Saint Joseph with the Christ Child

To Christ the first-born

Christ Jesus our only Lord and Saviour

the stars that shine and the powers in motion

all vanish in the splendour of your light

and remain still before the power of your greatness.

You alone are visible,

you reveal the image of the Father almighty,

and thus you manifest the sublimity of the Father and the Son. As the Father is almighty in the heavenly sphere,

so are you, the Son, in our universe

the first-born, the guide and Lord of all power;

you, from the beginning, are the second grandeur

that comes from that of the Father;

you are the foundation of all the world.

You are our archetype,

the mind which ordains and the one who steers;

you are the way and the door that opens into light.

You are the image of justice;

you are ever our shining star.

To you we render thanks, praise and blessing.

Before you we bend the knee

and we ask, with trust, that we be made holy.

Grant that we may be ever strong in faith,

sound in mind and body

to sing for ever and without ceasing your praises,

that you, the Immortal, the Infinite, the Eternal

may be celebrated in every place.

You are the model and essence of the Spirit,

you are our blessed Father,

our king and our God.

With eyes fixed on you, we shall not die, O Lord;

if we confess your name we shall not be lost.