Prayer to St. Joseph

The following prayer to St. Joseph was prescribed by Pope Leo XIII, for the month of October, after the recitation of the Rosary and the Litany of Our Lady. This prayer can also be said fruitfully at any time after praying to Mary.

Traditional Form

Unto thee, O blessed Joseph, do we fly in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy holy Spouse, we now also confidently seek thy protection. By that affection which united thee to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and by thy fatherly love for the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee to look down with compassion upon the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased with His blood and in our need to help us by thy powerful intercession.
Do thou, O prudent Guardian of the Holy Family, watch over the chosen people of Jesus Christ. Keep us, O loving Father, safe from all error and corruption. O great protector, from thy place in Heaven, graciously help us in our contest against the powers of darkness. And as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the danger of death, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Extend to each one of us thy continual protection, that led on by thine example and strengthened by thine aid, we may live and die in holiness and obtain everlasting happiness in Heaven.
Amen.

Another Version

We come to you, O blessed Joseph, in our distress. Having sought the aid of your most blessed spouse, we now confidently implore your assistance too. We humbly beg you to remember the dutiful affection which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and your fatherly love for the child Jesus. Watch over the souls which Jesus Christ bought with his blood, and by your strength and powerful intercession help us in our urgent need.
O most provident guardian of the Holy Family,  protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ. Drive far from us, most loving father, all error and corrupting sin. From your place in heaven, most powerful deliverer, graciously come to our aid in this conflict with the powers of darkness. And as you delivered the Child Jesus from great perils of life, so now defend the holy Church of God from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity.
Extend to each one of us your continual protection, that, following your example, and borne up by your strength, we may be able to live and die in holiness and obtain everlasting happiness in heaven.
Amen.