mary went to the house of Zechariah to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth, even as she offered her greeting she heard the words of Elizabeth, who was filled with the Holy Spirit. Besides offering a salutation which recalled that of the angel at the Annunciation, Elizabeth also said: And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. These words were the guiding thought of the Encyclical Redemptoris Mater, in which I sought to deepen the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, which stated the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully preserved her union with her Son even to the cross, preceding all those who follow Christ by faith.

Now at the beginning of this pilgrimage, the faith of Mary meets the faith of Joseph. If Elizabeth said of the Redeemer's Mother, blessed is she who believed, in a certain sense this blessedness can be referred to Joseph as well, since he responded positively to the word of God when it was communicated to him at the decisive moment. While it is true that Joseph did not respond to the angel's announcement in the same way as Mary, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took his wife. What he did is the clearest obedience of faith, as spoken of by St. Paul.

One can say that what Joseph did united him in an altogether special way to the faith of Mary. He accepted as truth coming from God the very thing that she had already accepted at the Annunciation. The Council teaches: The obedience of faith' must be given to God as he reveals himself. By this obedience of faith man freely commits himself entirely to God, making 'the full submission of his intellect and will to God who reveals,' and willingly assenting to the revelation given by him. This statement, which touches the very essence of faith, is perfectly applicable to Joseph of Nazareth.

Therefore he became a unique guardian of the mystery hidden for ages in God, as did Mary, in that decisive moment which St. Paul calls the fullness of time, when God sent forth his Son, born of woman...to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. In the words of the Council: It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom, to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his will. His will was that men should have access to the Father, through Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit, and become sharers in the divine nature.

Together with Mary, Joseph is the first guardian of this divine mystery. Together with Mary, and in relation to Mary, he shares in this final phase of God's self-revelation in Christ and he does so from the very beginning. Looking at the gospel texts of both Matthew and Luke, one can also say that Joseph is the first to share in the faith of the Mother of God and that in doing so he supports his spouse in the faith of the divine annunciation. He is also the first to be placed by God on the path of Mary's "pilgrimage of faith." It is a path along which—especially at the time of Calvary and Pentecost—Mary will precede in a perfect way.

The path that was Joseph's—his pilgrimage of faith—ended first, that is to say, before Mary stood at the foot of the cross on Golgotha, and before the time after Christ returned to the Father, when she was present in the upper room on Pentecost, the day the Church was manifested to the world, having been born in the power of the Spirit of truth. Nevertheless, Joseph's way of faith moved in the same direction: it was totally determined by the same mystery, of which he, together with Mary, had been the first guardian.

Responsory:

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt: *

God has made me a father to the king,

And made me lord over all his household.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. He has lifted me up to preserve the lives of many. *

Rs. And made me lord over all his household.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. God has made me a father to the king. *

Rs. And made me lord over all his household.

IV

THE FLORILEGIUM ROSARY

Let us ponder in our hearts the Mystery of Faith

kept in the heart of blessed Joseph, 

the sacred guardian of the sacred hearts.

FIRST, THE LAMB OF GOD

Vs. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.

Rs. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ...

(A leader begins by reading the verses only, and the rest respond:)

Vs. 1  John, baptizing, saw Jesus coming to him, and he says: * Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 2  This is he whom God has set forth to be a propitiation for the remission of past sins, * through faith in his blood.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art …..

 

Vs. 3  This is he that comes by water and blood; * not by water only, but by water and blood.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 4  The one who sent me to baptize with water said to me: * He it is that baptizes with the Holy Spirit.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou ….

 

Vs. 5  And there are three that give testimony: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood. * And these three are one.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 6  They did not break his legs—that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of it. *  But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and there came out blood and water.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 7  And an angel showed me a river of water of life, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. * On both sides of the river was the tree of life.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 8  And he says to me: Blessed are they who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, * that they may have a right to the tree of life.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 9  And I saw in the hand of him that sat on the throne a book, sealed with seven seals. * And, behold, in the midst of the throne a Lamb standing, as it were slain, who came and took the book. Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 10  And when he had opened it, they sang a new canticle: * You are worthy to open the book and break its seals, because you were slain, and have redeemed us to God with your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus: *

For he shall save his people from their sins.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. And Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him,

and he called his name Jesus: *

Rs. For he shall save his people from their sins.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. *

Rs. For he shall save his people from their sins.

SECOND, THE BREAD OF LIFE

Vs. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.

Rs. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ...

