# Consecration to St. Joseph: The Spouse of the Mother of God
*2020-03-03*

> Bill Young reflects on the Lenten reading about praying in the Spirit of Jesus, honors St. Joseph as the model husband and father, and leads the community through the Rosary and the Litany of St. Joseph.

## Prayer in the Spirit of Jesus

We begin with today’s Lenten reflection from *The Journey of the Heart*. The reading cites Job 33:4: “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Through Christ’s Spirit we are drawn into the intimate life of the Trinity. By receiving God’s breath we are able to call Him “Abba, Father” and participate in the divine mystery. The Spirit renews us, giving us new freedom, new life, and a share in God’s own divine life.

## St. Joseph, Spouse of the Mother of God

Day 11 of our 33‑day consecration to St. Joseph focuses on his role as the spouse of Mary, the Mother of God. No man loved Mary more deeply than Joseph, whose dignity and holiness made him a true protector and gentle warrior. He models the ideal husband, father, and Christian leader—strong yet tender, faithful yet humble. As Pope Benedict XVI reminds us, fathers are called to love and respect their wives, leading their families to God. All men—husbands, fathers, priests, and bishops—can look to Joseph for a blueprint of sacrificial love, fidelity, and courageous service to the Church.

## The Rosary – Glorious Mysteries

We then prayed the Rosary, focusing on the Glorious Mysteries. Each mystery was accompanied by a brief meditation on its fruit—faith, hope, love, and trust—followed by the Our Father, three Hail Marys, and the Glory Be. The mysteries recalled the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Pentecost, the Assumption of Mary, and the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin, inviting us to deepen our trust in God’s salvific plan.

## Litany of St. Joseph

After the Rosary we recited the Litany of St. Joseph, invoking his many titles: “Spouse of the Mother of God, most chaste, foster‑father of the Son of God, zealous defender of Christ, pillar of families, patron of the dying, terror of demons, protector of the Church,” and so on. The litany concluded with the traditional “Lamb of God” petitions and a prayer asking God to grant us the intercession of St. Joseph.

## Closing Prayer and Intentions

We finished with a prayer invoking the source of life, the fountain of divine mercy, and the Holy Trinity. We offered our daily bread, asked forgiveness, and prayed for the sick, especially those suffering from the coronavirus, and for all souls who have died. May the Lord hear our prayers.

*St. Joseph calls us to a holy, self‑sacrificial love that builds strong families and a vibrant Church.*