In Imitation of St. Joseph

                                                      

Holy Mother Church devotes the entire month of March to St. Joseph. The Church encourages us to be devoted to St. Joseph because he was a model in the practice of all the virtues. Pope Leo XIII says of devotion to this glorious saint, “It greatly behooves Christians, while honoring the Virgin Mother of God, constantly to invoke with deep piety and confidence her most chaste spouse, Saint Joseph. We have a well-grounded conviction that such is the special desire of the Blessed Virgin herself." 

Throughout the Gospels it is St. Joseph's actions that exemplify his dedication to God through his service to Christ and Mary, following God's will in all things.  Our Lady told St. Bridget of Sweden, 

"St. Joseph was so reserved and careful in his speech that not one word ever issued from his mouth that was not good and holy, nor did he ever indulge in unnecessary or less than charitable conversation. He was most patient and diligent in bearing fatigue; he practiced extreme poverty; he was most meek in bearing injuries; he was strong and constant against my enemies; he was the faithful witness of the wonders of Heaven, being dead to the flesh and the world, living only for God and for Heavenly goods, which were the only things he desired. He was perfectly conformed to the Divine Will and so resigned to the dispositions of Heaven that he ever repeated ‘May the Will of God ever be done in me!’…” 

We would do well to look to St. Joseph as a model of how to perfectly follow God's will in our lives and ask St. Joseph to pray for us. 

Conformity to the Will of God 

Great St. Joseph, to whose will the Savior subjected Himself, obtain for me the grace to subject myself in all things to the will of God. Through the merits you obtained when in the darkness of night you obeyed the angel's commands, ask for me this grace, that nothing may detain me from fulfilling the will of God with perfect conformity. In the stable of Bethlehem, on the flight to Egypt, you recommended yourself and those dear to you to divine Providence. Ask for me this same grace to conform myself to the will of God in discouragement and despondency, in health and sickness, in happiness and misfortune, in success and failure so that nothing may disturb the tranquility of my soul in obediently following the way of God for me. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to St. Joseph for the Month of October

                                   

Pope Leo XIII's encyclical Quamquam Pluries was the first encyclical dedicated to St. Joseph.  In it he states, it is "...of high importance that the devotion to St. Joseph should engraft itself upon the daily pious practices of Catholics..."  He urges the use of prayer, joining to the intercession of Mary that of St. Joseph, to implore God's help.  Quamquam Pluries states, "We judge it of deep utility for the Christian people, continually to invoke with great piety and trust, together with the Virgin-Mother of God, her chaste Spouse, the Blessed Joseph; and We regard it as most certain that this will be most pleasing to the Virgin herself."

To encourage this devotion to St. Joseph in union with devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Leo XIII therefore attached to his encyclical the prayer "Ad te Beate Ioseph," ordering that it be added to the end of the recitation of the rosary throughout the month of October. To this prayer he attached an indulgence.

Ad te Beate Ioseph

AD te beate Ioseph, in tribulatione nostra confugimus, atque, implorato Sponsae tuae sanctissimae auxilio, patrocinium quoque tuum fidenter exposcimus. Per eam, quaesumus quae te cum immaculata Virgine Dei Genetrice coniunxit, caritatem, perque paternum, quo Puerum Iesum amplexus es, amorem, supplices deprecamur, ut ad hereditatem, quam Iesus Christus acquisivit Sanguine suo, benignus respicias, ac necessitatibus nostris tua virtute et ope succurras.

Tuere, o Custos providentissime divinae Familiae, Iesu Christi subolem electam; prohibe a nobis, amantissime Pater, omnem errorum ac corruptelarum luem; propitius nobis, sospitator noster fortissime, in hoc cum potestate tenebrarum certamine e caelo adesto; et sicut olim Puerum Iesum e summo eripuisti vitae discrimine, ita nunc Ecclesiam sanctam Dei ab hostilibus insidiis atque ab omni adversitate defende: nosque singulos perpetuo tege patrocinio, ut ad tui exemplar et ope tua suffulti, sancte vivere, pie emori, sempiternamque in caelis beatitudinem assequi possimus. Amen.

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Prayer to St. Joseph

TO thee, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. Through that charity which bound thee to the immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee to graciously regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once thou rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holy, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Seven Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph

 "One has to suffer, in patience, the setbacks to our perfection, doing whatever we can to make progress in good spirit.  We hope with patience, and instead of getting frustrated at having done so little in the past, we try diligently to do more in the future." 

