Hail St Joseph Spouse of Mary (Dear St Joseph Pure and Gentle)

This is a hymn about St Joseph.

It is believed to have been composed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur of Liverpool, England, and first published in "Convent Hymns and Music" in 1891. Based on this, it is safe to assume that is now in the public domain.

Some people have suggested that it was written by James Quinn (1919-2010) but this reference to it being sung in Australia prior to 1945 suggests that it is likely older - and inclusion in the 1900 Catholic School and Sodality Hymnal confirms the matter.

Tunes it is set to include:

• An unnamed tune attributed to F.S.C in the The De La Salle Hymnal: for Catholic schools and choirs (1913).

Although the opening lines are focussed on Joseph as Mary's husband, the body of the hymn is based on Joseph's role as patron saint of a good death

Downloads

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Sheet music (piano/organ)

PowerPoint slides

Examples

Singer, unaccompanied

Small choir with gentle organ accompaniment

Youth choir with guitar

Singer, self-accompanied on piano

Virtul choir with choir, words on-screen

Lyrics

Traditional language

Dear St. Joseph, pure and gentle,
Guardian of the Saviour child,
Treading with the virgin mother,
Egypt's deserts rough and wild.

Chorus:
Hail, St. Joseph, spouse of Mary,
Blessed above all saints on high,
When the death-shades round us gather,
Teach, oh, teach us how to die.

He who rested on thy bosom
Is by countless saints adored;
Prostrate angels in His presence
Sing hosannas to their Lord.

Now to thee no gift refusing,
Jesus stoops to hear thy prayer;
Then, dear saint, from thy fair dwelling,
Give to us a father's care.

Dear St. Joseph, kind and loving,
Stretch to us a helping hand;
Guide us through life's toils and sorrows
Safely to the distant land.

In the strife of life be near us,
And in death, oh, hover nigh,
Let our souls on thy sweet bosom
To their home of gladness fly.

Thou hast known a pilgrim's sorrows,
But thy day of toil is o'er;
Help us while we journey onward
Lead us to the peaceful shore.

Hail St. Joseph, just and holy,
Loving children breathe thy name;
Here below, through toil and danger,
Love and care from thee we claim.

Modern English

Dear St. Joseph, pure and gentle,
Guardian of the Saviour child,
Treading with the virgin mother,
Egypt's deserts, rough and wild.

Chorus:
Hail, St. Joseph, spouse of Mary,
Blessed above all saints on high,
When the death-shades round us gather,
Teach, oh, teach us how to die.

He who rested on your bosom
Is by countless saints adored;
Prostrate angels in His presence
Sing hosannas to their Lord.

Now to you no gift refusing,
Jesus stoops to hear your prayer;
Then, dear saint, from your fair dwelling,
Give to us a father's care.

Dear St. Joseph, kind and loving,
Stretch to us a helping hand;
Guide us through life's toils and sorrows
Safely to the distant land.

In the strife of life be near us,
And in death, oh, hover nigh,
Let our souls on your sweet bosom
To their home of gladness fly.

You have known a pilgrim's sorrows,
But your day of toil is o'er;
Help us while we journey onward
Lead us to the peaceful shore.

Hail St. Joseph, just and holy,
Loving children breathe your name;
Here below, through toil and danger,
Love and care from you we claim.

See more ...

• Hymns about St Joseph 
• Funeral hymns