Prayers of Devotion and Consecration to Saint Joseph

Introduction

In the early Church, devotion among Catholic faithful's to St. Joseph was not widespread. While neither was it unknown, it took centuries for the Catholic Church to extend its understanding of St. Joseph’s role in the process of salvation. In the 16th century, popular devotion to St. Joseph flourished when St. Teresa of Avila became one of his greatest champions (O’Connell, 2005). Prominent figures in the Catholic Church also spoke highly of Joseph, chief among them, St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom.

Moreover, according to O’Connell, Venerable Pius IX during the 19th century declared St. Joseph to be the Patron of the Universal Church. By doing so, the Supreme Pontiff acknowledged that God had put the Holy Patriarch in charge of His household, the Church. Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of St. Joseph the Worker in 1955. It could be said that the apex of the veneration of Joseph came in the early 1960’s when Pope John XXIII inserted Joseph’s name into the Roman Canon of the Mass. However, after the Second Vatican Council devotion to Joseph waned. Today though there are signs of a revival of popular devotion to Joseph. 

Persons in the Holy Family

According to Vidko (2004), the hierarchy of persons in the Holy Family includes: Our Lord Jesus had first place, Mary second, and St. Joseph third. But according to hierarchy of authority, St. Joseph as lawful husband and father of the family had first place, Mary second, and Jesus Christ, Child of Mary and foster son of St. Joseph, third place.

O’Connell further stated that the Gospel served as the foundation for the devotion and theology of Joseph. According to him, God communicated to Joseph in dreams as He did to St. Joseph. Providence arranged that the Pharaoh placed Joseph over of his household; God put St. Joseph in charge of the Holy Family. Joseph brought the Israelites to Egypt in time of famine; St. Joseph brought the Holy Family to Egypt to escape Herod’s Deicidal designs.