St. Joseph is widely known as a patron for all families, and it may come as no surprise that many families pray to him for the conversion of their children.
In the early 20th-century book Go to Joseph, Our Unfailing Protector, a story is told of one family who turned to St. Joseph for the return of their son to the practice of the faith.
As was to be expected [their son] gave himself up to a licentious life and ended by falling into the most shameful disorders. He left his family and entered the army. Then his passions knew no bridle, so that he literally became the slave of vice and disorder.
His parents tried to call him back to the practice of the faith, but nothing they did had any effect. In their desperation, they turned to St. Joseph.
But all their efforts failed, their son growing every day more hardened in sin. By an inspiration of Heaven they turned their thoughts to St. Joseph and began to implore help and assistance from this great protector of the Christian family, confidently asking him to take their prodigal son under his fatherly care.
They did not cease in their prayers and remarkably, their son had an epiphany and returned home, leaving his life of sin.
St. Joseph was not slow in answering the humble petition of those unfortunate parents. After they had prayed fervently for three days, the youth entered into himself and reflected seriously upon the danger he was in of losing his soul. He saw with a shudder the abyss of vice into which he had fallen and recalled the innocent days of his childhood. He was thereupon seized with shame for his past extravagances and bitterly bewailed his faults. He decided to return home as soon as circumstances permitted. He left the army, resumed his former practices of devotion and was once again the virtuous youth he had been before.
There are countless other stories of parents who turned to St. Joseph in their time of need, asking him to protect their son or daughter from spiritual harm.
As with any prayer, God looks tenderly upon those who pray with faith and devotion, with St. Joseph as a powerful intercessor in many cases.
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And today we celebrate...