Dear Parishioners,

Recently somebody told me about a statue of our Blessed Lord and our Blessed Mother holding Saint Joseph as he was dying. The above image is similar to that statue. What a beautiful moment that must have been! Saint Joseph, who gave his life in total obedience to God for the sake of our Blessed Mother and our Lord, and therefore, for our salvation, was now dying. At his death he was consoled by the presence of the Savior and His Holy Mother. Because of this great consolation Saint Joseph is the patron saint of a happy death. He couldn’t have wished for anything better and neither should we. Death will come to each and everyone of us. There’s nothing we can doto avoid it but we can be prepared for it by frequent confession, reception of Holy Communion and a life of genuine prayer. I often hear people say “I wish I would die in my sleep” or “I hope I die very suddenly”. Let’s pray instead that we die in the state of grace and in the Loving Arms of our Lord, our Lady and Saint Joseph. We should pray to Saint Joseph, the Patron Saint of a Happy Death that he will intercede for us for this special intention. Below are two prayers we can use to pray to Saint Joseph. I suggest making them a part of your daily prayers.

Prayers to Saint Joseph for a Happy Death:

O Glorious Saint Joseph, behold I choose you today for my special patron in life and at the hour of my death. Preserve and increase in me the spirit of prayer and fervor in the service of God. Remove far from me every kind of sin; obtain for me that my death may not come upon me unaware, but that I may have time to confess my sins sacramentally and to bewail them with a most perfect understanding and a most sincere and perfect contrition, in order that I may breath forth my soul into the hands of Jesus and Mary. Amen.

or for those who are in a rush….

O blessed Saint Joseph you gave your last breath in the loving embrace of Jesus and Mary. When the seal of death shall close my life, come with Jesus and Mary to aid me. Obtain for me this solace for that hour- to die with their holy arms around me. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph I commend my soul, living and dying, into your sacred arms. Amen.

May God Bless you,

Father Patrick