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A novena consists of nine (9) moments of prayer. It can be prayed daily, weekly, or

hourly. A person can pray a novena for a specific reason/cause if there is something

he/she specifically needs, or the petition can be generic.

There is no “right” way or only one way of doing a novena. It does not have to be done at

daily Mass or at Church. When possible, appeal to all of the senses when you pray the

novena. You can have pictures and music or light a candle in the prayer space. You may

like incense and bring to the space your own photos and statue. Car time on the way to

work is also an excellent opportunity to do a novena. The prayer can be done out loud

or internally. It can be done with a group or ideally with the family. If the group wants

to pray together and cannot meet in person they can do a virtual prayer time or just set

select time that all will do.

This is a petition novena to St. Joseph, one of the patron saints of the Archdiocese of

San Francisco. We ask St. Joseph’s intercession for our needs and the needs of the

world. Pope Francis, in Patris Corde, invites us to honor, celebrate and pray to St.

Joseph especially this year--from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021. This is the

150th anniversary of the Proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal

Church.

“Would that I could persuade all men to be devout to this glorious saint,” wrote St. Teresa of Avila

in her autobiography, “for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain.”

Year of St. Joseph Novena

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St. Joseph mosaic, Church of the Holy Family, Linz, Upper Austria. Photo by Wolfgang Sauber

Who is St. Joseph? Click link below to find out more about this saint our Church is

honoring and celebrating this year.

Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish

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Pope Francis and his devotion to St. Joseph

Pope Francis already had a connection with St. Joseph

when he was living in Argentina. It was in the church of

St. Joseph in Buenos Aires where, in 1953, the 17-year-

old Jorge Mario Bergoglio discovered his vocation and

declared his desire to dedicate his life to God and men.

After many years, it was on the feast of Saint Joseph,

March 19, 2013, when that young boy—now a mature

adult—would be inaugurated as the Pontiff and the head

of the Church.

The two statues at Santa Marta - He didn’t take this journey alone. Francis wanted St.

Joseph to go with him, as a discreet guide, and a protector who is silent but always atten-

tive. Even today, in the Pope’s personal study at Casa Santa Marta, there are two statues

portraying the saint.

One in particular is very dear to the Pope, and he has carried it with him since he lived at

the Jesuit Major Seminary of San Miguel, where he was the rector. It’s an unusual image

in the eyes of Americans and Europeans, but the devotion is widespread among South

American Catholics, It’s a statue depicting St. Joseph sleeping.

Protector and Consoler - While asleep, St.

Joseph received messages from God, who

warned him about the danger posed by King

Herod and entrusted him to love and pro-

tect Mary and the Baby Jesus.

It was in a dream when Joseph accepted his

role as putative father of Jesus and of all

mankind, an archetypal figure of protector,

defender, and consoler. Joseph is the

attetive and tender guardian of the Family,

a just man who accepts and guards the mys-

teries of God, as he willingly chose to accept and protect Mary, the woman chosen by God

to be the Most Holy and Immaculate Mother of His only Son.

An invitation to “sleep on it” - This is why, Fr. Marcello Stanzione explains, the Pope

has the habit of placing under the statue of the saint a list containing the problems, peti-

tions, and prayers of the faithful. It’s as if he were inviting Saint Joseph to “sleep on it,”

and perhaps to put a good word in before God to solve difficult situations and to help

those in need, thus calling upon the saint’s role as a father who is merciful and totally at-

tentive to those he loves.

He’s a truly special saint, who protects and helps us even while he sleeps! (October 31,

2020 – Aleteia)

Sleeping Joseph, by Michael Adams

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Day One St. Joseph, be our beloved Father and Protector in this Pandemic

St. Joseph with Jesus by Eleni Dadi

Centering Prayer: “Hymn to St. Joseph"

Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish Pilipino

Prayer: St. Joseph, my loving father, our world is suffering greatly with this pandemic.

Our lives are in crisis. You are our faithful protector and intercessor. As you took care of

Mary and I pray that the vaccine will keep us safe and will be immediately available to all

throughout the world. I pray for all who are suffering with Covid 19 and its variants and

that you will intercede for their health. I ask that your loving care will give strength to

those who are caring for our ill.

May your intercession help me to be more caring for those in need.

Blessed Joseph, spouse of our Mother Mary, hold me in your prayer to have an open

heart, a willing spirit and actions that witness to Jesus.

