61. The Patronage of Saint Joseph

Dear Husband of Mary! dear Nurse of her Child!
Life's ways are full weary, the desert is wild;
Bleak sands are all round us, no home can we see;
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! we lean upon thee.

For til on to the pilp^rini art Father and Guide,
And Jesus and ^lary felt safe by thy side;
AL blessed Saint Joseph, how safe shoukl I be,
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! if thou wert with me!

O blessed Saint Joseph! how great was thy worth,
The one ehosen shadow of God upon earth,
The Father of Jesus — ah then wilt thou be,
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! a father to me!

Thou hast not forgotten the long dreary road,
When ]\Iary took turns with thee, bearing thy God ]
Yet light was that burden, none lighter could be;
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! Oh canst thou bear me?

A cold thankless heart and a mean love of ease.
What weights, blessed Patron! more galling than
these?
My life, my past life, thy clear vision may see;
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! Oh canst thou love me?
(i.
Ah! give me thy burden to bear for a while;
Let me kiss His warm lips, and adore His sweet
smile;
With her Babe in her arms, surely Mary will be.
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! my pleader with thee.

When the treasures of God were unsheltered on
earth,
Safe keeping was found for them both in thy worth,
O Father of Jesus, be father to me,
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! and I will love thee.

God chose thee for Jesns and Mary — wilt thou
Forgive a poor exile for choosing thee now?
There is no saint in heaven I worship like thee.
Sweet Spouse of our Lady! oh deign to love me!