Options for Praying the Sanctus Josephus

Before getting underway, you may find it helpful to select one of the three devotional formats in which to pray the novena: 

(i) Pray a single decade, or the entire nine-decade devotion, or some portion between these two extremes, on a single occasion,

OR 

(ii) Pray a decade each day, on a recurring weekly schedule, on an ongoing basis, either for a specific duration or indefinitely, 

OR

(iii) Pray a decade each day over the traditional duration of a nine-day novena. 

Praying the Sanctus Josephus on a single occasion

When praying the entire nine-decade devotion, or some portion of it, on a single occasion, consider praying a particular decade of the devotion to celebrate the corresponding mystery on the day it appears on the Church calendar: 

1^st Decade on March 25

2^nd Decade on December 25

3^rd Decade on your wedding anniversary, or that of your parents

4^th Decade on your ordination anniversary, or that of your pastor

5^th Decade on Holy Thursday

6^th or 7^th Decade on Good Friday

8^th Decade on Easter Sunday

9^th Decade on Pentecost  

Praying the Sanctus Josephus on a recurring weekly schedule

When praying a single decade of the devotion each day on a recurring weekly schedule, begin with the 1^st Decade on Mondays and continue each day with the next decade in sequence, but alternate between the 6^th and 7^th Decades every other Friday. Similarly, alternate between the 8^th and 9^th Decades every other Saturday. This effectively compresses nine decades into a recurring seven-day, weekly schedule, and it also nicely aligns with the novena’s contemplation of the seven sacraments and of the seven sorrows and seven joys of Saint Joseph.  Consider praying in this format throughout an entire month set aside to honor Saint Joseph (traditionally, October).   

Praying the Sanctus Josephus as a traditional nine-day novena

When praying a single decade of the devotion daily, over the course of a nine-day novena, consider doing so with a sequence that begins or concludes on a day (Wednesday) or special feast honoring Saint Joseph, such as: 

Holy Family
(Sunday after December 25)

Holy Spouses
(January 23)

Solemnity of Saint Joseph
(March 19)

Saint Joseph, the Worker
(May 1)