Posted on 03/19/2007 8:18:13 AM PDT by Salvation
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Reading 1
2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
The LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David,
‘When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
It is he who shall build a house for my name.
And I will make his royal throne firm forever.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.’”
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
R. (37) The son of David will live for ever.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. The son of David will live for ever.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”
R. The son of David will live for ever.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.”
R. The son of David will live for ever.
Reading II
Rm 4:13, 16-18, 22
Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,
and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.
Gospel
Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
or
Lk 2:41-51a
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them.
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A Heroic Example
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a Introductory Prayer:Lord, in spite of difficulties, I trust in your love and mercy. I believe in you, I hope in you, and I love you above all things. These ingredients – faith, hope and love – will help intensify my resilience for today’s battle. Lord, I entrust myself to you unconditionally. Petition: Lord, grant me a clean conscience like that of your foster father, Joseph. 1. My Situation. There could exist a danger on my spiritual journey. When everything is quiet, works well and is intelligible, or when others esteem my efforts, my life seems to flourish. On the other hand, when all is tough, humiliating or painful, there seems to appear a repugnance that casts a gray cloud over me. I even begin to wonder if God still loves me. I need to keep my faith in God strong always. Joseph is a good example for me to emulate in not becoming discouraged easily when undergoing trial. 2. A Clean Conscience. Joseph loved and cared for Mary, but since he had a clean conscience, he tried to dismiss the perfect dream of taking Mary to be his wife. Joseph, a just man, wanted to believe Mary’s story, but the facts were too harsh to comprehend. He felt betrayed and decided to divorce her. God, seeing Joseph’s honesty, communicated to him the truth about Mary’s integrity. A message in a dream was enough to convince his willing heart. How willing am I to believe the works of God in my life? How willing am I to fulfill God’s will? 3. Not All Is Easy for a Just Man. God chose a man of great detail and integrity to shoulder the daunting responsibility of raising his son. Would Joseph ever have imagined that by taking Mary into his home he would have to usher her down to Bethlehem for a census nine months later without any comforts or security during the journey? Would he ever have imagined that he would have to flee to Egypt, dodging swords and soldiers? This was the price he paid for being an honest man. But the Lord rewarded Joseph with being the foster father of the Creator of the universe, with all the interior blessings and satisfactions that this would later imply. Conversation with Christ: O Christ, king and lord, your foster father Saint Joseph provides me with an example of courage to serenely bear the weight of life’s crosses and difficulties. Help me to see the beauty of giving limitlessly and surrendering my life to you. Resolution: I will chat with Saint Joseph at some moment during the day, asking him to teach me how to be serene in times of trial. |
Great feast day! Thank you Saint Joseph for your help many times with problems at work. EWTN had a very good homily for today's mass, worth a listen if it airs again.
Indeed a great day for us!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/1788642/posts?page=111#111
Check out this link on the Stational Churches thread. And pray for The Archdiocese of Los Angelels and Mahoney.
Interesting info there!
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 62 (63) |
|---|
| Thirsting for God |
| O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you. I came to your sanctuary, as one in a parched and waterless land, so that I could see your might and your glory. My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself. Thus I will bless you throughout my life, and raise my hands in prayer to your name; my soul will be filled as if by rich food, and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice. I will remember you as I lie in bed, I will think of you in the morning, for you have been my helper, and I will take joy in the protection of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Daniel 3 |
|---|---|
| All creatures, bless the Lord | |
| Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord. Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever. Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever. |
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| Psalm 149 |
|---|
| The saints rejoice |
| Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre, for the Lord’s favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory. Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds, the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands, to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron, to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Short reading | 2 Samuel 7:28 - 29 © |
|---|---|
| Lord, you are God indeed, your words are true and you have made this fair promise to your servant. Be pleased, then, to bless the House of your servant, that it may continue for ever in your presence; for you, Lord, have spoken; and with your blessing the House of your servant will be for ever blessed. | |
| Canticle | Benedictus |
|---|---|
| The Messiah and his forerunner | |
| Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| Almighty God, at the beginning of your plan to save the human race you entrusted your Son to Joseph’s care. By his intercession may your Church be a constant faithful guardian of your saving mysteries. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
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| Other Articles by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D. Printer Friendly Version |
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| What Price, Justice? | ||
2 Sm 7:4-5, 12-14, 16 / Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22 / Matthew 1:16,18-21, 24
In most of our churches, from the most austere to the most elaborate, three major icons dominate. The first, of course, being Our Lord crucified, the second, His and our Blessed Mother, and the Last, but certainly not least, is the image of St. Joseph, the most chaste spouse and foster father to Jesus.
