Responsorial Psalm Ps 141:1-2, 3 and 8

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

1 posted on 03/01/2014 9:25:47 AM PST by Salvation

To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...

Alleluia Ping

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2 posted on 03/01/2014 9:26:46 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Sorry that this did not get posted last night. I’m having my house repainted, and the painter had just given a second coat to the computer room.

Even though it was water based paint — the chemicals are still hanging in the air.

Thanks for your understanding.

3 posted on 03/01/2014 9:41:54 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

From: James 5:13-20

A Call for Constancy (Continuation)

[13] Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing
praise. [14] Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and
let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; [15] and the
prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has
committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16] Therefore confess your sins to one ano-
ther, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous
man has great power in its effects. “Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves
and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and months it
did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain,
and the earth brought forth fruit.

Concern for One Another

[19] My brethren, if any one among you wanders from truth and some one brings
him back, [20] let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of
his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

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Commentary:

13-18. In this final counsels, St James has most to say on the subject of prayer.
He teaches that it is a necessary and effective counter to sadness (”suffering”: v.
13); the prayer of priests, while anointing the sick with oil, is the sacrament of
Anointing (vv. 14-15); prayer for others helps bring forgiveness of sins (v. 16). All
this is supported by the example of Elijah (vv. 17-18).

13. “Suffering”: the Greek word, which can be translated as “experiencing sad-
ness”, includes the idea of suffering under some evil, so the “sadness” can be ta-
ken as some type of affliction, or sickness of the soul.

St Bede describes the attitude a Christian should adopt when he or she feels
overwhelmed by the “pest” of sadness, regardless of its cause: “Have recourse
to the Church; kneel in prayer before the Lord, asking him to send the grace of his
consolation, and do not imbibe the world’s sadness, which only leads to death”
(”Super Iac. Expositio, ad loc.”). Sadness, gloominess, is a powerful ally of the de-
vil and one of the subtlest weapons he uses to lead a person to commit sin; one
needs to react against it immediately.

“Being children of God, how can we be sad? Sadness is the end product selfish-
ness. If we truly want to live for God, we will never lack joy, even when we disco-
ver our errors and wretchedness. Cheerfulness finds its way out into our life of pra-
yer, so much so that we cannot help singing for joy. For we in love, and singing is
a thing that lovers do” (St. J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 92).

14-15. The Magisterium of the Church teaches that this text promulgates the sa-
crament of the Anointing of the Sick: cf. the Council of Trent: “This holy anointing
of the sick was initiated as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament by
Christ our Lord; it is implied in St Mark (cf. Mk 6:13) and it is commended to the
faithful and promulgated by the Apostle, St James, the brother of the Lord [...]
(Jas 5:14f). In these words, as the Church has learned from the apostolic Tradi-
tion transmitted to her, he teaches the matter, the form, the proper minister and
the effects of this life-giving sacrament” (”De Sacramento Extremae Unctionis”,
chap. 1; cf. can. 1).

The matter of the sacrament is “oil blessed by a bishop, because anointing very
fittingly symbolizes the grace of the Holy Spirit, who anoints the soul of the sick
person in an invisible manner” (”ibid.”). It is true that among ancient peoples (in-
cluding the Jews: cf. Is 1:6; Jer 8:21-22; Lk 10:34) oil was much appreciated for
its curative powers; hence the symbolism of this sacramental sign. But St. James
s looking at medicinal effects on the soul rather than on the body for he says that
the sick man will be saved and his sins will be forgiven. The Church expressly tea-
ches that the anointing stands for the grace of the Holy Spirit. The oil of the sick
is solemnly blessed by the bishop in the Chrism Mass; in case of necessity it can
also be blessed by the priest at the time he administers the Anointing (cf. “The
Rite of Anointing of the Sick”, 21).

The form of the sacrament is the prayer which the priest recites as he anoints the
sick person on the forehead and hands. The Greek words of St James — “let them
pray over him, anointing him”—are so couched that they lead one to conclude that
from the very beginning the praying and the anointing took place simultaneously
and therefore the formula “pray over” refers to a liturgical gesture.

