Devotion to St. Joseph is intrinsic to the Visitation Nuns. Foundress St. Jane de Chantal had a deep devotion to the earthly, fatherly protector of Jesus. She was encouraged in this devotion by co-founder St. Francis de Sales, who called on St. Joseph as the Patron of the Visitation Monasteries.
St. Jane’s devotion was expressed simply and tenderly. Her piety, according to an early work in French about St. Joseph, was expressed in her praying before a painting of the saint every day, and she kept a picture of him, along with Mary and Jesus, in her book of rules.
She spoke of St. Joseph to St. Francis de Sales as “the dear Saint our heart loves”, and every day she recited the Litany to St. Joseph. When she traveled St. Jane also carried a picture of St. Joseph with her, in his patronage as protector of travelers.
St Jane de Chantal was no doubt influenced by the spirituality of her times in her high regard for St. Joseph. She may also have been influenced by St. Theresa of Avila’s similarly strong devotion.
The virtues of St. Joseph, as well as his intercession, served as a model for the qualities the Foundress would be attracted to cultivate within herself and her communities, especially humility and forgetfulness of self.
As St. Jane was so fond of reciting the Litany of St. Joseph, you may wish to pray it as well.
Litany of St. Joseph
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
pray for us.
St. Joseph,
pray for us.
Renowned offspring of David,
pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs,
pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God,
pray for us.
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
pray for us.
Foster father of the Son of God,
pray for us.
Diligent protector of Christ,
pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family,
pray for us.
Joseph most just,
pray for us.
Joseph most chaste,
pray for us.
Joseph most prudent,
pray for us.
Joseph most strong,
pray for us.
Joseph most obedient,
pray for us.
Joseph most faithful,
pray for us.
Mirror of patience,
pray for us.
Lover of poverty,
pray for us.
Model of artisans,
pray for us.
Glory of home life,
pray for us.
Guardian of virgins,
pray for us.
Pillar of families,
pray for us.
Solace of the wretched,
pray for us.
Hope of the sick,
pray for us.
Patron of the dying,
pray for us.
Terror of demons,
pray for us.
Protector of Holy Church,
pray for us.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord!.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord!.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us. .
V. He made him the lord of his household.
R. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray. O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever. R. Amen.
Sources: Bernard Dompnier, The Visitation, and the Devotion to St. Joseph