The first day of the Novena is dedicated to the meditation of St. Joseph's marriage to our Blessed Mother. Which makes it even more appropriate to share since May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are four prayers to be said - so there are four times to lift your thoughts to St. Joseph and ask for his intercession.
First Visit is St. Joseph's fidelity to Grace:
Joseph was God's man; he listened to the inspiration of grace, recognized that this was God's plan for him and entered this state holily. The Blessed Virgin, full of grace, was another added grace for him, for this was heaven's gift to him. ( meditate on this thought for one minute)
My God, I thank Thee for St. Joseph's fidelity to grace. I ask through his intercession for fidelity to grace and for ....(mention your request)
Second visit is St. Joseph's fidelity to the Interior life.
Joseph's chief concern in life was the purity of his soul; imagine then how he strove to use the g races given to adorn his soul wherein he knew God dwelt, for the Blessed Trinity always dwells in a soul adorned with grace. ( meditate for one minute)
My God, I thank Thee for St. Joseph's fidelity to the interior life. I ask through his intercession for fidelity to the interior life and for ....( mention your request)
Third visit is St. Joseph's love for our Blessed Lady.
St. Joseph's love for Mary and Mary's love for Joseph was only excelled in their lives by their love for God and God's love for them. No purer love among human beings ever existed than that manifested by Joseph for Mary and Mary for Joseph. May we love Mary as he did; may we love her with his love-let this be our request. ( meditate for one minute)
My God, I thank Thee for St. Joseph's love of Our Blessed Lady. May I love her as St. Joseph did so that I may love her with his love. I also ask for......( mention your request)
Fourth visit is St. Joseph's love for the Holy Child.
Imagine with the eyes of faith the Child Jesus on the strong arms of Joseph. No earthly father ever loved as he loved this foster Son, for this Son was the Son of God - his God- his Messiah, for whom he had so longed and desired. Joseph knew now why God had so planned his life---yes, he was God's man. (meditate for one minute)
My God, I thank Thee for St. Joseph's love for the Holy Child. May I love Him as St. Joseph did so that I may love Him with Joseph's love. I also ask for .....(mention your request)
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