As far as the minister of the sacrament is concerned, the Council of Trent, refer-
ring to these verses, says: “They indicate that the proper ministers of this sacra-
ment are the presbyters of the Church. This does not refer to the older men or to
the more influential men in the community but to the bishops or the priests duly
ordained by the bishops through the laying on of hands of the presbyterate (cf.
1 Tim 4:14)” (”De Sacramento Extremae Unctionis”, chap. 3; cf. can. 4). The term
“elder” which St James uses also means someone older in age; but here as in
other New Testament passages (cf., e.g., Acts 11:10; 14:23; 15:2; 20:17; 1 Tim
5:17-19) it clearly refers to the bishops and priests of the Church.

As regards the effects of the sacrament, “Furthermore the complete effect of this
sacrament is explained in the words: ‘and the prayer of faith will save the sick
man, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven
him’ (Jas 5:15). For this effect is the grace of the Holy Spirit, whose anointing
takes away sins, if there are any still to be expiated, and removes the traces of
sin: and it comforts and strengthens the soul of the sick person. It gives him great
confidence in the divine mercy. Encouraged by this, the sick more easily bears
the inconvenience and trials of the illness and more easily resists the temptations
of the devil who lies in wait for his heel. This anoint occasionally restores health
to the body if health would be of advantage to salvation of the soul” (”ibid.”, chap.
2).

Finally, as regards the recipient of the sacrament and when it should administered,
the words of the letter point to an illness of some seriousness because the priests
are asked to go to the sick person’s house. The Second Vatican Council says
that this sacrament is not only for those who are at point of death and that “as
soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old
age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived”
(”Sacrosanctum Concilium”, 73). The Code of Canon Law lays down that “pastors
of souls and those who are close to the sick are to ensure that the sick are helped
by this sacrament in good time” (can. 1001).

It is important, therefore, to avoid delaying it unduly through fear of causing anxie-
ty or upset. “In public and private catechesis, the faithful should be encouraged to
ask for the anointing and, as soon as the time for the anointing comes, to receive
it with complete faith and devotion” (”The Rite of Anointing the Sick”, 13).

This sacrament is a wonderful expression of divine mercy and of God’s tender lo-
ving care for every single soul: “our merciful Redeemer willed his servants should
always be provided with salutary safeguards against weapons of all enemies. Ac-
cordingly he prepared great helps in the other sacraments to enable Christians to
keep themselves throughout their Iives untouched by any serious spiritual harm,
and likewise he protected them at the end of life with the invincible strength of the
sacrament of extreme unction. For even if our adversary seeks occasions through-
out the whole of life and about that he may devour our souls in any way he can
(cf. 1 Pet 5:8), there is no time at which he is more vehemently intent on using all
the forces of his cunning to destroy us completely and, if possible, to disturb our
trust in divine mercy, than when he sees the end of life approaching us” (Council
Trent, “De Sacramento Extremae Unctionis”, prologue).

15. “Will save the sick man”: from the way St James uses the same elsewhere (cf.
2:21; 2:14; 4:12; 5:20) we can see that he is referring to the salvation of the soul.
Secondarily, and to the degree that it makes for spiritual health, this sacrament
an also heal the body; it seems clear that the sacred writer does not mean to say
that physical health will always be restored, the Anointing of the Sick were a gua-
rantee that one would not die. And it is quite clear that, by virtue of the grace of
the sacrament, the sick person is strengthened to face the trauma of illness and
death with supernatural outlook and joy. “Nothing conduces more to a tranquil
death than to banish sadness, await with a joyous mind the coming of our Lord,
and be ready willingly to surrender the deposit entrusted whenever it shall be his
will to demand it back. To free the minds of the faithful from this solicitude, and
fill the soul with pious and holy joy is, then, an effect of the sacrament of Extreme
Unction” (”St Pius V Catechism”, II,6, 14).

“If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven”: although the sacrament of Anoin-
ting of the Sick is a sacrament “of the living”, that is, it should be received in the
state of grace, Catholic teaching, based on these words, says that Anointing can
forgive the mortal sins of a sick person who is repentant but has not been able to
go to Confession (cf., e.g., “Summa Theologiae, Supplement”, q. 30, a. 1). Hence
the importance of conferring this sacrament “upon sick people who have lost con-
sciousness or lost the use of reason, if as Christian believers they would have
asked for it were they in control of their faculties” (”Rite of Anointing of the Sick”,
14).