 ---St. Francis de Sales

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I am very grateful to everyone who prayed for our family during these past weeks of illness.  Thankfully we are nearly recovered, and the sound of children playing is beginning to resound through our home again.  Deo gratias!  During all the days of sickness, many of my Lenten plans were put on hold.  While many times I may have grown frustrated at my inability to follow through with my Lenten resolutions, I believe the above quote by St. Francis de Sales is a more fitting response to the difficulties and slow progress we may face during our Lenten journey and, in fact, our entire spiritual journey.  St. Francis' quote is one I am currently contemplating and trying to remember as we work toward finishing the Lenten season with perseverance, devotion, and love of all the little crosses God chooses to give us.

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With the Feast of St. Joseph rapidly approaching, a fitting practice to add to our Lenten prayers would be to pray and meditate on the seven sorrows and joys of St. Joseph.  This holy figure is a shining example of complete surrender and trust in God's Divine Plan, a shining example of diligence and devotion lived in daily life, and a shining example of true love for our Lord and our Lady.  May we, upon meditating on the sorrows and joys of St. Joseph, imitate this great saint throughout Lent and our lives.

"The Dream of St. Joseph"

Seven Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph

(***Recite one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be after each number)

1. St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of the Holy Mother of God, by the SORROW with which thy heart was pierced at the thought of a cruel separation from Mary, and by the deep JOY that thou didst feel when the angel revealed to thee the ineffable mystery of the Incarnation, obtain for us from Jesus and Mary the grace of surmounting all anxiety. Win for us from the Adorable Heart of Jesus the unspeakable peace of which He is the Eternal Source. ***

2. St. Joseph, Foster-Father of Jesus, by the bitter SORROW which thy heart experienced in seeing the Child Jesus lying in a manger, and by the JOY which thou didst feel in seeing the Wise men recognize and adore Him as their God, obtain by thy prayers that our heart, purified by thy protection, may become a living crib, where the Savior of the world may receive and bless our homage. ***

3. St. Joseph, by the SORROW with which thy heart was pierced at the sight of the Blood which flowed from the Infant Jesus in the Circumcision, and by the JOY that inundated thy soul at thy privilege of imposing the sacred and mysterious Name of Jesus, obtain for us that the merits of this Precious Blood may be applied to our souls, and that the Divine Name of Jesus may be engraved forever in our hearts. ***

4. St. Joseph, by the SORROW when the Lord declared that the soul of Mary would be pierced with a sword of sorrow, and by thy JOY when holy Simeon added that the Divine Infant was to be the resurrection of many, obtain for us the grace to have compassion on the sorrows of Mary and share in the salvation which Jesus brought to the earth. ***

5. St. Joseph, by thy SORROW when told to fly into Egypt, and by thy JOY in seeing the idols overthrown at the arrival of the living God, grant that no idol of earthly affection may any longer occupy our hearts, but being like thee entirely devoted to the service of Jesus and Mary, we may live and happily die for them alone. ***

6. St. Joseph, by the SORROW of thy heart caused by the fear of the tyrant Archelaus and by the JOY in sharing the company of Jesus and Mary at Nazareth, obtain for us, that disengaged from all fear, we may enjoy the peace of a good conscience and may live in security, in union with Jesus and Mary, experiencing the effect of thy salutary assistance at the hour of our death. ***

7. St. Joseph, by the bitter SORROW with which the loss of the Child Jesus crushed thy heart, and by the holy JOY which inundated thy soul in recovering thy Treasure on entering the Temple, we supplicate thee not to permit us to lose our Savior Jesus by sin. Yet, should this misfortune befall us, grant that we may share thy eagerness in seeking Him, and obtain for us the grace to find Him again, ready to show us His great mercy, especially at the hour of death; so that we may pass from this life to enjoy His presence in heaven, there to sing with thee His divine mercies forever. ***

Let Us Pray
O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence has vouchsafed to choose Blessed Joseph to be the Spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector, Who lives and reigns forever and ever.   Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayers for a Happy Death

 During the month of November, we remember in our prayers and sacrifices the Poor Souls in Purgatory, those souls who can no longer help themselves gain heaven, but must either be purified in Purgatory or rely on our prayers offered in their behalf. With the thought of Purgatory and eternity in mind, then, November is also a fitting month to ensure we are praying for a happy death for ourselves.

