Sadly, nowadays, St. Joseph is most often invoked by those trying to sell a home – yet, he is the most powerful Saint, after Our Lady, that has ever been. For, St. Thomas Aquinas wrote: “Some Saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.” Later, St. Teresa of Avila repeated much the same sentiment: “To other Saints Our Lord seems to have given power to succor us in some special necessity—but to this glorious Saint, I know by experience, He has given the power to help us in all.” And in our own time, St. John Paul believed: “…that by reflection upon the way that Mary’s spouse shared in the divine mystery, the Church - on the road towards the future with all of humanity - will be enabled to discover ever anew her own identity within this redemptive plan, which is founded on the mystery of the Incarnation.” Therefore, let us look to Joseph, the “most chaste” guardian of Jesus and Mary, to aid all of us with the battle against sexual addictions.
The Seven Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph
The prayers in italics are taken from the original text; the meditations are guidelines for brief reflection after reading each Sorrow and Joy. Most effectively, the prayers should be said every day, but are also incredibly powerful when directly under the threat of sexual temptation. And, although this exercise is designed for men, women with sexual addictions and lesbians could adapt the Seven Sorrows and Joys of Mary in the same manner.
Prayer:
(Recite 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, and 1 Glory Be after each number)
1. St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of the Holy Mother of God, by the Sorrow with which your heart was pierced at the thought of a cruel separation from Mary, and by the deep Joy that you felt when the angel revealed to the ineffable mystery of the Incarnation, obtain for us from Jesus and Mary, the grace of surmounting all anxiety. Win for us from the Adorable Heart of Jesus the unspeakable peace of which He is the Eternal Source.
(Meditation: Think back to how it felt when your sex and porn addiction separated you from God and the one’s you love; how you turned to sex and pornography for comfort and fulfillment during times of anxiety, instead of turning to God; the precious time you spent looking at pornography; the shame and guilt you felt afterwards. Then, remember how Our Lord always welcomes you back to the fold; and forgives all the sins of the past. Have Trust in Him, and He will heal you. Know that: “They that are whole, need not the physician: but they that are sick. I came not to call the just, but sinners to penance.”) (Lk: 5:31)
2. St. Joseph, Foster-Father of Jesus, by the bitter Sorrow which your heart experienced in seeing the Child Jesus lying in a manger, and by the Joy which you felt in seeing the Wise men recognize and adore Him as their God, obtain by your prayers that our heart, purified by your protection, may become a living crib, where the Savior of the world may receive and bless our homage.
(Meditation: Think back to the coldness of your heart when the only thing you could think about was satisfying your lusts and desires for pornography and sex; how you felt alone and abandoned. Then, remember your joy when you were an innocent child and looked upon the nativity scene with awe and wonder. Look again at the innocent Christ-child, and know – that He shivered in the cold so that you would never know loneliness again.)
3. St. Joseph, by the Sorrow with which your heart was pierced at the sight of the Blood which flowed from the Infant Jesus in the Circumcision, and by the Joy that inundated your soul at your privilege of imposing the sacred and mysterious Name of Jesus, obtain for us that the merits of this Precious Blood may be applied to our souls, and that the Divine Name of Jesus may be engraved forever in our hearts.
(Meditation: Think back to how you abused the wonderful gift of your body in pursuit of selfish gratification; how you looked with perverse desire upon the sacred bodies of others; and how you forgot that you were made in the image of God. Then, remember the first time you called out to Our Lord Jesus Christ – and how He consoled and comforted you. Remember when you first returned to the Sacraments; and again took within yourself the precious Body and Blood of Our Savior; ache once again for that moment, when you can receive Salvation at the Supreme Sacrifice of the Mass; to stand once again at Calvary.)
4. St. Joseph, by the Sorrow when the Lord declared that the soul of Mary would be pierced with a sword of sorrow, and by thy Joy when holy Simeon added that the Divine Infant was to be the resurrection of many, obtain for us the grace to have compassion on the sorrows of Mary, and share in the salvation which Jesus brought to the earth.
(Meditation: Think back to how your addiction hurt others; how you abused or neglected your wife, your children, your girlfriend, your parents, and God Himself. Then, remember the miracle of Easter – how Our Lord endured the agony and pain of crucifixion, for your sake, and how you were redeemed through His Sacrifice of Love.)
5. St. Joseph, by thy Sorrow when told to fly into Egypt, and by thy Joy in seeing the idols overthrown at the arrival of the living God, grant that no idol of earthly affection may any longer occupy our hearts, but being like you entirely devoted to the service of Jesus and Mary, we may live and happily die for them alone.
(Meditation: Think back to the time when you worshipped the false-gods of lust and perversity; how you bowed before them; how you spent hours seeking them in magazines and books or on the internet; and how empty and disappointed you felt afterwards. Then, remember the exaltation and peace when you receive the Sacraments: the elation of the Eucharist, and the tranquility of reconciliation through Penance.)
6. St. Joseph, by the Sorrow of your heart caused by the fear of the tyrant Archelaus and by the Joy in sharing the company of Jesus and Mary at Nazareth, obtain for us, that disengaged from all fear, we may enjoy the peace of a good conscience and may live in security, in union with Jesus and Mary, experiencing the effect of your salutary assistance at the hour of our death.
(Meditation: Think back to when you were fearful and sought solace in pornography or sex; how the fear was only heightened by the experience; and how it was never alleviated; how porn left you feeling sick and restless. Then, remember how you felt good and protected as a child when you were in your father’s arms, or when your mother tucked you into bed, or when a friend helped you during a difficult time. Never forget, that all these earthly emotions and attachments are nothing compared to the all-encompassing Love of Jesus Christ and the eternal bliss you will one day experience with Him.)
7. St. Joseph, by the bitter Sorrow with which the loss of the Child Jesus crushed your heart, and by the holy Joy which inundated your soul in recovering the Treasure on entering the Temple, we supplicate you not to permit us to lose our Savior Jesus by sin. Yet, should this misfortune befall us, grant that we may share your eagerness in seeking Him, and obtain for us the grace to find Him again, ready to show us His great mercy, especially at the hour of death; so that we may pass from this life to enjoy His presence in heaven, there to sing with His divine mercies forever.
(Meditation: Lastly, think back to the desolation and emptiness that filled your life when you were a complete slave to porn and sex; how you lived merely for another release with another film, video-clip, or sex partner; how you always searched for the next big sexual high; how you were duped into thinking that you found it; then, realizing too late, that the promise of happiness was a hollow lie. Then, remember how amazing it felt when you went to Confession for the first time after many years; how heavy and over-burdened you felt before, and then the lightness and serenity that enveloped your entire soul once all those sins had been forgiven.)
Let Us Pray
O God, Who in Your ineffable Providence has granted to choose Blessed Joseph to be the Spouse of Your most holy Mother; grant, we beseech You, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in heaven who on earth we venerate as our holy protector: Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.