Saint Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary
The Memorare addressed to Saint Joseph, indulgenced by Pius IX in 1863
Remember, most pure spouse of Mary ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that never has it been heard that anyone ever invoked thy protection, or besought aid of thee, without being consoled. In this confidence I come before thee, I fervently recommend myself to thee. Despise not my prayer, foster-father of our Redeemer, but do thou in thy pity receive it.
Amen.
SourceSaint Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary · The Memorare addressed to Saint Joseph, indulgenced by Pius IX in 1863
This prayer closely follows the Memorare addressed to Our Lady, one of the best-known Marian prayers: the same reminder that no one who sought help was left forsaken, the same confidence, the same closing plea that the prayer be not despised. Here, however, the one reminded is Saint Joseph, “most pure spouse of Mary” and “foster-father of our Redeemer”.
Its author is unknown. Pope Pius IX attached an indulgence to it by a brief of 26 June 1863, and since then it has appeared in the collections of indulgenced prayers such as the Raccolta, from which the English text given here is taken. The rules on indulgences were revised after the Council, but the prayer is still much loved, above all in March, the month of Saint Joseph.
The conviction that Saint Joseph does not leave unanswered those who call on him has a famous witness: Saint Teresa of Avila wrote in her Life (chapter 6) that she could not remember ever asking him for anything that he failed to grant, and invited anyone who did not believe it to try for themselves. With Pius IX, who declared him Patron of the Universal Church in 1870, that confidence became the devotion of the whole Church.
On Wednesdays, the day traditionally given to Saint Joseph; in March and especially on his solemnity, 19 March, which always falls in Lent; during the novena to Saint Joseph; and whenever a need presses, for the family, for work, for the home, for a happy death.
The English is that of the Raccolta (1910 edition).
The author is unknown. The prayer is modelled on the Memorare to Our Lady and was indulgenced by Pope Pius IX in 1863.
On Wednesdays, in March, the month of Saint Joseph, during his novena and on his solemnity of 19 March, and in any need.
Both forms are found. The Raccolta text, followed here, has “most pure spouse of Mary ever Virgin”.