16. “Therefore confess your sins to one another”: it is impossible to say exactly
what type of confession is being referred to. Some — St Augustine, for example
(cf. “In Ioann. Evang.”, 58, 5)—interpret these words as referring to a pious custom
of confessing sins to others in a public act of contrition at which people prayed for
one another; in which case it could be the origin of the penitential rite at the begin-
ning of Mass. Others, including St Thomas (cf. “Summa Theologiae, Supplement”,
q. 6, a. 6), apply these words to sacramental confession; in which case one would
have to understand it as meaning confession to priests. St Bede in his commenta-
ry links these two possible interpretations while distinguishing between venial and
mortal sin: “In this sentence a distinction should be made: we should confess to
each other our lesser, daily sins, and believe that we are saved by the daily pra-
yer of others. But, as the law lays down, we should show to the priest the un-
cleanness of graver leprosy and be sure to purify ourselves in the manner and
for the period that his decision specifies” (”Super Iac. expositio, ad loc.”).

Without intending to define the meaning of this text, the Council of Trent refers to
it when it teaches that it is a matter of divine law that all mortal sins be confessed
in the sacrament of Penance. “From the time of the institution of the sacrament
of Penance, already explained, the universal Church has always understood that
integral confession of sins (cf. Jas 5:16; 1 Jn 1:9; Lk 17:14) was also instituted
by the Lord, and that it is by divine law necessary (for the forgiveness) of all falls
committed after Baptism, for our Lord Jesus Christ, when he was about to ascend
from earth to heaven, left priests to take his place (Mt 16:19; 18:18; Jn 20:23), as
presidents and judges, before whom Christ’s faithful should confess all the mortal
sins they might commit, so that by the power of the keys they (priests) might pass
sentence of resurrection or retention of sins” (”De Sacramento Paenitentiae”,
chap. 5).

17-18. As a palpable example of the power of prayer, St James mentions Elijah,
whose prayer obtained that no rain should fall in Israel for a period, then that it
should come in abundance (cf. 1 Kings 17-18; Sir 48:3).

He thereby demonstrates the immense power of prayer, even for obtaining God’s
help in our material needs. We must remember that good prayer identifies our will
with that of God, who is almighty. This has always been the way the saints have
understood it: “God has never and will never refuse anything to those who ask
him for his graces in the right way,” the Curi of Ars says. “Prayer is the great re-
course we have for escaping from sin, for persevering in grace, for moving God’s
heart and drawing down upon ourselves all manner of heavenly blessings, whe-
ther for our soul or to meet our temporal needs” (”Selected Sermons”, Fourth Sun-
day after Easter).

19-20. St James’ letter ends with an encouraging exhortation to apostolic concern
for those who stray from the right path. This is something extremely important,
causing St Teresa of Avila to exclaim: “”Whenever I read in the lives of saints of
how they converted souls, I seem to feel much more devout, tender and envious
of them than when I read of all the martyrdoms that they suffered. This is an incli-
nation given me by our Lord; and I think he prizes one soul which by his mercy,
and through our diligence and prayer, we may have gained for him, more than all
the other services we can render him” (:Book of Foundations”, 1, ‘7). The Second
Vatican Council teaches that apostolic concern stems the Christian vocation itself
and therefore is something all Christians should have; referring to the apostolate
of lay people, it says specifically that it is sharing in the salvific mission of the
Church. Through Baptism and Confirmation all are appointed to this apostolate
by the Lord himself (”Lumen Gentium”, 33).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

4 posted on 03/01/2014 9:43:08 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

From: Mark 10:13-16

Jesus and the Children

[13] And they were bringing children to Him, that He might touch them; and the
disciples rebuked them. [14] But when Jesus saw it He was indignant, and said
to them, “Let the children come to Me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs
the Kingdom of God. [15] Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the King-
dom of God like a child shall not enter it.” [16] And He took them in His arms
and blessed them, laying His hands upon them.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

