About this prayer
This traditional prayer, beginning Guardian of virgins and father, holy Joseph, is reproduced from the 1909 Catholic prayer book Mary, Help of Christians. It asks for purity and faithful service to Jesus and Mary. It is distinct from the longer prayer To thee, O blessed Joseph and from the Litany of Saint Joseph. The source wording remains unchanged; historical indulgence notices are not reproduced as present-day claims.
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Prayer text
GUARDIAN of virgins and father, holy Joseph, to whose faithful care Christ Jesus, very innocence, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were committed; I pray and beg of thee by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, free me from all uncleanness, and make me with spotless mind, pure heart, and chaste body, ever most chastely to serve Jesus and Mary all the days of my life. Amen.
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Use the complete text above. When praying together, one person reads the Prayer leader lines and everyone joins in the responses. When praying alone, read both parts. Pause briefly between prayers.
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