There are many devotions to Saint Joseph during this unique year of grace. One such devotion is the meditation on his Sorrows and Joys on 7 consecutive Sundays, a wonderful way to foster a personal closeness to the Spouse of Mary. Saint Joseph, while he never spoke a word in scripture, is one of the Church’s most beloved saints. His silent example of obedient faithfulness is a most needed example in our age of noise and confusion; Saint Joseph’s silent trust in Divine Providence is a witness that rings louder than any words.
Over the centuries, many different devotions to Saint Joseph have been adopted by the faithful, expressing a deep filial love for the foster-father of Jesus. According to Salt and Light Media (Seven Sundays of Devotion to St. Joseph | Salt + Light Media (slmedia.org)): “The story goes that two Franciscan monks who were shipwrecked at sea clung to a plank for two days, and were saved by a man of venerable appearance who miraculously brought them to shore. When they asked who he was, he replied, ‘I am Joseph, and I desire you to honor my seven sorrows and seven joys.'” Pope Gregory XVI encouraged this devotion to Saint Joseph by attaching many indulgences to it, and Blessed Pope Pius IX asked the faithful to petition Saint Joseph to alleviate the afflictions of the Universal Church. Saint Teresa of Avila also had a special devotion to Saint Joseph. She said, “I know by experience that the glorious Saint Joseph assists us generally in all necessities. I never asked him for anything which he did not obtain for me.”
Although the origins of the Seven Sunday’s devotion remain debated, over the centuries a pattern of prayer developed where the Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys of Saint Joseph became the focus of meditation on the seven Sundays preceding his feast on March 19. The first Sunday of these meditations is typically either the last Sunday of January or the first Sunday of February. This year the Seven Sunday’s devotion begins today, on Sunday, January 31, 2021.
You will find on our website a summary to encourage the Seven Sundays Devotion in honor of Saint Joseph. There are various ways that this devotion can be practiced. These can be as simple as a brief reflection on sets of Sorrows and Joys, or elaborate as unique prayers for each Sunday, readings from Scripture with a Reflection on Saint Joseph from the writings of the Popes and/or Saints, and the recitation of the Litany of Saint Joseph. A common approach to the Seven Sundays is to meditate on each pairing of a Sorrow and Joy, and then conclude with the Litany of Saint Joseph.
We are grateful to Father Mark Wilke, Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Lewisburg for providing this summary of this devotion to parishes in the Diocese of Harrisburg.