13-16. This Gospel account has an attractive freshness and vividness about it
which may be connected with St. Peter, from whom St. Mark would have taken
the story. It is one of the few occasions when the Gospels tell us that Christ be-
came angry. What provoked His anger was the disciples’ intolerance: they felt
that these people bringing children to Jesus were a nuisance: it meant a waste
of His time; Christ had more serious things to do than be involved with little chil-
dren. The disciples were well-intentioned; it was just that they were applying the
wrong criteria. What Jesus had told them quite recently had not registered: “Who-
ever receives one such child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me,
receives not Me but Him who sent Me” (Mark 9:37).

Our Lord also stresses that a Christian has to become like a child to enter the
Kingdom of Heaven. “To be little you have to believe as children believe, to love
as children love, to abandon yourself as children do..., to pray as children pray”
(St. J. Escriva, “Holy Rosary”, Prologue).

Our Lord’s words express simply and graphically the key doctrine of man’s divine
sonship: God is our Father and we are His sons and daughters, His children; the
whole of religion is summed up in the relationship of a son with His good Father.
This awareness of God as Father involves a sense of dependence on our Father
in Heaven and trusting abandonment to His loving providence—in the way a child
trusts its father or mother; the humility of recognizing that we can do nothing by
ourselves; simplicity and sincerity, which make us straightforward and honest in
our dealings with God and man.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

5 posted on 03/01/2014 9:47:00 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Readings at Mass

First reading

James 5:13-20 ©

If any one of you is in trouble, he should pray; if anyone is feeling happy, he should sing a psalm. If one of you is ill, he should send for the elders of the church, and they must anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over him. The prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up again; and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. So confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, and this will cure you; the heartfelt prayer of a good man works very powerfully. Elijah was a human being like ourselves – he prayed hard for it not to rain, and no rain fell for three-and-a-half years; then he prayed again and the sky gave rain and the earth gave crops.

My brothers, if one of you strays away from the truth, and another brings him back to it, he may be sure that anyone who can bring back a sinner from the wrong way that he has taken will be saving a soul from death and covering up a great number of sins.

Psalm

Psalm 140:1-3,8 ©

Let my prayer come before you like incense, O Lord.

I have called to you, Lord; hasten to help me!

Hear my voice when I cry to you.

Let my prayer arise before you like incense,

the raising of my hands like an evening oblation.

Let my prayer come before you like incense, O Lord.

Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth;

keep watch, O Lord, at the door of my lips!

To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned:

in you I take refuge; spare my soul!

Let my prayer come before you like incense, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 10:13-16 ©

People were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.

6 posted on 03/01/2014 9:54:57 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

7 posted on 03/01/2014 9:59:58 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

8 posted on 03/01/2014 10:00:36 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Jesus, High Priest

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.

Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.

Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.

Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.

Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

9 posted on 03/01/2014 10:02:53 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

Pray the Rosary

1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3. The Lord's Prayer: 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 who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be: 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.

Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

The Mysteries of the Rosary

By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Joyful Mysteries
(Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) [Spiritual fruit - Humility]
2. The Visitation (Luke 1: 39-56) [Spiritual fruit - Love of Neighbor]
3. The Nativity (Luke 2:1-20) [Spiritual fruit - Poverty of Spirit]
4. The Presentation (Luke 2:21-38) [Spiritual fruit - Purity of mind & body]
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52) [Spiritual fruit - Obedience ]

10 posted on 03/01/2014 10:03:34 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

~ PRAYER ~

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+

11 posted on 03/01/2014 10:04:53 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

A Prayer for our Free Nation Under God
God Save Our Country web site (prayer warriors)
Prayer Chain Request for the United States of America
Pray for Nancy Pelosi
Prayer and fasting will help defeat health care reform (Freeper Prayer Thread)
Prayer Campaign Started to Convert Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians to Pro-Life
[Catholic Caucus] One Million Rosaries
Non-stop Rosary vigil to defeat ObamaCare

From an Obama bumper sticker on a car:

"Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8"

PLEASE JOIN US -

Evening Prayer
Someone has said that if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.
Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace?

