Have you ever wondered what it would be like to pray the rosary with St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus and the spouse of Mary?
I have.
And I want to share with you a personal experience that changed the way I pray the rosary.
But before I do that, let me tell you that I am not a mystic who has seen a vision of St. Joseph.
What I am going to share in this article is a diary entry I wrote back in May 1, 2018, in the hopes that this would help at least one soul pray the rosary better under the guidance of our spiritual father, St. Joseph.
Here’s how it happened.
I was waiting for my turn at the local barbershop after attending Mass. Out of the blue, amidst the mundane hustle and bustle, I felt a strong urge to pray the Rosary.
Have you ever had that feeling?
A sense that someone is gently nudging you towards something?
That’s what happened to me.
It was as if St. Joseph himself was whispering in my ear, “Grab the beads; let’s pray together.”
Surrendering to this heartfelt call, I started praying discreetly while waiting. I became so engrossed in the mysteries of the Rosary that it felt like I was witnessing those holy events right before my eyes.
It was like watching a movie!
For many years, I kept this reflection to myself because I didn’t want to sound weird. But I’ve been moved to share it now, with the hope it might help even one person connect more deeply with the Rosary.
As a former anti-Catholic Protestant, I know how people struggle in understanding how to pray the rosary and why we do it in the first place. Perhaps I should write a separate article for that.
Why You Should Pray with St. Joseph
You might be wondering why you should pray with St. Joseph when he is not even mentioned in the rosary.
The answer is simple: because he was there.
He was there when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He was there when Jesus was presented in the temple. He was there when Jesus was lost and found in Jerusalem. He was there when Jesus grew up in Nazareth.
He was there for Mary and Jesus in every moment of their lives, even if he did not live to see the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ.
He was there as a faithful husband, a loving father, and a humble servant of God.
He was there as a witness of God’s love and mercy for us.
And he is still there for us today as our patron and protector.
So, what better way to pray the rosary than with St. Joseph, who knew Jesus and Mary more than anyone else?
How to Pray with St. Joseph
To pray with St. Joseph is to enter his heart and mind, to discern his emotions, thoughts, and actions as he journeyed through Christ’s life with Mary. It invites us to seek his help in deepening our understanding and love for Jesus and Mary.
Below, I share personal reflections about St. Joseph to consider while praying each of the Sorrowful Mysteries. I hope they inspire you to create your own connections across all other mysteries.
The following reflection notes were recorded while praying the rosary at the barbershop. It’s not heavily edited to give you a sense of what I was thinking right at that very moment without much filters.
Notice that some of these reflections are addressed to Jesus or Mary – there’s no hard and fast rule for this. What is important is our minds are focusing on the life of our Lord and see it unfolding before our eyes that it might move us to a deeper sense of wonder and contemplation.
The Agony in the Garden
Joseph did not live to see the Crucifixion of Christ and our Lady’s extreme agony. But, as chosen by God, he wasn’t exempt from the agony and joy that his vocation entailed – his faith was also tested.
Joseph, It could have pained your heart to see Our Lady so anxious and devastated at the sudden disappearance of Our Lord when He was 12. Your heart was broken and tears were about to flow from your eyes. “Where’s my son?”
But Joseph, you didn’t want to cry.
Your wife was so distraught and all the more she needed you.
Suddenly, you remembered how you brought your family to Egypt. You have remembered what the angel told you in a dream. You remembered what Simeon told you and your Lady.
While searching caravans after caravans for days, your heart began to be more troubled. But unfazed by that anxiety, you chose to trust in the Lord… You chose to say to Him what your wife has told God more than a decade ago: fiat.
Joseph, pray for me that I may trust in God’s will even when I don’t understand it. Teach me to say yes to God even when it hurts.
The Scourging at the Pillar
Every blow to His body pierced her heart more and more. Pain, agony, and suffering – no words can describe what Mary would have felt that day. Our Lady saw it all and never did she feel any sorrow more than that. Her own Son, whom she protected from all harm, now being whipped in front of her.
My Mother, if only you could feel the consoling embrace of St. Joseph.
If only he could embrace you and ease the pain of your heart.
Perhaps from Heaven, you, dear Joseph was seeing all that was taking place.
How you have wished that you could be with her on those dark and trying moments, but all you could do was pray for your holy family.
Our Lady was all alone, crushed by grief and the indifference of people. I came closer and hugged her. Both of us watched how God’s love unfolded before our eyes drenched with tears. I, too, cannot hold myself anymore. Our Mother silently cried, perhaps even with human difficulty, she tried remembering the promises of God. I cried and cried with her, marveling her faith and learning to trust God even more…
Joseph, teach me to accept God’s plan even when it seems unfair. Teach me to see God’s love even when it seems hidden. Teach me to worship God even when it seems difficult.
The Crowning with Thorns
Our Lady closely followed You, dear Lord. I, too, despite the tiredness and hopelessness, chose to follow you, my King.
Now, Your body is so weak, your flesh already protruding, but your love was never crushed. The king and the soldiers reviled You, treated you as a lunatic or the worst criminal. They spat on you and mocked you. Lord, your father and lord, never allowed even a fly to touch you.
Now, they have insulted You and hurt You. The robe and the crown were nothing but sarcasm and indifference.
Throughout the Lord’s childhood, St Joseph has protected Him with all his being. He was not only his Son, but also his King and more importantly His God.
The Lord was once a vulnerable and powerless babe in your venerable hands, dear Joseph. What an honor and responsibility it was to be entrusted with the King, Lord, and Savior of the world. Through your and your Spouse’s intercession, may we glorify and exalt Jesus Christ in our lives as Savior and King.
Joseph, teach me to be humble in my work and in my life. Teach me to use my gifts for God’s glory and not my own. Teach me to honor Jesus as my King and my Lord.
The Carrying of the Cross
Christ, with body that’s almost giving up but with mercy that will never surrender, carried the tree of His death on the streets where He used to teach, feed, and heal.
Our Lady followed Him along the path, sharing in His pain and sorrow. She wanted to help Him carry the cross, to lighten His load, to ease His burden.
But she couldn’t. She had to let Him carry it alone. She had to let Him offer it for us.
She had to let Him love us.
Oh, dear Joseph, as a man I knew how you wanted to be the one to suffer instead of your son.
And yet in this full display of evil, you choose the path of trust and obedience to the divine plan of God. Help me to do the same. Help me to carry my own cross to the ends of the earth that I may fully follow your Son in total surrender.
Now, it’s your turn.
Now, you may wonder why I didn’t include a reflection on the last sorrowful mystery.
It’s because during that time I was already called by the barber and I didn’t get to continue typing although I continued praying. I was thinking of continuing and finishing the reflections before I publish this.
However, I also thought of giving you, my reader, the chance to write your own reflection.
Imagine yourself being in the Crucifixion. What do you think Joseph would have felt? What about Mary? Most importantly, what about you?
I hope these reflections ignite in you a deeply personal way to pray the Rosary, imbuing it with more intention, more passion. Let’s invite St. Joseph into our prayers and let him guide us towards a more profound bond with the Holy Family.
What are your personal rosary reflections? Share it with everyone by commenting below.
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