(A leader begins by reading the verses only, and the rest respond:)

Vs. 1  When Jesus lifted up his eyes and saw a very great multitude coming to him, he said: * From where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 2  His disciple Andrew says to him: There is a boy here that has five barley loaves and two fish. * But what are these among so many?  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 3  And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed to those who had sat down. * In like manner also of the fish, as much as they liked.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 4  And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost.* And they filled twelve baskets with the fragments from the five loaves.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 5  Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, * said This is in truth the prophet that is to come into the world.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 6  Jesus said: You seek me because you ate of the loaves and were filled. * Labor not for food which perishes, but which endures to life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 7  Amen, amen, I say to you: Moses gave you not bread from heaven, * but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 8  Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, yet are dead. * This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that if anyone eat of it, he may not die.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 9  I am the living bread which came down from heaven. * If anyone eat of this bread, he shall live for ever.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

 

Vs. 10  I am the bread of life. * And the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus: *

For he shall save his people from their sins.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. And Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him,and he called his name Jesus: *

Rs. For he shall save his people from their sins.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.*

Rs. For he shall save his people from their sins.

THIRD, THE LORD'S SUPPER

Vs.  Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.

Rs.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ...

(A leader begins by reading the verses only, and the rest respond:)

Vs. 1   I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you: * that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke it.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 2  And he said: Take and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered for you. * Do this for the commemoration of me.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 3   In like manner also the chalice, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood. * Do this, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 4   For as often as you shall eat this bread and drink the chalice, * you shall show the death of the Lord, until he come.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 5   He has made a remembrance of his wonderful works, * being a merciful and gracious Lord.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 6   He has given food to them that fear him. * He will be mindful for ever of his covenant.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 7   The day of the unleavened bread came, on which it was necessary that the paschal lamb be killed. * And he sent Peter and John, saying: Go prepare for us the Pasch, that we may eat.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 8   And when the hour had come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. * And he said to them: With desire have I desired to eat this Pasch with you, before I suffer.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 9   For I say to you that from this time I will not eat it, * till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 10   I dispose to you, as my Father has to me, a kingdom, * that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus: *

For he shall save his people from their sins.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. And Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him,and he called his name Jesus: *

Rs. For he shall save his people from their sins.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.*

Rs. For he shall save his people from their sin.

FOURTH, THE WASHING OF FEET

Vs. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.

Rs. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ...

(A leader begins by reading the verses only, and the rest respond:)

Vs. 1   Before the festival day of the Pasch, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come, * and having loved his own who were in the world, loved them to the end.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 2   And when supper was done, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, * he rises from supper and lays aside his garments.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 3   And taking a linen, * he girded himself.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

…

Vs. 4   After that, he put water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, * and to wipe them with the linen with which he was girded.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 5  He comes then to Simon Peter, and Peter says to him: * Lord, do you wash my feet?   Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 6  Jesus answered him: What I am doing, you know not now; * but you shall know hereafter.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 7  Peter says to him: Never shall you wash my feet! * —If I do not wash you, you shall have no part with me.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 8  If then I, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. * For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you also do.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 9  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: * that even in the way I have loved you, so you also love one another.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 10  Amen, amen, I say to you: The servant is not greater than his lord; neither is the apostle greater than the one that sent him. * If you know these things, you shall be blessed if you do them.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus: *

For he shall save his people from their sins.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. And Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him,and he called his name Jesus: *

Rs. For he shall save his people from their sins.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.*

Rs. For he shall save his people from their sin.

FIFTH, GOD-WITH-US

Vs. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.

Rs. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ...

(A leader begins by reading the verses only, and the rest respond:)

Vs. 1   Behold, two of them went that same day to a town named Emmaus, and while they talked and reasoned with themselves about him, * Jesus himself, drawing near, went with them.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 2   And he said to them: What are these discourses that you hold with one another, * as you walk and are saddened?  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 3  Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in work and word: * how our chief priests and princes delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 4  And certain women of our company have frightened us, who before it was light were at the tomb, * and they came saying that they had seen a vision of angels, who say that he is alive.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 5   Then he said to them: O foolish and slow of heart to believe! * Had not the Christ to suffer these things, thus to enter into his glory?  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 6  And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, * he expounded to them the things in all the scriptures concerning him.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 7   And as they drew near to the town, they constrained him, saying: Stay with us, for it is towards evening and the day is now far spent. * And he went in with them.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 8   And it came to pass, while he was at table with them, * he took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 9  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him. * And he vanished out of their sight.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 10  And rising up, they went back to Jerusalem, and they found the Eleven gathered together, saying The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon! * And they told how they knew him in the breaking of bread.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus: *

For he shall save his people from their sins.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. And Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him,and he called his name Jesus: *

Rs. For he shall save his people from their sins.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Vs. She shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.*

Rs. For he shall save his people from their sin.

INTERCESSIONS FOR THE CHURCH

Vs. Lord, have mercy.  

Rs. Lord, have mercy.

Vs. Christ, have mercy.

Rs. Christ, have mercy.