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St. Joseph, Beloved father of Jesus, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Protector of the Holy Family, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, example of courage in the face of crisis, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, helper of the sick, hear my prayer

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself as a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

St. Joseph, Father and Protector of Jesus, pray for us.

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 +

More prayer opportunities:

Litany of St. Joseph — Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish

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Centering prayer: ‘Hymn to St. Joseph’

Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish Pilipino

Prayer:

Dear St. Joseph, you knew what it was to have a family and have to move from place to

place. You protected Mary and Jesus from the hatred of Herod. Many families are in the

same situation today with no place to call home. They are running from hatred, war,

hunger and racism.

The Flight Into Egypt by Enrico Manfrini, St. Mary Cathedral in San Francisco

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As a father you certainly were not passively resigned, but courageously and firmly

proactive. The Holy Spirit guided your heart when the situations seemed so dark. I pray

that you ask the Holy Spirit to open my heart and spirit to immigrants, the strangers,

the homeless, the runaways on our streets and those with no food, shelter and clothing.

Help me to search for ways of welcoming the stranger in my midst. Help me to work for

systemic change in society.

Help me as I think of your attitude in life’s choices. You gave so much to protect your

family and I too need creative courage in dealing with the massive world problems.

St. Joseph, Husband of Mary and Foster father of Jesus, hear my prayer,

St. Joseph, head of a family with no place to lay one’s head, hear my prayer,

St. Joseph, who knew imminent danger, hear my prayer,

St. Joseph, our Protector from hatred and racism, hear my prayer.

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself as a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

St. Joseph, Father and Protector of Jesus, pray for us.

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+

More prayer opportunities:

Litany of St. Joseph — Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish

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Day 3

St. Joseph, Model of Interior Life

St. Joseph by Fr. Marcho Rupnik, SJ

Centering Prayer: “Hymn to St. Joseph”

Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish Pilipino

Prayer:

St. Joseph, your silence speaks louder than words. “The Gospels speak exclusively of

what Joseph did,” Pope John Paul II said. “Still, they allow us to discover in his ‘actions’

— shrouded in silence as they are — an aura of deep contemplation. Joseph was in daily

contact with the mystery ‘hidden from ages past,’ and which ‘dwelt’ under his roof.

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I pray, St. Joseph, that you help me take time daily for silence and prayer. Your Son

asks that we pray always and often went to the deserted places to be with his Father.

Give me the fortitude and faithfulness as a true disciple to pray.

St. Joseph, ask the Holy Spirit to come and give me words to pray when I do not know

how. Help me to remember my loved ones, be grateful for what is given, and to pray for

those who have no one to pray for them.

When life is difficult help me with your example never to give up on God or on my faith. I

pray for those who have no faith, and those who have given it away that they may re-

turn.

Also, I ask you to guide those seeking to come into the Church. Help me and the

church community to be centers of hospitality, evangelization and sharing of the faith

that we hold so sacred.

St. Joseph, Holy Man of God, hear my prayer

St Joseph, Model of Interior life, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Guided by the Holy Spirit, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Sign of Hospitality, hear my prayer

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself as a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

St. Joseph, Father and Protector of Jesus, pray for us.

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+

More prayer opportunities:

Litany of St. Joseph Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish

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Day 4

St. Joseph, Protector of the Holy Family

Centering Prayer: “Hymn to St. Joseph"

Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish Pilipino

Prayer:

St. Joseph, you were such a good husband and father. Your heart opened wide for

Mary and Jesus. Help me to be open to the situations that I am faced with in life.

Guide me to be caring for others, discerning of life’s situations and centered in

prayer.

I have confidence in your example. You are a man of simple humility and holiness.

I ask your help on my struggles in life. Make me a good disciple of your Son, Jesus.

Help me to courageously say “yes” to the small and big tasks of my day.

The Holy Family by Shim Soon-hwa Cathe-

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Dear St. Joseph, help me to continually be concerned for the struggles of families,

women and children. You know as I do the world situations and the lack of support for

family life. May I know that it is not just charity that needs to be brought to family sit-

uations but systemic change. Send the Holy Spirit to guide me in the actions that I

should take on behalf of families.

You are a great example for all fathers. May you help them to be examples of love and

care. I thank you for my father and grandfathers. I thank you for those father figures

who have been examples of care for me. I ask your help for those who have no fa-thers,

whose fathers have rejected them and for those longing to reconnect with their fathers.

St. Joseph, hold all of these in your care as you did Jesus and Mary.

