Prayer to St. Joseph: Leo XIII, the Litany and Prayers for Every Need
Go to Joseph: the Church's classic prayers to the guardian of Jesus and Mary
The best-known prayer to St. Joseph is Pope Leo XIII's "To thee, O blessed Joseph", written in 1889 to be prayed after the Rosary in October, which asks Joseph to protect the Church and each of us "from the snares of the enemy". Catholics also pray the Litany of St. Joseph, the Memorare to St. Joseph, the much-shared "prayer that never fails", Pope Francis's prayer from Patris corde, and short prayers for a happy death.
This page gives you each of them in full, with where it comes from, what is legend and what is fact, and when to pray it. If you need work, our novena for a job to St. Joseph the Worker is the page for you. Everything else you need to pray to Joseph is below. Pick one prayer and make it part of every day, starting tonight.
To Thee, O Blessed Joseph: The Prayer After the Rosary
Prayer to St. Joseph (Pope Leo XIII)
To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we have recourse in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy thrice-holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. Through that charity which bound thee to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities. O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness. As once thou rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.
Pope Leo XIII, from the encyclical Quamquam pluries (15 August 1889). English wording varies slightly between prayer books.
Leo XIII wrote this prayer in a time of open hostility to the Church in Europe, and asked that it be added to the Rosary throughout October, the month of the Rosary. Many families and parishes now pray it after the Rosary all year. It asks three things: that Joseph guard the Church as he guarded the Child, that he fight with us "in our struggle with the power of darkness", and that he help each of us "to live piously, to die in holiness".
If you only learn one prayer to St. Joseph, learn this one. It covers the Church, your family and your own death in a single breath.
Why Pray to St. Joseph?
Catholics pray to St. Joseph because God the Father entrusted his Son and the Virgin Mary to Joseph's care, and the Church trusts him with ours. He is the Patron of the Universal Church, declared by Blessed Pius IX in 1870, and the patron of fathers, families, workers, the dying and a happy death.
The Gospels never record a word he said. They record what he did: he took Mary into his home (Matthew 1:24), got up in the night and fled to Egypt with the Child (Matthew 2:14), and brought the family home when it was safe (Matthew 2:21). St. Teresa of Avila wrote in her autobiography that she could not recall ever asking him for something he failed to obtain, and urged anyone who doubted it to try for themselves. The old saying applies Pharaoh's words to him: "Go to Joseph" (Genesis 41:55).
Catholics ask Joseph to pray for them and worship God alone. For his life and why the Litany calls him "Terror of demons", see our profile of St. Joseph.
The St. Joseph Prayer "That Never Fails"
"O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great"
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, 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 of 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 me. Amen.
A popular traditional prayer. Wording varies.
This is the prayer most often shared as "the St. Joseph prayer that never fails". Printed copies usually add a legend: that it was found in the first century, or sent by a pope to an emperor going into battle, and that anyone who reads it, hears it or carries it will never die suddenly, drown or be poisoned. There is no historical evidence for any of that, and the promises belong to the chain letter, which carries no Church authority.
The prayer itself is lovely, especially its ending, and you can pray it with a clear conscience. Pray it for what it is: a child's trust in a father, asking him to bring us to Jesus at the hour of death. God answers prayer freely, and no form of words can bind him.
Prayers to St. Joseph for Protection of the Family
Prayer to St. Joseph (Pope Francis, Patris corde)
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.
Pope Francis, apostolic letter Patris corde (8 December 2020), written for the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph's proclamation as Patron of the Universal Church.
A prayer for the protection of my family
St. Joseph, you woke in the night and carried Jesus and Mary to safety. Watch over my home tonight. Guard my children from every danger to body and soul, keep my marriage faithful, and give whoever leads this family your courage and your gentleness. Where I am failing, step in. Where we are afraid, stand at the door. Bring us all, one day, to the home you share with Jesus and Mary. Amen.
Original prayer by Catholic/Christian. "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt" (Matthew 2:13).
For a broader set of prayers for home and family, see our pages of Catholic prayers for protection and prayers for men.
Prayers to St. Joseph for a Happy Death
St. Joseph is the patron of a happy death because, by long tradition, he died in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Scripture is silent on his death, but he is absent from the Gospels by the time of Jesus' public ministry, and the Church has always pictured his end as the death every Christian should want: at peace, in grace, with Jesus and Mary beside him.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. Amen.
Traditional aspirations, long indulgenced and taught for the hour of death.
Pray these three lines every night, and teach them to anyone who is seriously ill. They are short enough to say when nothing longer is possible. At a bedside, our page of prayers for the sick and dying has more, and call a priest for the sacraments while the person can still receive them.
The Litany of St. Joseph
The Litany of St. Joseph was approved for public use by Pope St. Pius X in 1909, and in 2021 Pope Francis added seven new invocations. Pray it on Wednesdays, through March and before his feasts. After each invocation of St. Joseph, the response is "pray for us".