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Please forward this to your praying friends.

12 posted on 03/01/2014 10:05:39 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

March Devotion: Saint Joseph

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. Due to the solemnity of Saint Joseph on March 19, this month is devoted to this great saint, the foster father of Christ. "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." --Pope Leo XIII

FOR OUR WORK
Glorious Saint Joseph, pattern 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 self, 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 my empty pride in success, which is so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all in imitation of thee, 0 Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my motto in life and in death. Amen.

FOR THE INTERCESSION OF SAINT JOSEPH
O Joseph, virgin-father of Jesus, most pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray every day for us to the same Jesus, the Son of God, that we, being defended by the power of His grace and striving dutifully in life, may be crowned by Him at the hour of death.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

St. Joseph
St. Joseph was an ordinary manual laborer although descended from the royal house of David. In the designs of Providence he was destined to become the spouse of the Mother of God. His high privilege is expressed in a single phrase, "Foster-father of Jesus." About him Sacred Scripture has little more to say than that he was a just man-an expression which indicates how faithfully he fulfilled his high trust of protecting and guarding God's greatest treasures upon earth, Jesus and Mary.

The darkest hours of his life may well have been those when he first learned of Mary's pregnancy; but precisely in this time of trial Joseph showed himself great. His suffering, which likewise formed a part of the work of the redemption, was not without great providential import: Joseph was to be, for all times, the trustworthy witness of the Messiah's virgin birth. After this, he modestly retires into the background of holy Scripture.

Of St. Joseph's death the Bible tells us nothing. There are indications, however, that he died before the beginning of Christ's public life. His was the most beautiful death that one could have, in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Humbly and unknown, he passed his years at Nazareth, silent and almost forgotten he remained in the background through centuries of Church history. Only in more recent times has he been accorded greater honor. Liturgical veneration of St. Joseph began in the fifteenth century, fostered by Sts. Brigid of Sweden and Bernadine of Siena. St. Teresa, too, did much to further his cult.

At present there are two major feasts in his honor. On March 19 our veneration is directed to him personally and to his part in the work of redemption, while on May 1 we honor him as the patron of workmen throughout the world and as our guide in the difficult matter of establishing equitable norms regarding obligations and rights in the social order.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

St. Joseph is invoked as patron for many causes. He is the patron of the Universal Church. He is the patron of the dying because Jesus and Mary were at his death-bed. He is also the patron of fathers, of carpenters, and of social justice. Many religious orders and communities are placed under his patronage.

Patron: Against doubt; against hesitation; Americas; Austria; Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; California; Belgium; Bohemia; bursars; cabinetmakers; Canada; Carinthia; carpenters; China; Church; confectioners; craftsmen; Croatian people (in 1687 by decree of the Croatian parliament) dying people; emigrants; engineers; expectant mothers; families; fathers; Florence, Italy; happy death; holy death; house hunters; immigrants; interior souls; Korea; laborers; Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin; Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire; Mexico; Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee; New France; New World; Oblates of Saint Joseph; people in doubt; people who fight Communism; Peru; pioneers; pregnant women; protection of the Church; Diocese of San Jose, California; diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; social justice; Styria, Austria; travelers; Turin Italy; Tyrol Austria; unborn children Universal Church; Vatican II; Viet Nam; Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston West Virginia; wheelwrights; workers; working people.

Symbols: Bible; branch; capenter's square; carpenter's tools; chalice; cross; hand tools; infant Jesus; ladder; lamb; lily; monstrance; old man holding a lily and a carpenter's tool such as a square; old man holding the infant Jesus; plane; rod.

Prayer to St. Joseph

Pope Pius X composed this prayer to St. Joseph, patron of working people, that expresses concisely the Christian attitude toward labor. It summarizes also for us the lessons of the Holy Family's work at Nazareth.

Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who devote their lives to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in order thereby to atone for my many sins; to work conscientiously, setting devotion to duty in preference to my own whims; to work with thankfulness and joy, deeming it an honor to employ and to develop by my labor the gifts I have received from 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 self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then render of time ill spent, of talents wasted, of good omitted, and of vain complacency 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.

