HYMN TO ST. JOSEPH, “TE IOSEPH CELEBRENT”
(O BLESSED JOSEPH, WE PRAISE YOU)
ENGLISH:
O Blessed Joseph, yours the praise
The choirs of angels sing,
The guardian of the Virgin blest,
And of her Child and King.
The prophets told of God to come:
The Son of God on earth;
Yours was the glory then to be
There at the Saviour’s birth.
To him, the Father’s only Son
You served as father here;
He was subjected to your will
He, whom the heavens revere.
As once you sought and found again
The Christ, the Lord of light;
So may we walk with him, like you
All humble in his sight.
O Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God of truth and grace,
By holy Joseph’s prayers grant
That we may see your face.
LATIN:
Te, Ioseph, celebrent agmina cælitum,
Te cuncti resonent christiadum chori,
Qui clarus mentis, iunctus es inclitæ
Casto fœdere Virgini.
Almo cum tumidam germine coniugem
Admirans, dubio tangeris anxius.
Afflatu superi Flaminis Angelus
Conceptum puerum docet.
Tu natum Dominum stringis, ad exteras
Ægypti profugum tu sequeris plagas;
Amissum Solymis quæris, et invenis,
Miscens gaudia fletibus.
Post mortem reliquos mors pia consecrat,
Palmamque emeritos gloria suscipit:
Tu vivens, Superis par, frueris Deo,
Mira sorte beatior.
Nobis, summa Trias, parce precantibus,
Da Ioseph meritis sidera scandere:
Ut tandem liceat nos tibi perpetim
Gratum promere canticum. Amen.