The Litany of St. Joseph
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us. St. Joseph, pray for us. Renowned offspring of David, Light of Patriarchs, Spouse of the Mother of God, Guardian of the Redeemer, Chaste guardian of the Virgin, Foster father of the Son of God, Diligent protector of Christ, Servant of Christ, Minister of salvation, Head of the Holy Family, Joseph most just, Joseph most chaste, Joseph most prudent, Joseph most strong, Joseph most obedient, Joseph most faithful, Mirror of patience, Lover of poverty, Model of workmen, Glory of home life, Guardian of virgins, Pillar of families, Support in difficulties, Solace of the wretched, Hope of the sick, Patron of exiles, Patron of the afflicted, Patron of the poor, Patron of the dying, Terror of demons, Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. He made him the lord of his household, and prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray. O God, who in your inexpressible providence were pleased to choose blessed Joseph as spouse of the most holy Mother of your Son, grant, we pray, that we, who revere him as our protector on earth, may be worthy of his heavenly intercession. Who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
Approved 1909; new invocations added 2021 (Guardian of the Redeemer, Servant of Christ, Minister of salvation, Support in difficulties, Patron of exiles, Patron of the afflicted, Patron of the poor). The versicle is from Psalm 105:21. English translations vary.
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Get Pro. $49 once. One-time payment. No recurring charge. 30-day money-back guarantee.The Memorare to St. Joseph
The Memorare to St. Joseph is modelled on the Marian Memorare and begins, "Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession was left unassisted." It is the prayer to reach for in an urgent need. You will find its full text, alongside the original Memorare and Mother Teresa's "flying novena", on our page about the Memorare prayer.
When and How to Pray to St. Joseph
Pray to St. Joseph every day if you can, and especially on Wednesdays, through the month of March, and on his two feasts: the Solemnity of St. Joseph on 19 March and St. Joseph the Worker on 1 May.
- Every night: "To thee, O blessed Joseph" or the three "Jesus, Mary and Joseph" aspirations.
- Every Wednesday: the Litany of St. Joseph.
- Before 19 March: a novena from 10 to 18 March, or the 33-day consecration to St. Joseph, which starts on 15 February in 2027.
- For a job: the novena for a job with the Pius X prayer to St. Joseph the Worker.
- The sleeping St. Joseph: Pope Francis told families in Manila in 2015 that he keeps a statue of St. Joseph sleeping and slips notes with his problems under it, so that Joseph can "dream" about them, as he dreamed the angel's message in Matthew 1:20. It is a sweet custom and a lesson in handing things over.
Make St. Joseph Part of Every Day
A prayer to St. Joseph helps you when you actually pray it, so go to him daily, in small things, before the crisis comes. Write "To thee, O blessed Joseph" on a card and keep it by your bed. Pray it tonight, tomorrow and every night this week. By Sunday it will be yours.
Then go further. If you are a father, ask Joseph each morning for one virtue you lack: patience, courage, chastity, diligence. If you are single, ask him to guard your heart and lead you to your vocation. If you are grieving, ask the man who knew exile and loss to sit with you. He was trusted with the Son of God. He can be trusted with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the prayer to St. Joseph after the Rosary?
It is Pope Leo XIII's prayer "To thee, O blessed Joseph", from his 1889 encyclical Quamquam pluries. He asked that it be added to the Rosary in October, and many Catholics pray it after the Rosary all year. It asks Joseph to protect the Church and each of us and to help us live piously and die in holiness.
Is the St. Joseph prayer that never fails real?
The prayer "O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great" is a real traditional prayer and good to pray. The legends often attached to it, that it was found in the first century or that whoever carries it will never die suddenly, have no historical basis and no Church authority. God answers prayer freely, and no form of words can guarantee a result.
What is St. Joseph the patron saint of?
St. Joseph is the Patron of the Universal Church, declared by Blessed Pius IX in 1870, and the patron of fathers, families, workers, the dying and a happy death. The Litany also calls him Terror of demons, Pillar of families and Patron of exiles, the afflicted and the poor.
What day of the week is dedicated to St. Joseph?
Wednesday is traditionally dedicated to St. Joseph, and the whole month of March is his. His feasts are the Solemnity of St. Joseph on 19 March and St. Joseph the Worker on 1 May.
Can I pray to St. Joseph for a job?
Yes. St. Joseph the Worker, the carpenter of Nazareth, is the patron of workers and is widely invoked by people looking for work. Pope St. Pius X's prayer to St. Joseph the Worker and a nine-day novena for a job are on our novena for a job page.
Why is St. Joseph the patron of a happy death?
By long tradition St. Joseph died in the arms of Jesus and Mary, the death every Christian hopes for. Catholics ask him to be with them at the hour of death and pray the aspirations "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony."
To live piously, to die in holiness
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