MORE THAN PATRON OF HOMES, IT'S TIME FOR ST. JOSEPH TO GAIN HIGHEST OF RECOGNITION [Fatherhood}
(Saint) Joseph the Patriarch: A Reflection on the Solemnity of St. Joseph
How I Rediscovered a "Neglected" Saint: Work of Art Inspires Young Man to Rediscover St. Joseph
The Importance of Devotion to St. Joseph
St. Francis de Sales on St. Joseph (Some Excerpts for St. Joseph's Day 2004)
St. Joseph: REDEMPTORIS CUSTOS (Guardian Of The Redeemer)
St. Joseph's Humility (By St. Francis de Sales)
March 19 - Feast of St. Joseph - Husband of Mary - Intercessor of civil leaders
The God who is revealed in the Old Testament has two main characteristics. First, and most important, is the revelation that, despite the fact that God is totally the Other, totally beyond all time and space, yet the Divine One freely chooses to be personally close to us and is our God.
This personal characteristic of creating, sustaining and nurturing is often called Divine Providence. God does not just create, then leave us all on our own. No, the Loving One is always there: to light, to guard, to rule, to guide. Many people prefer superstitiously to think of the good things that happen in their lives as "good luck." To those who have faith, these good happenings are sure signs of a loving Presence who only wishes good for us, who wills life and happiness for us.
Maronite Catholics recognize the loving hand of God in the care that Joseph gave to Jesus and Mary. In the prayer for the pre-Christmas Sunday of the Revelation to Joseph, this providential reflection of God's care may be readily seen:
Is there any lofty place like yours,
O honorable and righteous Joseph?
You served as their constant companion both day and night.
You carried on your arm the One who carries the whole world,
and you supported the One who supports all people.
O innocent and righteous Joseph,
we now petition you with the clouds of incense that we raise:
intercede for us (and especially Terri Schiavo) with the Lord,
whom you served throughout your life.
Implore Him to watch over us (and Terri) in this world
and to keep us from the misfortunes of soul and body.
The story of the angel's visit to Joseph reflects this theme of God's providential care for us in another way. The angel in this Gospel, as in other places in the Bible, symbolizes the way God communicates with human beings for their good. Syriac Tradition - as other traditions - sees angels as messengers who do God's bidding. In praying for the civil leaders whose task it is to look after us, the third intercession in the Anaphora of the Twelve Apostles states:
Remember, O Lord, our civil leaders,
who watch over your people, the flock
saved by your name.
In your mercy, forgive them, assist them,
and send your angels to protect them.
Please take a moment to post your prayers for Terri Schiavo. May the angels carry your prayers to our Lord God and Savior.
Prayer to St. Joseph for Terri Schaivo
Good St. Joseph,
Guardian of our Lady and the child Jesus,
Patron of women, children, and husbands,
Patron of the whole church,
you who are there for us calmly,
in times of trouble,
patron saint of a holy death,
on today your feast day,
we ask you to especially watch down on our most vunderable sister,
Terri Schaivo,
intercede for her with your son Jesus,
comfort her as the pangs of hunger and thirst grow stronger,
pray for strength for those who are working so hard to save her,
pray for healing and softening in those hearts trying to kill her,
pray that all who watch her vigil
will learn the realities of the evilness of human-caused suffering,
and how life is a gift from God in heaven.
St. Joseph,
quietly you worked to protect and raise Jesus as a child,
quietly, you work tirelessly in heaven
as you watch over your son's church,
never was it known that any who turned to you were left unaided.
Pray for us, good St. Joseph,
now, and at the hour of our death, Amen
Thank you for posting this. I look forward to reading the prayers people will post. I'm afraid I'm not very good at that, so I'll leave it up to those who are.
I find it horribly ironic that Terri would be starving and dehydrating to death, on the feast day of Saint Joseph. As we eat our food, Terri cries out for a crumb. As we drink our water, Terri cries out for a drop. May God have mercy on our souls.
I found this site about Saint Joseph. I had to highlight the text to read it, because it blends in with the background, but I thought it was a good site. http://members.aol.com/nonstopny/italiano/march19.htm .
This was a good article in the Daily Press (Virginia). http://www.dailypress.com/features/religion/dp-78021sy0mar19,1,2672086.story?coll=dp-features-faithlife .
I remember reading something about Mother Cabrini, who during her life used to say something like whenever you have a serious need or problem, take it to St. Joseph.
Good advice which I have often followed.
Ah, Joseph isn't mentioned much in the Bible.
Mary was also a virgin so at best Joseph was like a step father to Jesus.
Saint Joseph,
gentle protector of our Lady,
guardian and teacher of Jesus in his youth,
patron of fathers everywhere,
guardian of families,
helper of all those who work,
thank you for being who you are,
gentle,
kind,
understanding,
and oh so patient.
Saint Joseph,
how often we take you for granted,
and you sit there, in the shadows,
doing the work
that God has asked you to do,
with the skilled hands of a patient craftsman.
On this day,
your feastday,
when all the church honors you
for who you are,
and what you have done,
let me say thank you
for being willing to answer the call of God,
for loving and caring for our Lady,
for loving and caring for our Lord,
for loving and caring for us, your foster children.
On this day we honor you,
kiss your son for us,
and tell him how much we love him,
and how much we are grateful
that he is willing to share you with us!
Amen.
Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine foster-Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; so that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your 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 us.
Amen.
Thanks, BykrBayb & NYer.
Thank you again for this beautiful thread. Once again, I'm disheartened to see the intrusion of a hate-filled heart, bent on spreading that hatred. Why must they show up on every thread? I have such a long list of souls to pray for, and it's getting longer.
Good ol' Joe has always been the "forgotten" member of the holy family. Its a shame...
I rejoice in that I can state my beliefs with Scripture!
I don't need the word of man, doctrine, hearsay, rumors, fallible mortals with an agenda - NOPE!
I can point to SCRIPTURE for ALL my beliefs and needs.
I stand firmly on this:
2Tim.3:16
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
My faith is in Christ not fallible men and women!
Before He returns, I suggest others also start putting their faith in Him.
BTTT on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this year celebrated on 3-20-06!
| Reading | From a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena, priest |
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| The faithful foster-father and guardian | |
| There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favour chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfil the task at hand. This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: “Good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord”. What then is Joseph’s position in the whole Church of Christ? Is he not a man chosen and set apart? Through him and, yes, under him, Christ was fittingly and honourably introduced into the world. Holy Church in its entirety is indebted to the Virgin Mother because through her it was judged worthy to receive Christ. But after her we undoubtedly owe special gratitude and reverence to Saint Joseph. In him the Old Testament finds its fitting close. He brought the noble line of patriarchs and prophets to its promised fulfilment. What the divine goodness had offered as a promise to them, he held in his arms. Obviously, Christ does not now deny to Joseph that intimacy, reverence and very high honour which he gave him on earth, as a son to his father. Rather we must say that in heaven Christ completes and perfects all that he gave at Nazareth. Now we can see how the last summoning words of the Lord appropriately apply to Saint Joseph: “Enter into the joy of your Lord”. In fact, although the joy of eternal happiness enters into the soul of a man, the Lord preferred to say to Joseph: “Enter into joy”. His intention was that the words should have a hidden spiritual meaning for us. They convey not only that this holy man possesses an inward joy, but also that it surrounds him and engulfs him like an infinite abyss. Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster-child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen. |
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