Devotion to the foster-father of Jesus is generally traced to the 3rd or 4th century, but according to the Pieta prayer book, there is a prayer to St. Joseph that dates to the year 50. This indicates that actually devotion to St. Joseph was alive even in the early Church.
From the Pieta: This prayer was found in the 50th year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505, it was sent from the pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it or keep it about themselves, shall never die a sudden death or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy or be burned in any fire or be overpowered in battle. Say for nine mornings for anything you desire. It has never been known to fail.
Here is the prayer, which some claim “has never been known to fail, provided that the request is for one’s spiritual benefit or for those whom we are praying for.” Please note the part about not dying a sudden death, and, in the prayer, ‘’whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God,’’ because I am going to relate a marvelous and true story about this prayer at the end, about two men who should have died, and were spared.
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, 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. 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 close 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.
The story I am going to relate was confided to me by one of the men himself. I do not know the man’s name but he lives in Kentucky. This story was related to me in 2019. The man was approximately 64 when he told me the story. He said he was 14 at the time. St. Teresa of Avila was greatly devoted to St. Joseph, and said she never invoked him for a need without being heard. If this doesn’t prove the powerful intercession of St. Joseph, I don’t know what does. Now here is the story:
“When I was 14 years old, I went out to the mailbox one day to get the mail. Although I’m not a Catholic, someone sent me in the mail the prayer card on St. Joseph. It said that ‘’Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it, or keep it about themselves, shall never die a sudden death or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy or be burned in any fire or be overpowered in battle.’’ I opened the envelope and read the prayer. My friend came along in his car. He was 17. He wanted me to ride down to the store with him, so I said, “Okay.’’ When I got into the car, I said to him, ”Listen to this!’’ and I read the prayer to him. After I read the prayer to him, we headed down to the store. On the way, we had a terrible accident. Both of us only had minor injuries. The car was totaled. When the police got there, they couldn’t believe we were both still alive. After examining the accident, they said to us, “You both should have been killed three different ways!” This is what the man told me. Does this not make you want to make sure you say this prayer every day? I hope so.
Our Blessed Mother, speaking to one of the mystics, said to her, “St. Joseph is very powerful in heaven…On the day of judgement the damned will greatly lament that they did not call on this powerful advocate for their salvation”. If Jesus obeyed his foster father, as Scripture says, “ He was subject to them.,’’ St. Luke 2:51, respecting his authority, how powerful and prompt must be his intercession in heaven, as has just been demonstrated. The boy had just received the card, read it, then read it to his friend, had a terrible wreck, should have died ‘’a sudden death,’’ three different ways, the police said, and came out with only minor injuries. This reminds me of the terrible story on a paper about those who mocked God, and died terrible deaths. This young girl was getting into a car with some wild kids. Her mother begged her not to go, but she wouldn’t listen. Finally, her mother said to her, “May God go with you.” The girl responded, “Well, if he does, he will have to get in the trunk.” The kids had a terrible accident. All were killed. The car was demolished, all except the trunk. And in the trunk, they found a carton of eggs, unbroken. God was in the trunk!
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