Wednesday, July 3, 2019

A New-Old Litany

I recently came across this old Litany of St. Joseph. It was published in a Carmelite prayer book published in 1846.

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, spouse of St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Joseph, confirmed in grace, pray for us.
St. Joseph, guardian of the Word Incarnate, pray for us.
St. Joseph, favorite of the King of heaven, pray for us.
St. Joseph, ruler of the family of Jesus, pray for us.
St. Joseph, spouse of the ever-blessed virgin, pray for us.
St. Joseph, example of humility and obedience, pray for us.
St. Joseph, mirror of silence and resignation, pray for us.
St. Joseph, patron of innocence and youth, pray for us.
St. Joseph, exiled with Christ into Egypt, pray for us.
St. Joseph, intercessor for the afflicted, pray for us.
St. Joseph, advocate of the humble, pray for us.
St. Joseph, model of every virtue, pray for us.
St. Joseph, honored among men, pray for us.
St. Joseph, union of all Christian perfections, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
     spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
     graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
     have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O holy St. Joseph,
     that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,
Holy St. Joseph, who is the good and faithful servant, to whom God committed the care of his family and to whom He appointed guardian and protector of the life of Jesus Christ, the comfort and support of His holy mother, and co-partner in His great design of the redemption of mankind.

You Who have the happiness of living with Jesus and Mary, and of dying in their arms; chaste spouse of the mother of God; model and patron of pure souls; humble, patient, and reserved; be moved with the confidence we place in your intercession, and accept with kindness this testimony of our devotion.

We give thanks to God for the signal favors He was pleased to confer on you, and we implore Him to make us imitate your virtues by your intercession.

Pray for us then, O great saint, and by that love, which you had for Jesus and Mary, and by the love which Jesus and Mary had for you, obtain for us the incomparable happiness of living and dying in the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen.

(I revised a bit of the final prayer to be more "modern English" so to say...)

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