After Mary, St. Joseph is our Greatest Intercessor - St. Joseph, the Masterpiece of Mary's Intercession!

The Pious Union in Honor of St. Joseph, a crusade of prayers for the dying, was founded by Father Guanella (1842-1915) in the Church of St. Joseph's Death at Rome and raised by Pope Pius X to the dignity of an Arch-confraternity. It was canonically erected Jan. 18, 1930 at St. Peter's Church, Chicago, and affiliated with the Archconfraternity.

MEMBERSHIP: Registration of Christian and family names and prayers for the dying sinners. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the best way to aid the dying. We have centered around HOLY MASS, five degrees of membership: to attend a monthly Mass, a weekly Mass, a daily Mass, to have Masses offered and to consecrate one's entire life to this apostolate.

"Oh! shame of the human heart! A beast of burden falls, and there are found pitiful arms to raise it up. A soul, yea millions of souls, fall into sin and into hell every day and no one devotes even a thought to them." - St. Bernard

The greatest act of charity for the neighbor is to pray and offer sacrifice for the salvation of the dying!

Every Wednesday is dedicated in a special manner to St. Joseph.

MAKE THE NINE FIRST WEDNESDAYS (similar to the nine First Fridays) in HONOR OF ST. JOSEPH FOR A HAPPY DEATH FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR DEAR ONES!

Attend Holy Mass, receive Holy Communion and offer prayers to St. Joseph.

The most excellent means to obtain this special grace of a happy death is CHARITY. Therefore, in your devotions on the First Wednesdays, direct them in a special manner for the salvation of dying sinners in honor of St. Joseph.

Litany of St. Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
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 Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray of us.
Illustrious Son of David, ...
Light of the Patriarchs, ...
Spouse of the Mother of God, ...
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, ...
Foster-Father of the Son of God, ...
Watchful Defender of Christ, ...
Head of the Holy Family, ...
Joseph most just, ...
Joseph most chaste, ...
Joseph most prudent, ...
Joseph most valiant, ...
Joseph most obedient, ...
Joseph most faithful, ...
Mirror of patience, ...
Lover of poverty, ...
Model of workmen, ...
Glory of domestic life, ...
Guardian of virgins, ...
Pillar of families, ...
Solace of the afflicted, ...
Hope of the sick, ...
Patron of the dying, ...
Terror of demons, ...
Protector of Holy Church, ...
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V. - He made him the Lord of His house.
R. - And the ruler of all his possessions.

Let us pray

O God, who in Your unspeakable providence did choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most Holy Mother, grant that as we venerate him as our protector on earth, we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in heaven, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

MEMORARE

Remember, O most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, my protector, St. Joseph: that no one ever had recourse to your protection, or implored your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you. Despise not my petitions, Foster-father of my Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.

O Joseph, Foster-father of the Child Jesus and true Spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray for us and FOR THE DYING OF THIS DAY (OF THIS NIGHT). Amen.

O most merciful Jesus, Lover of souls, I pray You by the agony of Your most Sacred heart and by the sorrows of Your Immaculate Mother, cleanse in Your blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their agony and are to die this day. Amen.
O Agonizing Heart of Jesus, have mercy on the dying!

May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

In honor of the Seven Joys and the Seven Sorrows of St. Joseph, recite seven Our Fathers, seven hail Marys and seven Glorys, for the dying.

Brother André of Mt. Royal recommended the Stations of the Cross as a powerful means to aid the dying and the Souls in purgatory.

Also keep the dying sinners in your Rosary.

Nihil Obstat: Rev. Luke Dittami, O.F.M. Censor Librorum - Imprimi Potest: Very Rev. Pius Barth, O.F.M. Ph.D., Provincial - Imprimatur: + Samuel Cardinal Stritch, D.D., Archbishop of Chicago, November 21, 1955
Pious Union of St. Joseph, 110 W. Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602