prayer to st. joseph (for priests)

O blessed Joseph, happy man whose privilege it was, not only to see and hear that God whom many a king has longed to see, yet saw not, longed to hear, yet heard not; but also to carry him in your arms and kiss him, to clothe him and watch over him!

℣. Pray for us, blessed Joseph.

℟. 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 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 arms 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 fit us to win an everlasting reward in the world to come;

Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.