Lenten campaign 2026
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A beautiful prayer comes to mind whenever I see a painting of St. Joseph holding Baby Jesus. Legend holds that this ancient prayer has been passed down since 50 A.D.; it doesn't have a name, but I like to think of it as the "kiss Baby Jesus for me" prayer.
My kids and I say this prayer often for special intentions, especially during the Advent and Christmas Seasons. A few especially poetic lines are in bold:
Oh, St. Joseph,
whose protection is so great, so prompt, so strong,
before the throne of God,
I place in you all my interests and desires. (say your intention here)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;
I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.
Press Him 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 departed souls - pray for me. Amen.
This prayer appears many places including in Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph by TAN Books.
It's a devotion so rich in imagery, one can easily envision the tender moment between Jesus and his earthly father. To then take it a step further, and ask St. Joseph to essentially "whisper your name while kissing the Infant," so that he will "return the kiss on one's own dying breath" is simply, well ... breathtaking.
TAN Books offers a little background:
This prayer was found in the 50th year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505, it was sent from [Pope Julius II] to [the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain] Charles V when he was going into battle with the French.
The prayer, like many traditional, pious devotions, comes with many promises: "Whoever shall read this 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 ...."
Personally, I find myself whispering a shortened version any time I kneel before the Nativity: "Dear St. Joseph, please kiss Baby Jesus for me. And when I die, ask him to kiss me back."