Litany of Saint Joseph
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Joseph, pray for us.
Illustrious Son of David, pray for us.
Light of the Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-Father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Faithful Protector of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph most just, pray for us.
Joseph most chaste, pray for us.
Joseph most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph most courageous, pray for us.
Joseph most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of working men, pray for us.
Ornament of the domestic life, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of the family, pray for us.
Consoler of the miserable, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons, pray for us.
Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. He hath made him master of His house.
R. And ruler of all His possessions.

Let us pray.
O God, who in Thy ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the Spouse of Thy most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may have him for our intercessor in Heaven, whom on earth we venerate as out most holy Protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Was St. Joseph a tzadik?
St. Joseph: Patron saint of three Popes [Catholic Caucus]
St. Joseph and the Staircase
St. Joseph, Foster Father, Novena [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Patron of a “Happy Death” A Special Role for St. Joseph [Catholic/Orhtodox Caucus]
Lists Every Catholic Should be Familiar With: The 7 Sorrows and 7 Joys of St. Joseph
Catholic Group Blasts Pelosi For Invoking St. Joseph on Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill
THE SEVEN SORROWS AND SEVEN JOYS OF ST. JOSEPH
Joseph, Mary and Jesus: A Model Family
Season of Announcement - Revelation to Joseph

In hard times, don't forget about the humble carpenter Joseph
Saint Joseph: Complete submission to the will of God (Pope Benedict XVI) (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
St. Joseph as Head of the Holy Family (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
St. Joseph, Patron of a Peaceful Death [Catholic Caucus]
Octave: St. Joseph, A 'Man’s Man', Calling Men to Jesus
St. Teresa de Avila's Devotion to St. Joseph (Catholic Caucus)
Catholic Men's National Day of Prayer, MARCH 15, 2008, The Solemnity of St. Joseph (Catholic Caucus)
The Role and Responsibility of Fatherhood - St. Joseph as Model
St. Joseph - Foster Father of Jesus
Some divine intervention in real estate-[Bury St. Joseph Statues in Ground]

Many Turn To Higher Power For Home Sales
St. Joseph the Worker, Memorial, May 1
Catholic Devotions: St. Joseph the Worker
Nothing Will Be Denied Him (St. Joseph)
The Heart of a Father [St. Joseph]
St. Joseph's DAY
Quemadmodum Deus - Decree Under Blessed Pius IX, Making St. Joseph Patron of the Church
Father & Child (Preaching on St. Joseph)
March 19 - Feast of St. Joseph - Husband of Mary - Intercessor of civil leaders
St. Joseph's Spirit of Silence

St. Joseph's Humility (By St. Francis de Sales)
St. Joseph [Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary], Solemnity, March 19
St Joseph’s Paternal Love
The Heart of St. Joseph
MORE THAN PATRON OF HOMES, IT'S TIME FOR ST. JOSEPH TO GAIN HIGHEST OF RECOGNITION [Fatherhood]
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)
(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

Novena to Saint Joseph

O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O Saint Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine 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.

O Saint 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, Amen.

O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me. (mention your intention)

St. Joseph Novena

O good father Joseph! I beg you, by all your sufferings, sorrows and joys, to obtain for me what I ask.

(Here name your petition).

Obtain for all those who have asked my prayers, everything that is useful to them in the plan of God. Be near to me in my last moments, that I may eternally sing the praises of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)

13 posted on 03/01/2014 10:07:24 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Pope's Intentions
March 2014
Universal: That all cultures may respect the rights and dignity of women.

For Evangelization: That many young people may accept the Lord’s invitation to consecrate their lives to proclaiming the Gospel.

14 posted on 03/01/2014 10:27:36 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Daily Gospel Commentary

Saturday of the Seventh week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church
Autobiographical Manuscript C, 2 v°-3 r° (trans. copyright Washington Province of Discalced Carmelites)

"Let the children come to me"

You know, Mother, I have always wanted to be a saint. Alas! I have always noticed that when I compared myself to the saints, there is between them and me the same difference that exists between a mountain whose summit is lost in the clouds and the obscure grain of sand trampled underfoot by passers-by. Instead of becoming discouraged, I said to myself: God cannot inspire unrealizable desires. I can, then, in spite of my littleness, aspire to holiness. It is impossible for me to grow up, and so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections. But I want to seek out a means of going to heaven by a little way, a way that is very straight, very short, and totally new.

