St. Joseph, nursing-father of Jesus, has just as any other human being, been through difficult times. Let us remember the episode when he had to flee to Egypt with his family as King Herod, informed by the Magi of the birth of the King of Jews, had ordered that all infants two years old and under be killed. “Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him” (Matthew, 2:13).
Praying to St. Joseph can be effective when we are facing hard times such as a death, a job loss, a breakup… He can accompany us throughout these difficulties, introduce our impossible cases to God, ask Him to give us strength to endure the trials and to join us in the pain. Below is a prayer for impossible cases dedicated to St. Joseph and inspired by St. Francis de Sales.
Glorious St. Joseph, Spouse of Mary, grant us, we beseech you, through the Heart of Jesus Christ,grant to us your fatherly protection.
O you whose infinite power reaches out to all our necessities, and who knows how to make possible the most impossible things, open your fatherly eyes to the needs of your children. In the confusion and pain which press upon us, we have recourse to you with confidence.
Deign to take under thy loving protection this important and difficult endeavor, the cause of our worries, and make that its happy outcome serve the glory of God and the good of His devoted servants. Amen.
We often hear the expression “sleep on it” and then decide what to do! St. Joseph does exactly that! In the New Testament, God spoke to St. Joseph several times, while he was sleeping “...behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said..” (Mathew 1: 20). Recently, a popular devotion to “Sleeping St. Joseph” has developed. Even Pope Francis has a statue of “Sleeping St. Joseph”! Pope Francis regularly puts a list with petitions and problems under the statue asking St. Joseph to intervene and help solve impossible cases!
“O St. Joseph, you are a man greatly favored by the Most High. The angel of the Lord appeared to you in dreams, while you slept, to warn you and guide you as you cared for the Holy Family. You were both silent and strong, a loyal and courageous protetor. Dear St. Joseph, as you rest in the Lord, confident of his absolute power and goodness, look upon me. Please take my need into your heart, dream of it, and present it to your Son. Help me then, good St. Joseph, to hear the voice of God, to arise, and act with love. I praise and thank God with joy. St. Joseph, I love you. Amen.”
Each day, pray to St. Joseph with Hozana. Hozana offers a wide variety of prayers to St. Joseph, as well as an annual novena which takes place once a year, for May 1st, to pray in communion with thousands of worshippers. You can also get closer to Saint Rita de Cascia, Saint of impossible cases, and pray for her intercession.