In his book Preparation for Death, St. Alphonsus Liguori spoke of the necessity to prepare for a happy death, saying,

"...Oh! hasten to apply a remedy in time, resolve to give yourself sincerely to God, and begin from this moment a life which, at the hour of death, will be to you a source, not of affliction, but of consolation. Give yourself up to prayer, frequent the sacraments, avoid all dangerous occasions, and, if necessary, leave the world, secure yourself eternal salvation, and be persuaded that to secure eternal life no precaution can be too great."

St. Joseph is the patron saint of the dying and the saint most often invoked for a happy death. The reasons for this patronage are primarily three: being the beloved foster-father of Christ, St. Joseph's intercession is great with Our Lord, our Judge, Who so loved him;  St. Joseph also is called “Terror of Demons,” a title given him by Holy Mother Church.  As the "Terror of Demons,"  St. Joseph is a powerful  protector to have beside us at our hour of death when hell tries frantically to obtain our souls at that last moment; and especially St. Joseph is the patron of the dying because he experienced a happy, holy death, dying in the arms of our Beloved Lord Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. When we pray to be assured of a happy death, then, let us look to good St. Joseph.  In both of the following prayers, we turn to St. Joseph, asking for his help to lead holy lives and die a happy death.

Prayer to St. Joseph for a Happy Death

O Glorious St. Joseph, behold I choose thee today for my special patron in life and at the hour of my death. Preserve and increase in me the spirit of prayer and fervor in the service of God. Remove far from me every kind of sin; obtain for me that my death may not come upon me unawares, but that I may have time to confess my sins sacramentally and to bewail them with a most perfect understanding and a most sincere and perfect contrition, in order that I may breathe forth my soul into the hands of Jesus and Mary. Amen

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An Ancient Prayer to Saint Joseph for a Happy Death

O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me all spiritual blessings through thy foster Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer thee my thanksgiving and homage.

O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thine arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.  St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me.

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"Iste, Quem Laeti" ISTE, quem laeti colimus, fideles cuius excelsos canimus triumphos, hac die Ioseph meruit perennis gaudia vitae. O nimis felix, nimis o beatus, cuius extremam vigiles ad horam Christus et Virgo simul astiterunt ore sereno. Iustus insignis, laqueo solutus carnis, ad sedes placido sopore migrat aeternas, rutilisque cingit tempora sertis. Ergo regnantem, flagitemus omnes, adsit ut nobis, veniamque nostris obtinens culpis, tribuat supernae munera pacis. Sint tibi plausus, tibi sint honores, Trine qui regnas Deus, et coronas aureas servo tribuis fideli omne per aevum. Amen.

"He, Whom the Faithful Joyously do Honor" HE, whom the faithful joyously do honor, singing his praises with devout affection, won on his feast day, in eternal glory life everlasting. Blest beyond others, and exceeding blissful, for when the moment of his death was nearing, Jesus and Mary at his side were standing, soothing his spirit. Death he doth conquer, laying down his burden calmly he slumbers, rest he gains eternal; lo, round his forehead, bright with rays of splendor shineth a garland. Then, as he reigneth, earnestly beseech we that he may utter fervent intercessions, praying that pardon and the peace of heaven may be our portion. Glory we give Thee, hymns of praise and blessing, One in Three Persons, who above art reigning, God, who hast honored with Thy crown forever this Thy true servant.  Amen.

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We may also seek help to obtain a happy death beneath the motherly protection of Our Lady's mantle, who loves us and wants us to gain our eternal reward in heaven. In the following prayer composed by St. Mechtilde, we pray to Mary, asking for her assistance at the moment of our own death, so it may be a happy death that leads us to heaven.

Prayer to Our Lady to Obtain Assistance in the Hour of Death

O my sovereign, holy Mary, Mother of God, as God the Father in the greatness of His omnipotence hath exalted thee and given thee power above all creatures, be with me, I beseech thee, in the hour of my death, and drive far from me all the snares and craft of my enemies. Amen. (Recite 1 Hail Mary)

O my sovereign, holy Mary, Mother of God, as God the Son in the excellence of His unsearchable wisdom hath endowed thee with such great knowledge, and filled thee with such great light that thou knowest the Most Holy Trinity more truly and intimately than all the saints, do thou so enlighten my soul in the hour of my death with the knowledge of the Faith, that no error or ignorance may lead it astray. Amen. (Recite 1 Hail Mary)

O my sovereign, holy Mary, Mother of God, as the Holy Spirit hath poured into thee the sweetness of His love with such abundance, that thou art after God the sweetest and most benign of beings, do thou pour into my soul at the hour of my death the sweetness of divine love, that all its bitterness may be rendered sweet to me. Amen.  (Recite 1 Hail Mary)

