"O God, You ordained that Your only-begotten Son should be lifted up above the earth and draw all things to Himself; mercifully grant that, through the merits and example of Your seraphic confessor Joseph, we may be lifted up above all earthly desires and be found worthy to come to Him, who being God, lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen."
St. Joseph Cupertino
St. Joseph’s prayer comes before God and asks that as Christ was lifted up above the earth, so too should those who pray this prayer be lifted up to Him.
We pray to rise above earthly desires, wealth, fame, comfort, ease, even warmth, and love, in order to gain Christ and His magnificence. Nothing comes before Him in our lives, even if we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23).
Those who humble themselves shall be exalted (Matthew 23:12). Therefore let us humble ourselves that God Himself might exalt us in due time.
