St. Joseph Prayer
St. Joseph is one of the most powerful intercessors in the Catholic Church. As the foster father of Jesus and husband of Mary, he holds a unique place in the hierarchy of saints. Catholics pray to him for protection of families, help in finding work, assistance in buying or selling a home, and a holy death.
About St. Joseph
St. Joseph was a carpenter from Nazareth chosen by God to be the earthly father and protector of Jesus Christ. Scripture shows him as a man of few words but great action — he responded to each angelic message immediately, without hesitation, rising in the night to protect Mary and the child Jesus. He is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and tradition holds that he died before the public ministry of Jesus, cradled by Jesus and Mary — which is why he is invoked for a peaceful and holy death.
Pope Francis declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph and added his name to all the Eucharistic Prayers of the Mass. St. Joseph has been declared patron of the universal Church, workers, fathers, families, unborn children, travelers, immigrants, house hunters, and a holy death.
When to Pray to St. Joseph
His feast days are March 19 (St. Joseph, Spouse of Mary) and May 1 (St. Joseph the Worker). Catholics pray to St. Joseph before important decisions, when seeking work, when buying or selling property, and for the protection of their family.
Oh 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.
Oh 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.
Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you
and Jesus asleep in your arms.
St. Joseph, pray for us. Amen.
Traditional Catholic prayer. Public domain.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is St. Joseph?
- St. Joseph was the earthly foster father and protector of Jesus Christ and husband of the Virgin Mary. He was a carpenter from Nazareth, a man of few words but great action in Scripture. He is patron of the universal Church, workers, fathers, families, and a holy death.
- Why do people bury a St. Joseph statue when selling a house?
- The practice of burying a St. Joseph statue when selling a house is a popular Catholic folk devotion asking for St. Joseph's intercession. It is not an official Church practice and has no prescribed ritual, but many Catholics have reported success with it. St. Joseph is the patron of house hunters and property matters.
- What are St. Joseph's feast days?
- St. Joseph has two feast days: March 19 (St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary) and May 1 (St. Joseph the Worker). March 19 is a solemnity — one of the highest ranks of feast days in the Catholic calendar.
- Is there a St. Joseph Prayer in Spanish?
- Yes. The Spanish form begins Oh San José, cuya protección es tan grande... Use the EN/ES toggle on this page to switch between English and Spanish.
- Why is St. Joseph patron of a holy death?
- Tradition holds that St. Joseph died before the public ministry of Jesus, in the presence of both Jesus and Mary — the most grace-filled death imaginable. For this reason he is invoked for a peaceful, holy death attended by grace and the sacraments.
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