Updated: September 7, 2006

Table of Contents:
Prayers are both in English and Latin; corresponding prayers in each language match by the number preceding each prayer’s title. Two or more versions of the same prayer in a given language are indicated by letters (a., b., etc.)

English Prayers
1. Prayer to St. Joseph (Leo XIII)
2. Litany of St. Joseph
3. Prayer to St. Joseph before Mass
4. Prayer to St. Joseph after Mass
5. Prayer for St. Joseph’s intercession

Latin Prayers
1. Ad te, beate Ioseph
2. Litaniae Sancti Ioseph
3. Preces ad sanctum Ioseph ante Missam
4. Oratio ad Sanctum Ioseph Post Missam
5. Oratio ad Sanctum Ioseph

Notes

ENGLISH PRAYERS
(Latin prayers follow, below)

1. PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH (Latin version)

a. Shorter version found in the Handbook of Indulgences.

Blessed Joseph, husband of Mary, be with us this day.
You protected and cherished the Virgin;
loving the Child Jesus as your Son,
you rescued him from danger of death.
Defend the Church, the household of God,
purchased by the blood of Christ.
Guardian of the holy family,
be with us in our trials.
May your prayers obtain for us
the strength to flee from error
and wrestle with the powers of corruption
so that in life we may grow in holiness
and in death rejoice in the crown of victory.
Amen.
A partial indulgence. HI, n. 6, p. 43.

b. Longer version found in the Manual of Prayers.
(Prescribed prayer after the recitation of the Rosary during October; cf. Quamquam Pluries, Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, August 15, 1889)

To you, O blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our afflictions, and, having implored the help of your holy Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence earnestly beg you also to take us under your protection. By that charity wherewith you were united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly love with which you cherished the Child Jesus, we beseech you and we humbly pray that you will look down with gracious eyes upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchase by His blood, and will succor us in our need by your power and strength. Defend, o most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen offspring of Jesus Christ. Keep from us, O most loving Father, all blight of error and corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in this conflict with the powers of darkness. And even as of old you rescued the Child Jesus from the peril of His life, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and form all adversity. Shield us ever under your patronage, that, following your example and strengthened by your help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and attain to everlasting bliss in heaven.
Amen.

2. LITANY OF ST. JOSEPH (Latin version)
V. Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy.
V. Christ, have mercy.
R. Christ, have mercy.
V. Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy.
V. God our Father in Heaven,
R. have mercy on us.
V. God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
R. have mercy on us.
V. God the Holy Spirit,
R. have mercy on us.
V. Holy Trinity, One God,
R. have mercy on us.
(R. for ff: pray for us.)
Holy Mary,
Saint Joseph,
Noble son of the House of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Husband of the Mother of God,
Guardian of the Virgin,
Foster father of the Son of God,
Faithful guardian of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph, chaste and just,
Joseph, prudent and brave,
Joseph, obedient and loyal,
Pattern of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of workers,
Example to parents,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of family life,
Comfort of the troubled,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of evil spirits,
Protector of the Church,
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
R. have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
R. have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
R. have mercy on us.
V. God made him master of his household,
R. And put him in charge of all that he owned.
Let us pray:
Almighty God,
in your infinite wisdom and love
You chose St. Joseph to be the husband of Mary,
the mother of your Son.
As we enjoy his protection on earth
may we have help of his prayers in heaven.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
(EI, n. 29, p. 66)

3. PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH BEFORE MASS (Latin version)
O Blessed Joseph, happy man, to whom it was given not only to see and to hear that God whom many a king longed to see, yet saw not, to hear, yet heard not; but also to carry him in your arms and to kiss him, to clothe him and to watch over him.
V. Pray for us, blessed Joseph.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
God, Who has conferred upon us a royal priesthood, we pray to you to give us grace to minister at your holy altars with hearts as clean and lives as blameless as that blessed Joseph who was found worthy to hold in his arm and with all reverence to carry your only begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary. Enable us this day to receive worthily the sacred Body and Blood of your Son, and help us to win an everlasting reward in the world to come. Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
(MP, p. 10-11; Note: this prayer was formerly in the Missal for priests to prepare for Mass, but was removed from the later Missals after the post-Vatican II reforms.)

4. PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH AFTER MASS (Latin version)
Saint Joseph, father and guardian of virgins, to whose faithful keeping Christ Jesus, innocence itself, and Mary, the virgin of virgins, were entrusted, I pray and beseech you by that twofold and most precious charge, by Jesus and Mary, to save me from all uncleanness, to keep my mind untainted, my heart pure, and my body chaste; and to help me always to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity.
Amen.
(MP, p. 29; Note: this prayer was formerly in the Missal for priests for thanksgiving after Mass, but was removed from the later Missals after the post-Vatican II reforms.)

5. PRAYER FOR ST. JOSEPH'S INTERCESSION (Latin version)
O God, who in your unspeakable providence chose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother, grant, we beseech you, that we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, whom we venerate on earth as our protector. Who lives and reigns world without end.
Amen.
(MP, p. 212; derived from the Collect of the Votive Mass of St. Joseph from the Roman Missal)

LATIN PRAYERS

1. AD TE, BEATE JOSEPH (English version)
Ad te, beáte Ioseph, in tribulatióne nostra confúgimus, atque, imploráto Sponsae tuae sanctíssimae auxílio, patrocínium quoque tuum fidénter expóscimus. Per eam, quaésumus, quae te cum immaculáta Vírgine Dei Genetríce coniúnxit, caritátem, perque patérnum, quo Púerum Iesum ampléxus es, amórem, súpplices deprecámur, ut ad hereditátem, quam Iesus Christus acquisívit Sánguine suo, benignus respícias, ac necessitátibus nostris tua virtúte et ope succúrras. Túere, o Custos providentíssime divínae Famíliae, Iesu Christi sobólem eléctam; prohíbe a nobis, amantíssime Pater, omnem errórum ac corruptelárum luem; propítius nobis, sospitátor noster fortíssime, in hoc cum potestáte tenebrárum certámine e caelo adésto; et sicut olim Púerum Iesum e summo eripuísti vitae discrímine, ita nunc Ecclesiam sanctam Dei ab hostílibus insídiis atque ab omni adversitáte defende: nosque síngulos perpétuo tege patrocinio, ut ad tui exémplar et ope tua suffúlti, sancte vívere, pie emóri sempiternámque in caelis beatitúdinem ássequi póssimus. Amen.
EI, 19, p. 66. Cf. EI of 1986, conc. 6; vide infra conc. 22, 2-3.

2. LITANIAE SANCTI IOSEPH (English version)
Kyrie, eleison.
R. Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
R. Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
R. Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, audi nos.
R. Christe, audi nos.
Christe, exaudi nos.
R. Christe, exaudi nos.
Pater de caelis, Deus,
R. miserere nobis.
Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus,
R. miserere nobis.
Spiritus Sancte Deus,
R. miserere nobis.
Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus,
R. miserere nobis.
(R. for ff.: ora pro nobis.)
Sancta Maria,
Sancte Ioseph,
Proles David inclyta,
Lumen Patriarcharum,
Dei Genetricis Sponse,
Custos pudice Virginis,
Filii Dei nutricie,
Christi defensor sedule,
Almae Familiae praeses,
Ioseph iustissime,
Ioseph castissime,
Ioseph prudentissime,
Ioseph fortissime,
Ioseph obedientissime,
Ioseph fidelissime,
Speculum patientiae,
Amator paupertatis,
Exemplar opificum,
Domesticae vitae decus,
Custos virginum,
Familiarum columen,
Solatium miserorum,
Spes aegrotantium,
Patrone morientium,
Terror daemonum,
Protector sanctae Ecclesiae,
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. parce nobis, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. exaudi nobis, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. miserere nobis.
V. Constituit eum dominum domus suae.
R. Et principem omnis possessionis suae.
Oremus
Deus, qui in ineffabili providentia beatum Ioseph sanctissimae Genetricis tuae Sponsum eligere dignatus es, praesta, quaesumus, ut quem protectorem veneramur in terris, intercessorem habere mereamur in caelis: Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum.
R. Amen.
(MP, p.122-124)

