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Office of Readings

We remind those of our users who may wish to incorporate a prayer to Saint Joseph in other prayers throughout the day that several prayers and the litany may be found in the Prayers section of the iBreviary. The rite for the blessing of the “Saint Joseph’s Table” for use by priests, deacons and laypersons may be found under the Short Blessings tab in the Rites section. In addition, prayers today may be offered for the Holy Father Francis, on the liturgical anniversary of his Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry as Bishop of Rome. Suggestions for such prayers may also be found in the Prayers section


INVITATORY

The Invitatory is said when this is the first ‘hour’ of the day.

Go to the Hymn

Go to the Psalmody

Lord, + open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

The antiphon is repeated. In individual recitation, the antiphon may be said only at the beginning of the psalm; it need not be repeated after each strophe.

Psalm 24

Psalm 67

Psalm 100

Psalm 95
A call to praise God


Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).

Come, let us sing to the Lord *
  and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
  and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
  the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
  and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
  the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship, *
  bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
  the flock he shepherds.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
  in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
  they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
  and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
  “They shall not enter into my rest.”

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:

God, + come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

HYMN

Alternate Hymn

Singing with gladness, we the faithful honor
Joseph, resplendent in exalted triumphs:
he was found worthy on this day to enter
   joys everlasting.

O Blessed Joseph! O how greatly favored!
Christ and the Virgin cared for him together;
as he lay dying, they kept loving vigil,
   gazing serenely.

Righteous and noble, freed from earthly bondage,
in peaceful slumber, he traversed the threshold
of heaven’s dwelling, where he wears for ever
   bright, golden laurels.

So let us beg him, reigning in the Kingdom:
May he draw near us seeking God’s forgiveness
for all our failings, gaining from his bounty
   peace everlasting.

Honor, rejoicing, praise to you, and glory,
God, One and Triune, reigning through all ages,
who grant your servant, good and faithful Joseph,
   crowns fair and golden. Amen.

Tune: CHRITSE SANCTORUM, 11 11 11 5
Music: from François de La Feillée’s Methode el plain-chant, 1782
or Mode VIII, melody 94; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Iste, quem læti colimus, fideles, Girolamo Casanate, 1620-1700, © 2023 ICEL

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; she will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

Psalm 21:2-8, 14
Thanksgiving for the king’s victory


He accepted life that he might rise and live for ever (Saint Hilary).

O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king; *
how your saving help makes him glad!
You have granted him his heart’s desire; *
you have not refused the prayer of his lips.

You came to meet him with the blessings of success, *
you have set on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked you for life and this you have given, *
days that will last from age to age.

Your saving help has given him glory. *
You have laid upon him majesty and splendor,
you have granted your blessings to him for ever. *
You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.

The king has put his trust in the Lord: *
through the mercy of the Most High he shall stand firm.
O Lord, arise in your strength; *
we shall sing and praise your power.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Father, you have given us life on this earth and have met us with the grace of redemption. Bestow your greatest blessing on us, the fullness of eternal life.

Ant. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; she will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

Ant. 2 When he awoke Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had directed him, and took Mary as his wife.

Psalm 92
Praise of God the Creator


Sing in praise of Christ’s redeeming work (Saint Athanasius).

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, *
to make music to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your love in the morning *
and your truth in the watches of the night,
on the ten-stringed lyre and the lute, *
with the murmuring sound of the harp.

Your deeds, O Lord, have made me glad; *
for the work of your hands I shout with joy.
O Lord, how great are your works! *
How deep are your designs!
The foolish man cannot know this *
and the fool cannot understand.

Though the wicked spring up like grass *
and all who do evil thrive:
they are doomed to be eternally destroyed. *
But you, Lord, are eternally on high.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. When he awoke Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had directed him, and took Mary as his wife.

Ant. 3 Joseph left Nazareth and set out for the town of David called Bethlehem to register with Mary.

II

See how your enemies perish; *
all doers of evil are scattered.

To me you give the wild-ox’s strength; *
you anoint me with the purest oil.
My eyes looked in triumph on my foes; *
my ears heard gladly of their fall.
The just will flourish like the palm-tree *
and grow like a Lebanon cedar.

Planted in the house of the Lord *
they will flourish in the courts of our God,
still bearing fruit when they are old, *
still full of sap, still green,
to proclaim that the Lord is just; *
in him, my rock, there is no wrong.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Take our shame away from us, Lord, and make us rejoice in your saving works. May all who have been chosen by your Son always abound in works of faith, hope, and love in your service.