St. Joseph, Protector of Families, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Guardian of Mary and Jesus, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Most Strong, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Humble example, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Loving Heart, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Beloved Father, hear my prayer

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself as a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

St. Joseph, Father and Protector of Jesus, Pray for us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the begin-

ning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen+

More prayer opportunities:

Litany of St. Joseph — Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish

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Protector of the Church by Joseph Guardo, Chapel of Ex-Votos,

Saint Joseph’s Oratory, Montreal, Quebec

Day 5

St. Joseph, Patron of the Catholic Church

Centering Prayer: “Hymn to St. Joseph"

Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish Pilipino

Prayer:

St. Joseph, you went unnoticed in your life. “You were a daily, discreet and hidden pres-

ence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble.” (Pope Francis) It is so

necessary that I pray asking for your help in this time of our world pandemic. I pray for

all the first responders, who much like you, appear hidden or in the shadows.

St. Joseph, as you protected Jesus, the Bread of Life, inspire me in the desire to be one

with Jesus in the Eucharist. Help me to grow more deeply in my understanding of gather-

ing as a Church together. Help me to cooperate with God’s plan for the Church today.

Keep me safe and show me the way.

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I pray to you for my beloved Church. She has been torn by so many evils. Your open-

ness to God’s will sets an example for healing. Please bring about reconciliation, reform

and healing at this time. The Body of Christ needs your help.

St. Joseph, Patron of the Catholic Church, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Guide in times of darkness, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Life in Sacrificial Service, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Comforter of the Sick, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, My Patron, hear my prayer

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself as a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

St. Joseph, Father and Protector of Jesus, Pray for us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the begin-

ning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen+

More prayer opportunities:

Litany of St. Joseph — Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish

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The Holy Family icon by Father John Giuliani

Centering Prayer: “Hymn to St. Joseph"

Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish Pilipino

Pope Benedict XVI especially encouraged married couples and parents to turn to St.

Joseph, saying: “God alone could grant Joseph the strength to trust the Angel. God

alone will give you, dear married couples, the strength to raise your family as he

wants. Ask it of him! God loves to be asked for what he wishes to give. Ask him for

the grace of a true and ever more faithful love patterned after his own. As the Psalm

magnificently puts it: his ‘love is established forever, his loyalty will stand as long as

the heavens’ (Ps 88:3).” St. Joseph, I ask your help with families who in today’s

world have so many struggles. May I continue to pray daily for strong, faithful mar-

riages and care of children. Help me to support the families that I know and my own

family. I pray for… (Mention the names of those members of your family and other families).

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You were privileged to watch Jesus grow daily and you taught him how to be a good

Jewish man. Help me to encourage children to develop their character and to use their

skills and talents. I ask your help that I may share my love of Jesus, and the Church.

St. Joseph, in all families there is need for reconciliation. Please help me to be forgiv-

ing. Send me the spirit of gratitude for all that I have. Teach me that God does work

even through my fears, my frailties and my weakness. You followed God’s will even in

the temptations of life, help me to never be afraid to let the Lord steer me on the right

course.

St. Joseph, Protector of the Holy Family, pray for me

St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, pray for me

St. Joseph, Teacher of Jesus, pray for me

St. Joseph, Comforter of the Sick, pray for me

St. Joseph, Tender Mercy, pray for me

St. Joseph, Always Faithful, pray for me

St. Joseph, Guide of Children, pray for me

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself as a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

St. Joseph, Father and Protector of Jesus, Pray for us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the begin-

ning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen+

More prayer opportunities:

Litany of St. Joseph — Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish

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Day 7

St. Joseph, Patron of Workers

St. Joseph with the Virgin and Jesus Child in the workshop of Nazareth by Modesto Faustini, Basilica della Santa Casa, Loreto, Italy

Centering Prayer: “Hymn to St. Joseph"

Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish Pilipino

Prayer:

St. Joseph, you worked hard to put food on the table for your family and provide hous-

ing. I ask that you bless me with the ability to care of those who need food and hous-

ing. So many are on our streets and in homeless shelters, may I be sensitive to their

needs and not turn a blind eye.

You are the patron of workers. Many are without work and struggling to survive. May I

appreciate the importance of dignified work of which you set an example. I pray that

workers may be paid a living wage, be safe in the work place and be treated with

dignity.

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I pray for our young people that they may realize the importance of being a service to

society. St. Joseph, help them develop the skills and talents they have been given.