3. PRECES AD SANCTUM IOSEPH ANTE MISSAM (English version)
O Felicem virum, beatum Ioseph, cui datum est Deum, quem multi reges voluerunt videre et non viderunt, audire et non audierunt, non solum videre et audire, sed portare, deosculari, vestire et custodire!
V. Ora pro nobis, beate Ioseph.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
DEUS, qui dedisti nobis regale sacerdotium: praesta, quaesumus; ut, sicut beatus Ioseph unigenitum Filium tuum, natum ex Maria Virgine, suis manibus reverenter tractare meruit et portare, ita nos facias cum cordis munditia et operis innocentia tuis sanctis altaribus deservire, ut sacrosanctum Filii tui Corpus et Sanguinem hodie digne sumamus, et in futuro saeculo praemium habere mereamur aeternum. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
(MP, p. 11; Note: this prayer was formerly in the Missal for priests to prepare for Mass, but was removed from the later Missals after the post-Vatican II reforms.)

4. ORATIO AD SANCTUM IOSEPH POST MISSAM (English version)
Virginum Custos et Pater, sancte Ioseph, cuius fideli custodiae ipsa Innocentia, Christus Iesus, et Virgo virginum Maria commissa fuit, te per hoc utrumque carissimum pignus Iesum et Mariam obsecro et obtestor ut me ab omni immunditia praeservatusm, mente incontaminata, puro corde et casto corpre Iesu et Mariae simper facias castissime famulari. Amen.
(MP, p. 29; Note: this prayer was formerly in the Missal for priests for thanksgiving after Mass, but was removed from the later Missals after the post-Vatican II reforms.)

5. ORATIO AD SANCTUM IOSEPH (English version)
Deus, Qui ineffabile providentia
beatum Joseph sanctissimae Genitricis Filii tui sponsum
eligere dignatus es,
praesta, quaesumus,
ut quem protectorem veneramur in terris,
intercessorem habere mereamur in caelis.
Amen.
(MR, p. 1180, Collect of the Votive Mass of St. Joseph)

NOTES
1. Choice of texts.
Those texts which appear in the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, or The Handbook of Indulgences, are considered authoritative and have been preferred for this reason to other texts which may be objectively better from the point of view of quality of the translation from the Latin.

There are deficiencies of the English translations. Ending the Litany of St. Joseph with three have mercy on us responses, instead of the usual spare us O Lord; graciously hear us O Lord; have mercy on us, comes straight from the English edition. Other imperfections are more heinous, such as the English “Example of Parents” which in this same Litany stands to render “Glory of domestic life” (Domesticae vitae decus).
But the authoritative edition rules.

2. Bibliography.
The abbreviations of sources above can be understood with the following table:
EI Apostolic Penitentiary. Enchiridion Indulgentiarum: Normae et Concessiones. 4th ed. Libreria Editrice Vaticana (Rome), 1999. pp. 127. See note n. 3, below.
HI Apostolic Penitentiary. The Handbook of Indulgences: Norms and Grants. 3rd ed. Catholic Book Publishing Company (New York), 1991. pp. 128. See note n. 3, below.
MP Rev. James D. Watkins, ed. Manual of Prayers. 3rd ed. Pontifical North American College (Rome).1998. pp.424. (American printing: Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago).
MR Missale Romanum. Editio Typica Tertia. Typis Vaticanis. 2002.

3. On Editions of The Handbook of Indulgences, or the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum
The source cited above, The Handbook of Indulgences, from 1991, is the official translation of the third Edition, whereas the fourth from 1999 is now official.

Regrettably, there is no English translation of the fourth edition, which is substantially different; for example, there are only three general grants in the 1991 edition (generally stated, partial indulgences for prayer, almsgiving and fasting), whereas the 1999 4th edition adds a fourth general grant for a partial indulgence, apostolate or the open witness of faith to others.
This is important, because indulgences are granted by the Church under conditions, and its law in this respect requires strict observance. Logically speaking, one should suppose that practically none of the faithful in the English speaking world know of the fourth indulgence, to the great loss of souls on earth and in purgatory.

There are also other differences between the 3rd and 4th editions, as well as between the Latin and English editions, for example, compare the “Ad te, beati Joseph” in the Latin and the English; note that both were copied from the official sources.

There have been four editions of this handbook, 1968, 1968 again, 1986 and 1999. The year “1991” cited above refers not to an edition, but to the copyright of the book containing the official English translation.

4. Work in progress.
More prayers will be added to this collection. They will come from the sources already cited, from the Raccolta, and other trustworthy publications. Please come back for updates and additions!