Joseph, Wise Ruler of God’s Earthly Household

This is a hymn about St Joseph.   It is the hymn for morning prayer on the solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Divine Office / Prayer of the Church.

The words were written by Scottish Roman Catholic priest (Jesuit) and hymn-writer, James Quinn SJ (1919–2010).

The hymn was published in his collection, Hymns for All Seasons, The Complete Works of James Quinn, SJ - which is available from OCP Publications, and in The Divine Office, for Australia, England, Wales, and Ireland, vol. II., 2006 ed., (Harper Collins Publishers, 1974).

With meter 11.11.11.5, tunes it has been set to include:

• DIVA SERVATRIX, from the Bayeux Antiphoner,1739. 
• CHRISTE SANCTORUM, composer unknown, from La Feillée, Méthode du plain-chant, 1782
• ISTE CONFESSOR.

Downloads

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No downloadable versions have been found, of either performances or the sheet music. If you know where to find one, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Examples

Singer with organ, words on-screen, tune DIVA SERVATRIX

Instrumental, piano with clarinet-voice melody line, music on-screen, tune DIVA SERVATRIX

Instrumental, piano with clarinet-voice melody line, music on-screen, tune ISTE CONFESSOR

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

Joseph, wise ruler of God’s earthly household,
Nearest of all men to the heart of Jesus,
Be still a father, lovingly providing
for us, his brethren.

Saint strong and manly, chosen by the Father,
as trusted guardian of the Son eternal,
guide us as once you guided Wisdom’s footsteps
with sure direction.

Husband of Mary, loving and beloved,
teach us the joy of love so pure and holy,
warming our hearts with love
for God’s own Mother by your example.

Saint of the dying, blest with Mary’s presence,
in death you rested in the arms of Jesus;
so at our ending, Jesus, Mary, Joseph,
come to assist us!

See more ...

• Hymns about St Joseph
• Hymns about wisdom

Image adapted from The Holy Family with the lamb, anonymous painter in Italy, after the style of Raphael (1483–1520) - via Wikipedia 

  

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY Joseph, wise ruler of God’s earthly household,
Nearest of all men to the heart of Jesus,
Be still a father, lovingly providing
for us, his brethren.

Saint strong and manly, chosen by the Father,
as trusted guardian of the Son eternal,
guide us as once you guided Wisdom’s footsteps
with sure direction.

Husband of Mary, loving and beloved,
teach us the joy of love so pure and holy,
warming our hearts with love
for God’s own Mother by your example.

Saint of the dying, blest with Mary’s presence,
in death you rested in the arms of Jesus;
so at our ending, Jesus, Mary, Joseph,
come to assist us!