Why is this so? What is it about this man, this poor carpenter which so completes our image of the Holy Family.
Matthew's gospel describes Joseph as a "just man." In his time, it was a great honor to be considered just. This was a virtue of high regard. We need look no further than his example of what true justice means.
When he was told that his betrothed carried a baby conceived by the Holy Spirit, he accepted. Despite dangers and the customs of the time, he held with faith the goodness of God's promise.
When he was told to leave his home, his job and his life and travel to a foreign place, he consented. He trusted in the Lord's Providence.
When he was told to raise a child that was not his own and to one day give him back to God, he obeyed. His faith and trust in the Father could not be broken.
Like Joseph, we are faced with decisions that bring us fear and worry. How do we respond? Are we people of acceptance, consent and obedience to the requests of God? Do we possess the great virtue of justice, the virtue that in times of tremendous uncertainty provides hope and peace? Or do we succumb to our anxieties and respond in judgment, doubt, and disrespect?
On this Solemnity of St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, let us pray that like him, we can all trust in God's plan and become people of justice, especially in these uncertain times.
| Mt 1:16-24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
| 16 | And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. | Iacob autem genuit Ioseph virum Mariae de qua natus est Iesus qui vocatur Christus |
| 17 | So all the generations from Abraham to David, are fourteen generations. And from David to the transmigration of Babylon, are fourteen generations: and from the transmigration of Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations. | omnes ergo generationes ab Abraham usque ad David generationes quattuordecim et a David usque ad transmigrationem Babylonis generationes quattuordecim et a transmigratione Babylonis usque ad Christum generationes quattuordecim |
| 18 | Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. | Christi autem generatio sic erat cum esset desponsata mater eius Maria Ioseph antequam convenirent inventa est in utero habens de Spiritu Sancto |
| 19 | Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. | Ioseph autem vir eius cum esset iustus et nollet eam traducere voluit occulte dimittere eam |
| 20 | But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. | haec autem eo cogitante ecce angelus Domini in somnis apparuit ei dicens Ioseph fili David noli timere accipere Mariam coniugem tuam quod enim in ea natum est de Spiritu Sancto est |
| 21 | And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins. | pariet autem filium et vocabis nomen eius Iesum ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum |
| 22 | Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: | hoc autem totum factum est ut adimpleretur id quod dictum est a Domino per prophetam dicentem |
| 23 | Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. | ecce virgo in utero habebit et pariet filium et vocabunt nomen eius Emmanuhel quod est interpretatum Nobiscum Deus |
| 24 | And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife. | exsurgens autem Ioseph a somno fecit sicut praecepit ei angelus Domini et accepit coniugem suam |
The Dream of St Joseph
Georges de la Tour
c. 1640
Oil on canvas, 93 x 81 cm
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Nantes
| Lk 2:41-51 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
| 41 | And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch. | et ibant parentes eius per omnes annos in Hierusalem in die sollemni paschae |
| 42 | And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, | et cum factus esset annorum duodecim ascendentibus illis in Hierosolymam secundum consuetudinem diei festi |
| 43 | And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not. | consummatisque diebus cum redirent remansit puer Iesus in Hierusalem et non cognoverunt parentes eius |
| 44 | And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. | existimantes autem illum esse in comitatu venerunt iter diei et requirebant eum inter cognatos et notos |
| 45 | And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. | et non invenientes regressi sunt in Hierusalem requirentes eum |
| 46 | And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. | et factum est post triduum invenerunt illum in templo sedentem in medio doctorum audientem illos et interrogantem |
| 47 | And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. | stupebant autem omnes qui eum audiebant super prudentia et responsis eius |
