THE PRACTICE OF THE NINE FIRST WEDNESDAYS
A Devotion Promulgated by the Pious Union of St. Joseph
Every Wednesday is dedicated in a special way to St. Joseph. Make the Nine First Wednesdays (in a manner similar to the Nine First Fridays of the Sacred Heart) in honor of St. Joseph for a happy death, for yourself and your dear ones. As charity is one of the best ways to be worthy of the grace of a happy death, offer your First Wednesday Mass and Communion and devotions in honor of St. Joseph in a special way for the salvation of the dying (it is good to remember most especially dying sinners who are about to lose their souls without the grace of final repentance).
Prayers taken from Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph, TAN Books.
O Glorious St. Joseph, behold I choose thee today for my special patron in life and at the hour of my death. Preserve and increase in me the spirit of prayer and fervor in the service of God. Remove far from me every kind of sin; obtain for me that my death may not come upon me unawares, but that I may have time to confess my sins sacramentally and to bewail them with a most perfect understanding and a most sincere and perfect contrition, in order that I may breathe forth my soul into the hands of Jesus and Mary. Amen.
O Blessed Joseph, who yielded up thy last breath in the arms of Jesus and Mary, obtain for me this grace, O holy Joseph, that I may breathe forth my soul in praise, saying in spirit, if I am unable to do so in words: «Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give Thee my heart and my soul.» Amen.
The Special Prayer of the Pious Union of St. Joseph.
O St. Joseph, foster father of the Child Jesus and true spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us and for the suffering and dying of today. Amen.
O St. Joseph, protector of those in agony, take pity on those who at this very moment when I pray to thee are engaged in their last combat.
O blessed Joseph, take pity on my soul too when the hour of the final battle shall arrive for me. Then, O my holy patron, do not abandon me, but grant me thine assistance; show that thou art my good father, and obtain that my Divine Savior may receive me with mercy into that abode where the elect enjoy a life that shall never end. Amen.
Eternal Father, by the love Thou bearest toward St. Joseph, who was chosen by Thee from among all men to exercise Thy divine fatherhood over Thy Son made Man, have mercy on us and upon all poor souls who are in their agony.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Eternal Son of God, by the love Thou bearest toward St. Joseph, who was Thy most faithful guardian upon earth, have mercy on us and upon all poor souls who are in their agony.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
Eternal Spirit of God, by the love Thou bearest toward St. Joseph, who guarded with such tender care most holy Mary, Thy beloved spouse, have mercy on us and upon all poor souls who are in their agony.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
This was made originally to be pronounced in the presence of a dying person with the singular pronouns him/her. Here it was modified to encompass all the dying, not solely one.
O God, be gracious to them;
O God, have mercy on them;
O God, forgive them their sins!
O God the Father, have mercy on them;
O Jesus, be gracious to them;
O Holy Spirit, strengthen them!
O God the Father, do not reject them;
O Jesus, do not abandon them;
O God the Holy Spirit, do not forsake them!
O my God, into Thy hands I commend their spirit;
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on them!
O Jesus, Son of Mary, have mercy on them!
O Jesus, I believe in Thee;
O Jesus, I hope in Thee;
O Jesus, I love Thee!
O Jesus, I place all their trust in Thy bitter Passion!
O Jesus, in Thy Sacred Wounds I hide them!
O Jesus, I enclose them in Thy Sacred Heart!
Holy Mary, Mother of God, assist them!
Holy Mary, protect them from the evil spirit!
Holy Mary, turn thine eyes of mercy upon them!
O Mary, Mother of mercy, obtain grace for them from thy dear Son!
Come to their aid, O Mary, in this their anguish and need!
O Mary, enclose them in thy virginal Heart!
O Mary, commend them to thy Son, present them to thy Son, reconcile them with thy Son!
St. Joseph, obtain for them grace and mercy!
St. Joseph, assist them in their struggle against the enemy of our salvation!
St. Joseph, to thee do I entrust their soul: do thou save it for them!
St. Joseph, remember them, and obtain mercy for them!
O holy Guardian Angels, do not abandon them, but combat for them and preserve them from the evil one!
Our dear Patron Saints, pray for them!
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, into Thy hands I commend their spirit!
For private use only.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,
St. Joseph, foster father of Christ,
we beseech thee, hear us.
St. Joseph, patron of the dying,
Obtain for them forgiveness of their sins,
Obtain for them great patience,
Obtain for them a perfect resignation,
Obtain for them a living and unshaken faith,
Obtain for them a firm confidence,
Obtain for them ardent charity,
Avert from them the attacks of the enemy,
Protect them from the temptations that assail them,
Preserve them from despondency and despair,
Obtain for them the grace of Jesus Christ,
Assist them and do not abandon them,
Come to their aid in their weakness,
Assist them in their abandonment,
Obtain for them a happy death,
Obtain for them a merciful judgment,
Conduct their soul to the vision of Jesus,
there to obtain mercy for them. Amen.
O St. Joseph, virgin father of Jesus and most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray every day for us to the same Jesus, the Son of God, that being defended by the power of His grace and striving dutifully in life, we may be crowned by Him at the hour of death. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
I give Thee my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
may I breathe forth my soul in peace with Thee.