I have been wanting to publish this prayer on Save St. Mary's for a year now but didn't know where to find it. I finally learned today that it is in a prayer book that has been sitting on my shelf at home the whole time. The prayer book is not one that I personally have used all that often thus far. It was given to me by a very kind man and Knight of Columbus, a member of the Promoters of the Blessed Sacrament, about a year ago. It is the popular "Pieta" prayerbook published by the "MLOR" (Miraculous Lady of Roses) group. You can obtain this prayerbook at your local Catholic bookstore (locally you can get it at The Littlest Angel on Landis Avenue across from Sacred Heart Church in Vineland) or by calling MLOR at 269-731-4490.I am told that this is a very powerful prayer. In the book it says, "Say for nine consecutive mornings for anything you may desire. It has seldom been known to fail." So it may also be used as a novena. Following the prayer it gives a brief history:
This prayer was found in the fiftieth year of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In the 1500s it was sent by the pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Whoever reads this prayer or hears it or carries it will never die a sudden death, nor be drowned, nor will poison take effect on them. They will not fall into the hands of the enemy nor be burned in any fire, nor will they be defeated in battle. Make this prayer known everywhere. -Imprimatur Most Rev. Geourge W. Ahr, Bishop of TrentonWow, those are some very interesting promises. Considering the "poisons" with which the Catholic Christian faithful are now being fed and the battle we face, I think this is a prayer of which we should avail ourselves!
Coincidentally we are currently praying a novena to St. Joseph in our family--not this particular one, but now that I have it, we will pray this one. The reason I wanted to post this prayer is because it is very popular at St. Mary's Malaga. By "popular" I don't mean "trendy" or "superficial." I mean that there is a deeply personal, widespread devotion to St. Josph at St. Mary's, the likes of which I have not seen before. This prayer is prayed publicly after Mass, as part of Rosary prayers, after the Divine Mercy Chaplet, at special events and feasts, etc. We implore St. Joseph's powerful intercession as the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Foster Father of Jesus, as well as protector of the Universal Church to protect our own little corner of the Universal Church, St. Mary's. In this way, St. Joseph is so very dear to our hearts.
O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.St. Joseph, ora pro nobis!