About the Sanctus Josephus

Pope Leo XIII, author of the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, also authored the Prayer to Saint Joseph. Known as the “Rosary Pope”, he urged the faithful to conclude every Holy Rosary with these prayers.

Inspired by Saint Joseph as a model of prayer, fatherly leadership and authentic charity, the Sanctus Josephus is a novena built on nine decades of the Holy Rosary. The prayers encourage contemplation of the mysteries, set forth in scriptural passages and corresponding to significant milestones in salvation history. The novena also encourages reflection on the life of Saint Joseph and on the fullness of sacramental life. The closing prayers of the devotion include either the Litany of Saint Joseph or the Litany of Trust, as well as the prayers to Saint Joseph and to Saint Michael the Archangel, as advised by Pope Leo XIII.

You may start praying the novena at any time. Use the navigation links at the top of each page. These links are arranged in the order in which the novena may be prayed. Begin with the Opening Prayers, proceed to Contemplation of one or more mysteries of the Holy Rosary, and conclude with the Closing Prayers.

General Recommendations

If praying a decade of the devotion each day, budget approximately 30 minutes each time you pray. However, never permit a sense of severe time constraints to prevent you from engaging in persistent prayer. Do not make the perfect (complete prayer, without interruption) into an enemy of the good. Simply begin praying, and suspend the devotion as needed, returning to it and resuming the devotion as your schedule permits. 

There are multiple options with respect to formats and timetables for praying the novena. For some ideas and explanations of these options, click on the next page number in the sequence below.