Ant. Joseph left Nazareth and set out for the town of David called Bethlehem to register with Mary.

The just man shall blossom like the lily.
He shall flourish for ever in the courts of our God.

READINGS

FIRST READING

From the letter to the Hebrews
11:1-16

The faith of the ancients


Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see. Because of faith the men of old were approved by God. Through faith we perceive that the worlds were created by the word of God, and that what is visible came into being through the invisible.

By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice greater than Cain’s. Because of this he was attested to be just, God himself having borne witness to him on account of his gifts; therefore, although Abel is dead, he still speaks.

By faith Enoch was taken away without dying, and “he was seen no more because God took him.” Scripture testifies that, before he was taken up, he was pleasing to God—but without faith, it is impossible to please him. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who seek him.

By faith Noah, warned about things not yet seen, revered God and built an ark that his household might be saved. He thereby condemned the world and inherited the justice which comes through faith.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called, and went forth to the place he was to receive as a heritage; he went forth, moreover, not knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose designer and maker is God.

By faith Sarah received power to conceive though she was past the age, for she thought that the One who had made the promise was worthy of trust. As a result of this faith, there came forth from one man, who was himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands of the seashore.

All of these died in faith. They did not obtain what had been promised but saw and saluted it from afar. By acknowledging themselves to be strangers and foreigners on the earth, they showed that they were seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking back to the place from which they had come, they would have had the opportunity of returning there. But they were searching for a better, a heavenly home. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

RESPONSORY
Romans 4:20, 22; James 2:22


He never doubted God’s promise
but was strengthened in his faith
and gave glory to God.
Therefore through faith he was counted as justified.

Faith was at work in his deeds,
and by his deeds his faith became perfect.
Therefore through faith he was counted as justified.

SECOND READING

From a sermon by Saint Bernadine of Siena, priest
(Sermo 2, de S. Joseph: Opera 7, 16. 27-30)

The faithful foster-father and guardian


There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand.

This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.

What then is Joseph’s position in the whole Church of Christ? Is he not a man chosen and set apart? Through him and, yes, under him, Christ was fittingly and honorably introduced into the world. Holy Church in its entirety is indebted to the Virgin Mother because through her it was judged worthy to receive Christ. But after her we undoubtedly owe special gratitude and reverence to Saint Joseph.

In him the Old Testament finds its fitting close. He brought the noble line of patriarchs and prophets to its promised fulfillment. What the divine goodness had offered as a promise to them, he held in his arms.

Obviously, Christ does not now deny to Joseph that intimacy, reverence and very high honor which he gave him on earth, as a son to his father. Rather we must say that in heaven Christ completes and perfects all that he gave at Nazareth.

Now we can see how the last summoning words of the Lord appropriately apply to Saint Joseph: Enter into the joy of your Lord. In fact, although the joy of eternal happiness enters into the soul of a man, the Lord preferred to say to Joseph: Enter into joy. His intention was that the words should have a hidden spiritual meaning for us. They convey not only that this holy man possesses an inward joy, but also that it surrounds him and engulfs him like an infinite abyss.

Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster-child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.

RESPONSORY
Genesis 45:8; 50:20; Sirach 51:2


God has made me a father to the king
and master of all his household.
He has raised me up,
that he might save many people.

The Lord is my helper and protector;
he is my savior.
He has raised me up,
that he might save many people.


Those who wish to extend the celebration of the vigil of the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, according to tradition, first celebrate the Office of Readings. After both readings and before the Te Deum, they may add canticles and a gospel reading. Afterward the Te Deum is sung, the prayer is said, and the hour is concluded as in the Ordinary.

Optional Vigil


TE DEUM

You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
   Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
   heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
   Father, of majesty unbounded,
   your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
   and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free
you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

℣. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
℟. Govern and uphold them now and always.
℣. Day by day we bless you.
℟. We praise your name for ever.
℣. Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
℣. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
℟. for we put our trust in you.
℣. In you, Lord, is our hope:
℟. and we shall never hope in vain.

The concluding part of the hymn may be omitted.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Father,
you entrusted our Savior to the care of Saint Joseph.
By the help of his prayers
may your Church continue to serve its Lord, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Or:

Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that by Saint Joseph’s intercession
your Church may constantly watch over
the unfolding of the mysteries of human salvation,
whose beginnings you entrusted to his faithful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

ACCLAMATION

Let us praise the Lord.
And give him thanks.

******

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Psalm 24
The Lord’s entry into his temple


Christ opened heaven for us in the manhood he assumed (Saint Irenaeus).

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, *
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas; *
on the waters he made it firm.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? *
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things, *
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

He shall receive blessings from the Lord *
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him, *
seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Who is the king of glory?
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Who is he, the king of glory?
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Continue with the Hymn

Psalm 67
People of all nations will worship the Lord


You must know that God is offering his salvation to all the world (Acts 28:28).

O God, be gracious and bless us *
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth *
and all nations learn your saving help.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Let the nations be glad and exult *
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples, *
you guide the nations on earth.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

The earth has yielded its fruit *
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing *
till the ends of the earth revere him.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Continue with the Hymn

Psalm 100
The joyful song of those entering God’s temple


The Lord calls his ransomed people to sing songs of victory (Saint Athanasius).

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness. *
Come before him, singing for joy.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Let us praise Christ the Lord as we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph.

Continue with the Hymn


Great Saint Joseph, son of David,
Foster-father of our Lord,
Spouse of Mary, ever virgin,
Keeping o’er them watch and ward:
In the stable thou didst guard them
With a father’s loving care;
Thou by God’s command didst save them
From the cruel Herod’s snare.

Three long days, in grief, in anguish,
With that mother sweet and mild,
Mary Virgin, didst thou wander,
Seeking her beloved Child.
In the temple thou didst find Him:
Oh, what joy then filled thy heart!
In thy sorrows, in thy gladness,
Grant us, Joseph, to have part.

Clasped in Jesus’ arms and Mary’s,
When death gently came at last,
Thy pure spirit, sweetly sighing,
From its earthly dwelling passed.
Dear Saint Joseph, by that passing
May our death be like to thine,
And with Jesus, Mary, Joseph,
May our souls forever shine.

Tune: Hyfrydol 87.87 D
Music: Rowland H. Pritchard, 1811-1877
Text: Slovak
Translation: Louis C. Casartelli

Continue with the Psalmody


OPTIONAL VIGIL

CANTICLES

Ant. The man who is faithful shall be praised greatly; he who watches over his Lord shall be glorified.

Canticle I: Jeremiah 17:7-8
Blessed are those who hope in the Lord


Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it (Luke 11:28).

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, *
whose hope is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted beside the waters *
that stretches out its roots to the stream:

It fears not the heat when it comes, *
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress, *
but still bears fruit

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Canticle II: Sirach 14:20; 15:3-52, 6b
The happiness of the wise man


Wisdom is justified by her children (Luke 7:35).

Happy the man who meditates on wisdom, *
and reflects on knowledge;

She will nourish him with the bread of understanding, *
and give him the water of learning to drink.

He will lean upon her and not fall, *
he will trust in her and not be put to shame.

She will exalt him above his fellows; *
and he will inherit an everlasting name.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Canticle III: Sirach 31:8-11
Blessed are those who do not seek after gold


Make for yourselves a never-failing treasure in heaven (Luke 12:33).

Happy the rich man found without fault, *
who turns not aside after gain!

Who is he, that we may praise him? *
he, of all his kindred, has done wonders,
for he has been tested by gold and come off safe, *
and this remains his glory.

He could have sinned but did not, *
 could have done evil but would not,
So that his possessions are secure, *
and the assembly recounts his praises.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. The man who is faithful shall be praised greatly; he who watches over his Lord shall be glorified.

THE HOLY GOSPEL

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
1:16, 18-21, 24a

Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him


Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
   but before they lived together,
   she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
   yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
   decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
   the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
   “Joseph, son of David,
   do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
   that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
   because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke,
   he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
   and took his wife into his home.

Or:

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
2:41-51a

Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety


Each year parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
   and when he was twelve years old,
   they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
   the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
   but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
   they journeyed for a day
   and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
   but not finding him,
   they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
   sitting in the midst of the teachers,
   listening to them and asking them questions,
   and all who heard him were astounded
   at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
   they were astonished,
   and his mother said to him,
   “Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
   “Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
  and was obedient to them.

A homily on the Gospel may be given.

Te Deum

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