St Joseph's Day

Rorate Cæli posts the blessing for St Joseph's Bread here. Old St Joseph's Church, the Franciscan church in Los Angeles, used to do this blessing every year and provided a blessed loaf of lovely French bread to all comers. Not just a slice. The whole, long loaf. It pulled quite a crowd for the noon Mass. No idea if they still do this.

St Joseph is the patron not only of the Church but of families and the protector of children. Judging from the newspapers, his patronage is needed more than ever.

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Joseph my beloved patron, that never hath it been heard that anyone invoked thy patronage or sought thine aid without being consoled.
Inspired by this confidence, I come to thee and fervently commend myself to thee. Ah, despise not my petitions, dear foster-father of our Redeemer, but accept them graciously. Amen.