| 48 | And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. | et videntes admirati sunt et dixit mater eius ad illum fili quid fecisti nobis sic ecce pater tuus et ego dolentes quaerebamus te |
| 49 | And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business? | et ait ad illos quid est quod me quaerebatis nesciebatis quia in his quae Patris mei sunt oportet me esse |
| 50 | And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. | et ipsi non intellexerunt verbum quod locutus est ad illos |
| 51 | And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. | et descendit cum eis et venit Nazareth et erat subditus illis et mater eius conservabat omnia verba haec in corde suo |
Would he be sitting in the High Priest's chair there? I sort of think so.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 14 (15) |
|---|
| Who is worthy to face the Lord? |
| Lord, who will live in your tent? Who will dwell on your holy mountain? Whoever comes there without stain, acts rightly, speaks truth in his heart. Whoever does not speak deceitfully, – or do harm to his neighbour, – or slander him. Whoever despises the evil-doer, but he reveres those who fear the Lord. Whoever swears and keeps his word, come what may – lends his money without usury – takes no bribe to condemn the innocent. Whoever lives like this will stand firm for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 111 (112) |
|---|
| How blessed are the just |
| Blessed is the man who fears the Lord and loves his commands above all things. His seed will be powerful on earth: the descendants of the just will be blessed. Glory and riches will fill his house, and his righteousness will stand firm for ever. He rises up in the darkness, a light for the upright, compassionate, generous, and just. Happy the man who takes pity and lends, who directs his affairs with wisdom – he will never be shaken. The just man will be remembered for ever, no slander will he fear. His heart is ready, hoping in the Lord; his heart is strong, it will not fear, until he looks down on his defeated enemies. He gives alms and helps the poor: his righteousness will endure for ever, his future will be glorious. The transgressor will see, and be enraged: he will grind his teeth and fade away. The desires of the wicked will perish. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Apocalypse 15 |
|---|---|
| A hymn of adoration | |
| Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, King of all nations! Who, Lord, will not revere and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship in your presence, for your judgements have been seen by all. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
|
| Short reading | Colossians 3:23 - 24 © |
|---|---|
| Whatever your work is, put your heart into it as if it were for the Lord and not for men, knowing that the Lord will repay you by making you his heirs. It is Christ the Lord that you are serving. | |
| Canticle | Magnificat |
|---|---|
| My soul rejoices in the Lord | |
| My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| Almighty God, at the beginning of your plan to save the human race you entrusted your Son to Joseph’s care. By his intercession may your Church be a constant faithful guardian of your saving mysteries. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
These are the two early or Orthodox images I could find (the Orthodox icon, although not in itself old, must be written to the old canon):
We see a footstool used by Christ, but He is sitting on a bench with the rest.
The Master of the Catholic Kings indeed shows Christ in a high priest chair, but this is his artistic imagination, not reflecting the iconographic tradition.
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,
I wish to honor you for who you are,
and what you have done,
and 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.
Amen.
Faith-sharing bump.
Lovely artwork of St. Joseph. (Post 3)
There are many good links to pieces on St. Joseph on this thread that I'd like to explore. I'll be sorry when this month is over and the sweet little bio on Joseph that appears every day on the Caucus, will be set aside for another year!
St. Joseph, terror of demons, pray for us!
Amen!
Thanks, those are all very interesting. Now that you mention it, I don't think it would have been the High Priest's chair either. It just seemed that he would not have been higher in a picture or sculture than those in the Temple at the time. Maybe I'm reading too much into the picture.
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