Help them to enjoy a certain degree of prosperity and that there is a renewed need to

appreciate the importance of dignified work.

Your priorities were centered in the good of others. Help me to find ways to express a

firm conviction that no young person, no person at all, no family should be without

work.

St. Joseph, Patron of Workers, pray for me

St. Joseph, Honest Man of Society, pray for me

St. Joseph, Knowing Being on the Street Without Shelter, pray for me

St. Joseph, Dignified Worker, pray for me

St. Joseph, Providing Father to Mary and Jesus, pray for me

St. Joseph, Skilled Carpenter, pray for me

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself as a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

St. Joseph, Father and Protector of Jesus, Pray for us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the begin-

ning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen+

More prayer opportunities:

Litany of St. Joseph — Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish

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Day 8

St. Joseph, Patron of the Archdiocese of San Francisco

Centering Prayer: “Hymn to St. Joseph"

Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish Pilipino

Prayer:

St. Joseph, you are our powerful patron. As the Guardian of the Redeemer I ask that you

guard our Archdiocese. I ask your intercession to grant wisdom to our Archbishop,

priests, deacons and lay leaders. Help them to know the great humility you practiced

and to imbue it in our church.

I ask your intercession to all our Catholic brothers and sisters in knowing the value of

the Eucharist. You had Jesus with you, may we yearn to be with Jesus in the celebra-

tion of the Eucharist and receiving him in communion on a regular basis. Help those

who have strayed to come back.

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone dedication of the statue of St. Joseph at

St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in San Francisco for the Year of St. Joseph

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I ask your intercession for all our Catholic brothers and sisters in knowing and appre-

ciating the value of the Eucharist. You had Jesus with you, may we yearn to be with

Jesus in the celebration of the Eucharist and receiving him in Holy Communion on a

regular basis. Help those who have strayed from our faith community to come back.

You cared for Jesus and Mary, may we care for those in our Archdiocese. So many are

without shelter, food, jobs and health care. You knew the plight of being an immigrant.

May our immigrants be granted a welcoming home. You remind us that those who

appear hidden or in the shadows bring about a rich society that is the Body of Christ.

These are troubled times for many in our Archdiocese, please ask the Holy Spirit to

bring peace and justice. May my parish and all others open avenues of healing.

St. Joseph, I know you hear the cries of our people, come and carry their needs to

Jesus.

St. Joseph, Patron of our Archdiocese, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Humble man, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Immigrant, hear my prayer

St. Joseph, Father of the Poor, hear my prayer

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

St. Joseph, Father and Protector of Jesus, pray for us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the begin-

ning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen+

More prayer opportunities:

Litany of St. Joseph — Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish

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Day 9

St. Joseph, Friend of the Sick and the Dying

Death of Joseph, St. Martin’s Florac, France

Centering Prayer: “Hymn to St. Joseph"

Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish Pilipino

Prayer:

St. Joseph, as Foster Father of Jesus and husband to Mary, you know the concerns of

taking care of a family. These days we are struggling to care for those who are sick and

dying-- some are in our own families and communities, and many throughout the

world. Many have no one with them in their illness and to hold them as they lay down

dying. My heart is breaking because of this but I know you are with them. I pray that

you carry them to the arms of Jesus.

I ask that you intercede for the sick and the dying. Help those who are dying to draw

close to Jesus at this time. I pray that they may know of the comfort of the sacraments.

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Send Jesus’ healing hand for those who are sick. Send the choir of angels to bring

those who die to the heavenly banquet.

St. Joseph, you know the power of forgiveness. You have seen how Jesus forgave the

thief on the cross and brought him into heaven. Bring your intercessions for those who

are dying today that they seek forgiveness. Please help me to forgive those who have

hurt me and help others to forgive me. St. Joseph, I am sure you took care of Mary and

Jesus when they were sick. I pray for your intercession for courage and strength to

caregivers. Help each one to personally feel the touch of Jesus in their lives so their

touch may bring healing.

St. Joseph, Patron of the Dying, pray for me

St. Joseph, Foster Father of the Eternal Judge, pray for me

St. Joseph, Patron of the Sick, pray for me

St. Joseph, Pope Francis’ Guide, pray for me

St. Joseph, Caretaker of Mary and Jesus, pray for me

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself as a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

St. Joseph, Father and Protector of Jesus, pray for us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the

beginning, is now and ever. Amen+

More prayer opportunities:

Litany of St. Joseph — Click preferred hyperlink: English Spanish