Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/683

 ways in the divine favor. I humbly implore you to entreat your immaculate Spouse to unite her supplications with yours, that I may be of the blessed number of the elect. I most sincerely desire that you may be present at the dreadful hour of my death, and that the last words uttered by my parting breath may be Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

Thy mercy is above all thy works, O most holy Trinity. I now appeal from the tribunal of thy justice, and prostrate myself before the throne of thy mercy, to obtain the pardon of my sins, and grace to persevere in keeping thy commandments to the end of my life; who livest and reignest one God, forever and ever. Amen.

OLY St. Joseph, you who are that good and faithful servant to whom God committed the care of his family; whom he appointed guardian and protector of the life of Jesus Christ, the comfort and support of his holy Mother, and the depositary of his great design of the redemption of mankind; you who had the happiness of living with Jesus and Mary, and of dying in their arms; chaste spouse of the Mother of God; model and patron of pure souls, humble, patient, and reserved, — be moved with the confidence we place in your intercession, and accept with kindness this testimony of our devotion.

We give thanks to God for the signal favor he hath been pleased to confer on you; and we conjure him, through your intercession, to enable us to imitate your virtues. Pray for us, then, O great Saint, and by that love which you had for Jesus and Mary, and by the love which they had for you, obtain for us the incomparable happiness of living and dying in the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen.