These are the events in Joseph’s life that led him to rejoice.A devotion connected to the 7 Sorrows of St. Joseph, the 7 Joys of St. Joseph, reflects upon those happy events in his life that led him to rejoice.
The tradition stems from a popular story about two Franciscans who were caught in a storm, as narrated in the 19th-century book Annals of Saint Joseph.
Two Fathers of the Franciscan order were sailing along the coast of Flanders, when a terrible tempest arose, which sank the vessel, with its three hundred passengers. The two Fathers had sufficient presence of mind to seize hold of a plank, upon which they were tossed to and fro upon the waves, for three days and nights. In their danger and affliction, their whole recourse was to St. Joseph, begging his assistance in their sad condition.
St. Joseph appeared to them and helped them all reach a safe harbor. Then the saint, “advised them daily to recite the Our Father and Hail Mary seven times, in memory of his seven dolors or griefs, and of his seven joys, and then disappeared.”
Here are the seven joys of St. Joseph, based on various events in the Bible, as recorded in the 19th-century devotional book The Glories of the Catholic Church.
- “First, the embassy of the angel sent from heaven to console him in these words: ‘Joseph, Son of David, fear not to take Mary thy wife, for what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’ (St. Matt. i. 20.)”
- “Second, the tidings of great joy brought by an angel to the shepherds, that a Savior was born in the city of David, while a multitude of the heavenly army was praising God, and saying, ‘Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.’ (St. Luke ii. 10, 13, 14.)”
- “Third, giving the child the name of Jesus, ‘which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.’ (St. Luke ii. 21.)”
- “Fourth, when he saw the wise men from the east come to pay their homage to the new-born King, ‘and falling down they adored Him, and opening their treasures they offered Him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.’ (St. Matt. ii. 1, 2, 11.)”
- “Fifth, when he heard in the temple from the lips of holy Simeon, that the child was to be ‘the resurrection of many in Israel.’ (St. Luke ii. 34.)”
- “Sixth, in the land of Egypt, when he saw the idols fallen and broken before the infant God, and heard from the angel that ‘they were dead that sought the life of the child, and that he might return with safety into the land of Israel.’ (St. Matt. ii. 20.)”
- “Seventh, the finding of Christ in the temple, disputing in the midst of the doctors, after sorrowing for Him three days. (St. Luke ii. 46.)”
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What is the powerful Seven Sundays devotion to St. Joseph?
