The October Prayer to San Giuseppe, Terror of Demons - Needed Now More Than Ever

A few years ago I put up a post about the encyclical, Quamquam Pluries, that was written by Pope Leo XIiI encouraging greater devotion to San Giuseppe. It also had attached to it what became known as the October Prayer to St. Joseph. Pope Leo asked that this prayer be said after the Rosary during the month of October, hence the nickname. I also said that "Pope Leo gave a description of the circumstances the Church found herself in that could be said to be similar to today."

4 years later, the need to say this prayer is more urgent than ever. We have seen the attacks on the Catholic Church & what it teaches increase both from without & within. In the USA we have seen president Obama launch a wholescale attack on the Catholic Church's stand on life, abortion & birth control through ObamaCare & the HHS mandate. Catholics, as well as those of other faiths, has seen their Religious liberty being met with an all out assault aimed at taking it away & making us support things like abortion, birth control & gay marriage that the Church teaches are intrinsic evils.

All of those things are a part of the agenda put forward but the "culture of death" that Obama & his supporters are building. As I have pointed out many times, the origin of this culture is demonic.

As I have also regularly pointed out, the prime weapon we have in battling this demonic culture is prayer, esp the Rosary.

I have also mentioned that 1 of the titles given to San Giuseppe is terror of demons & that we need to call on his aide in interceding as well.

So I feel it is appropriate that I reprint that post that ended with the october prayer. I urge everyone to please add this prayer add the end of any Rosary you may pray. & not only for the month of October. The prayer can also be said on its own.

Our actions are important. We must speak out, we must vote for Pro-life candidates & those who will defend the Religious Liberties of the Catholic Church (& all other churches as well). But, as I am won't to say, our efforts MUST begin, end & be undergirded with prayer.

Additionaly, I would recommend you read both the encyclical about San Giuseppe I mention below, Pope Leo's Quamquam Pluries &  the apostolic ehhortation of Pope John Paul, Redemptoris Custos as well. Their teachings are loaded with plenty of wisdom & solid teaching that we can take & apply to our lives. In doing so, we will be better armed to understand spritual battle that we are in at this time as well as how tocombat the enemy as God would have us.

 

San Giuseppe, Terror of Demons, Protector of Holy Church, Pray for Us

 

On 15 August 1889, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical, Quamquam Pluries, encouraging a greater devotion to San Giuseppe. In explaining his reasons, Pope Leo gave a description of the circumstances the Church found herself in that could be said to be similar to today.

"During periods of stress and trial - chiefly when every lawlessness of act seems permitted to the powers of darkness - it has been the custom in the Church to plead with special fervour and perseverance to God, her author and protector, by recourse to the intercession of the saints" . . . . "Now, Venerable Brethren, you know the times in which we live; they are scarcely less deplorable for the Christian religion than the worst days, which in time past were most full of misery to the Church. We see faith, the root of all the Christian virtues, lessening in many souls; we see charity growing cold; the young generation daily growing in depravity of morals and views; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on every side by open force or by craft; a relentless war waged against the Sovereign Pontiff; and the very foundations of religion undermined with a boldness which waxes daily in intensity. These things are, indeed, so much a matter of notoriety that it is needless for Us to expatiate on the depths to which society has sunk in these days, or on the designs which now agitate the minds of men. In circumstances so unhappy and troublous, human remedies are insufficient, and it becomes necessary, as a sole resource, to beg for assistance from the Divine power." Like I said, sound familiar?

Pope Leo goes on to call for greater prayer by the faithful. He also explained the special role that San Giuseppe played as Padrone of the Universal Church. He also called on the faithful to develop a greater devotion to San Giuseppe, esp asking his intercession. He even had a special prayer composed that he sent out with the encyclical. He called on the faithful to use this pray. "We prescribe that during the whole month of October, after the recitation of the Rosary a prayer to St. Joseph be added and that this custom should be repeated every year."

October is still the month of the Rosary. Sadly the prayer to San Giuseppe has fallen mostly (but not completely) into disuse. Given the fact that the circumstances we face are similar, I would suggest that we again regularly say this prayer, not only after the Rosary during the month of October, but year round.

This prayer is esp appropriate for those of us who are on the front lines battling for the "Culture of Life". As Pope Leo said: "It is, then, natural and worthy that as the Blessed Joseph ministered to all the needs of the family at Nazareth and girt it about with his protection, he should now cover with the cloak of his heavenly patronage and defend the Church of Jesus Christ."

On 15 August 1989, Pope John Paul the Great released an Apostolic Exhortation, Redemptoris Custos to commemorate the 100th Anniversay of Pope Leo's encyclical. Towards the end he echoed Pope Leo's call: "Even today we have many reasons to pray in a similar way: "Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin...graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness...and just as once you saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God's holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity." Today we still have good reason to commend everyone to St. Joseph."

Pope John Paul went on to say: "It is my heartfelt wish that these reflections on the person of St. Joseph will renew in us the prayerful devotion which my Predecessor called for a century ago. Our prayers and the very person of Joseph have renewed significance for the Church in our day in light of the Third Christian Millennium."

God gave us the gift of the Saints in Heaven interceding for us. He wants us to call on them, just as He wants us to call on our Christian brothers & sisters here on Earth, to intercede for us. We would be foolish not to take advantage of all the gifts available for us to accomplish the work to which we have been called by Jesus.

 

Prayer of Pope Leo XIII to St. Joseph

To Be Said After the Rosary

To you, O Blessed Joseph, we come in our trials, and having asked the help of your most holy spouse, we confidently ask your patronage also. Through that sacred bond of charity which united you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the fatherly love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you to look graciously upon the beloved inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by his blood, and to aid us in our necessities with your power and strength.
O most provident guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ. Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin. Our most mighty protector, graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness. And just as you once saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God's Holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your help, we may be able to live a virtuous life, to die a holy death, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

 

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