"...And what will a Christian say, who knows by faith that at the moment of death eternity begins, and that moment he lays hold of two wheels, which draws with it either eternal joy or everlasting torments?"--St. Alphonsus Liguori

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to St. Joseph

 Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of March to St. Joseph and specifically honors him during this month on March 19. As the foster-father of Jesus and the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph is regarded with high esteem; in fact, Pope Pius IX entrusted the entire Church to his care. The Church looks to St. Joseph as a great example of living a virtuous life in conformity to God's Will, while silently accepting any trials and suffering that arise. The faithful are encouraged to seek his intercession in their physical and spiritual needs.

St. Teresa of Avila said of this great saint, "To other Saints Our Lord seems to have given power to succor us in some special necessity -- but to this glorious Saint, I know by experience, He has given the power to help us in all. Our Lord would have us understand that as He was subject to St. Joseph on earth -- for St. Joseph bearing the title of father and being His guardian, could command Him -- so now in Heaven Our Lord grants us all his petitions.”

The following prayer, composed by Pope Leo XIII, asks the holy St. Joseph to help the Church and each of us to live a holy life and thus one day attain heaven.

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To Thee, O Blessed Joseph

To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. Through that charity which bound thee to the immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee to graciously regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by His Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once thou rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holy, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

--Pope Leo XIII

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(And in the Latin)

Ad Te Beate Ioseph

Ad te beate Ioseph, in tribulatione nostra confugimus, atque, implorato Sponsae tuae sanctissimae auxilio, patrocinium quoque tuum fidenter exposcimus. Per eam, quaesumus quae te cum immaculata Virgine Dei Genetrice coniunxit, caritatem, perque paternum, quo Puerum Iesum amplexus es, amorem, supplices deprecamur, ut ad hereditatem, quam Iesus Christus acquisivit Sanguine suo, benignus respicias, ac necessitatibus nostris tua virtute et ope succurras.

Tuere, o Custos providentissime divinae Familiae, Iesu Christi subolem electam; prohibe a nobis, amantissime Pater, omnem errorum ac corruptelarum luem; propitius nobis, sospitator noster fortissime, in hoc cum potestate tenebrarum certamine e caelo adesto; et sicut olim Puerum Iesum e summo eripuisti vitae discrimine, ita nunc Ecclesiam sanctam Dei ab hostilibus insidiis atque ab omni adversitate defende: nosque singulos perpetuo tege patrocinio, ut ad tui exemplar et ope tua suffulti, sancte vivere, pie emori, sempiternamque in caelis beatitudinem assequi possimus. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

St. Joseph the Worker

 Blessed Easter season!!!  May the joy of this holy season fill each of your days.

On May 1 the Catholic Church honors St. Joseph as St. Joseph, the Worker. St. Joseph provides a wonderful example of living each moment of one's life in union with God's plan. Throughout his time in Nazareth of caring for Mary and Jesus, St. Joseph lived a quiet life, dedicated to God's service. He did not desire praise and attention, but instead St. Joseph was content with faithfulness to God in each day's duties. Whether protecting and providing for his family, teaching Jesus his trade, or simply carrying out the daily responsibilities of a carpenter, St. Joseph worked diligently to ensure his work was done for God and in union with God's plan. We would do well to imitate him. Whether a small child, student, or adult employed in a career or caring for a family, we are all called to use each moment of our day, including our daily, repetitive toils to bring others to Christ and glorify Him, just as St. Joseph sought to do. When we offer our moments and work to God and do our duties out of love for Him, no matter what the task, those moments gain worth. On this feast of St. Joseph the Worker let us strive to imitate this saint's untiring devotion, humility, and service to God. An excellent prayer for this feast, composed by Pope Pius X, follows.

Prayer to St. Joseph, Patron of Workers

O glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to toil, obtain for me the grace to toil in the spirit of penance, in order thereby to atone for my many sins; to toil conscientiously, putting devotion to duty before my own inclinations; to labor with thankfulness and joy, deeming it an honor to employ and to develop by my labor the gifts I have received from Almighty God; to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties; to work, above all, with a pure intention and with detachment from ourselves, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then render of time ill-spent, of talents unemployed, of good undone and of empty pride in success, which is so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all in imitation of you, O Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my motto in life and in death. Amen.

---composed by Pope Pius X

St. Joseph, pray for us!