Vs. Lord, have mercy.

Rs. Christ, have mercy.  

Vs. Christ, hear us.

Rs. Christ, graciously hear us.

Vs. God the Father in heaven,  

Rs. Have mercy on us.

Vs. God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Rs. Have mercy on us.

Vs. God the Holy Spirit,

Rs. Have mercy on us.

Vs. Holy Trinity, one God,

Rs. Have mercy on us. 

Vs. Watch over your Church, O Lord..

Rs. O Lord, watch over our Holy Father.

Vs. Preserve your Church, O Lord.

Rs. O Lord, preserve our Holy Father.

Vs. Uphold your Church, O Lord.

Rs. O Lord, uphold our Holy Father.

Vs. Grant the pastors of your Church and its laborers

ever to renew, O Lord.

Rs. O Lord, grant your people ever to renew.

Vs. Grant religious life in the Church and the consecrated

ever to renew, O Lord.

Rs. O Lord, grant your people ever to renew.

Vs. Grant the life of the faithful in the family and in the world

ever to renew, O Lord.

Rs. O Lord, grant your people ever to renew.

Vs. In your mercy draw to the bosom of the Church

all the peoples of the world, O Lord.

Rs. And in your mercy hear the Pope's intentions

for all the peoples of the world, O Lord.

O Lord, 

who left for us in this wondrous Sacrament 

a memorial of Thy passion: 

grant us, we beseech thee, 

so to venerate the sacred mysteries of thy body and blood 

that we may ever know

the fruits of Thy redemption within us. 

Who live and reign

forever and ever,

Rs. Amen

V

THE ANTIPHON & LITANY

ANTIPHON TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Salve Regina

(The English translation below is adapted for singing it 

to the melody of the Latin Salve Regina:)

Mary, we greet thee ...

Mother and Queen all merciful:

our life, our sweetness, and our hope,

we greet thee!

To thee we exiles,

children of Eve, lift our crying;

to thee we send our sighs,

as mourning and weeping

we pass through this valley of tears.

Therefore we pray,

be our gracious helper;

look with pity,

with eyes of loving tenderness,

upon us sinners.

And at the end,

when this earthly exile shall be over,

show us

the blessed fruit of thy womb,

Jesus.

O loving!

O gentle!

O most sweet

Virgin Mary!

 

Or the Latin plainchant is sung by all, a cantor intoning the first phrase.

 

Salve Regina

 

Vs. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God:

Rs. That we be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

V

LITANY OF ST. JOSPEH 

O blessed Joseph,

having implored the help of your most holy Spouse,

to you as well we come in our tribulations,

and confidently invoke your patronage.

Through the 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 have regard for this inheritance which 

Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,

and to aid us in our necessities

with the power and strength you have from him.

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 aid us from heaven 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,

that, supported by your example and your aid,

we may prove able to live in piety, to die in holiness,

and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.

Vs. Illustrious son of David,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Light of Patriarchs,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Spouse of the Mother of God,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Guardian of the Redeemer,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Pure Guardian of the Virgin,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Provider for the Son of God,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Zealous defender of Christ, 

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Servant of Christ,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Minister of salvation,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Head of the Holy Family,  

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Joseph, most just,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Joseph, most chaste,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Joseph, most prudent,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Joseph, most brave,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Joseph, most obedient,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Joseph, most loyal,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Mirror of patience,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Lover of poverty,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Model for workers,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Glory of family life,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Guardian of virgins,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Cornerstone of families,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Support in difficulties,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Comfort of the sorrowing,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Hope of the sick,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Patron of exiles,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Patron of the afflicted,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Patron of the poor,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Patron of the dying,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Terror of demons,

Rs. Pray for us.

Vs. Protector of the Holy Church,

Rs. Pray for us.

                 

Vs. O Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, 

Rs. Spare us, O Lord.

Vs. O Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,

Rs. Hear us, O Lord.

Vs. O Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,

Rs. Have mercy on us.

O God,

who in your ineffable providence

were pleased to choose St. Joseph, pure of heart,

as the spouse of your most holy Mother,

and the protector in your own childhood,

grant us, we pray you,

that we who revere him as our protector on earth,

may likewise be worthy of his intercession in heaven.

Through Christ our Lord:

R. Amen.

Vi

THE DIVINE PRAISES 

Vs. Blessed be God.

Rs. Blessed be his holy name.

Vs. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

Rs. Blessed be the name of Jesus.

Vs. Blessed be his most sacred heart.

Rs. Blessed be his most precious blood.

Vs. Blessed be Jesus in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Rs. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

Vs. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.

Rs. Blessed be her holy and immaculate conception.

Vs. Blessed be her glorious assumption.

Rs. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.

Vs. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.

Rs. Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.