We are living now in an age of inventions, and we no have to take the trouble of climbing stairs, for, in the homes of the rich, an elevator has replaced these very successfully. I I wanted to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection. I searched, then, in the Scriptures for some sign of this elevator, the object of my desires, and I read these words coming from the mouth of Eternal Wisdom: "Whoever is a little one, let him come to me” (Prv 9,4).

I felt I had found what I was looking for. But wanting to know, O my God, what you would do to the very little one who answered your call, I continued my search and this is what I discovered: “As one whom a mother caresses. so will I comfort you; you shall be carried at the breasts. and upon the knees they shall caress you" (Is 66,13). Ah! never did words more tender and more melodious come to give joy to my soul. The elevator which must raise me to heaven is your arms, O Jesus! And for this I had no need to grow up, but rather I had to remain little and become this more and more. O my God, You surpassed all my expectation. I want only to sing to Your mercies (Ps 89[88],2 Vg).

15 posted on 03/01/2014 10:30:51 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Saturday, March 01, 2014
Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:

James 5:13-20
Psalm 141:1-3, 8
Mark 10:13-16

Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.

-- St. Basil, Adversus Eunomium III

16 posted on 03/01/2014 2:03:57 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Just A Minute (Listen)
Some of EWTN's most popular hosts and guests in a collection of one minute inspirational messages. A different message each time you click.

17 posted on 03/01/2014 2:04:45 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

18 posted on 03/01/2014 2:05:18 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 10
13.	And they brought to him young children, that he might touch them. And the disciples rebuked them that brought them.	Et offerebant illi parvulos ut tangeret illos. Discipuli autem comminabantur offerentibus.	και προσεφερον αυτω παιδια ινα αψηται αυτων οι δε μαθηται επετιμων τοις προσφερουσιν
14.	Whom when Jesus saw, he was much displeased, and saith to them: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.	Quos cum videret Jesus, indigne tulit, et ait illis : Sinite parvulos venire ad me, et ne prohibueritis eos : talium enim est regnum Dei.	ιδων δε ο ιησους ηγανακτησεν και ειπεν αυτοις αφετε τα παιδια ερχεσθαι προς με μη κωλυετε αυτα των γαρ τοιουτων εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου
15.	Amen I say to you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter into it.	Amen dico vobis : Quisquis non receperit regnum Dei velut parvulus, non intrabit in illud.	αμην λεγω υμιν ος εαν μη δεξηται την βασιλειαν του θεου ως παιδιον ου μη εισελθη εις αυτην
16.	And embracing them, and laying his hands upon them, he blessed them.	Et complexans eos, et imponens manus super illos, benedicebat eos.	και εναγκαλισαμενος αυτα τιθεις τας χειρας επ αυτα ευλογει αυτα

19 posted on 03/01/2014 6:39:25 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)

13. And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said to them, Suffer the little children to come to me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15. Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

THEOPHYL. The wickedness of the Pharisees in tempting Christ, has been related above, and now is shown the great faith of the multitude, who believed that Christ conferred a blessing on the children whom they brought to Him, by the mere laying on of His hands. Wherefore it is said: And they brought young children to him, that he might touch them.

CHRYS. But the disciples, out of regard for the dignity of Christ, forbade those who brought them. And this is what is added: And his disciples rebuked those who brought them. But our Savior; in order to teach His disciples to be modest in their ideas, and to tread under foot worldly pride, takes the children to Him, and assigns to them the kingdom of God: wherefore it goes on: And he said to them, Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not

ORIGEN; If any of those who profess to hold the office of teaching in the Church should see a person bringing to them some of the foolish of this world, and low born, and weak, who for this reason are called children and infants, let him not forbid the man who offers such an one to the Savior, as though he were acting without judgment. After this He exhorts those of His disciples who are already grown to full stature to condescend to be useful to children, that they may become to children as children, that they may gain children; for He Himself, when He was in the form of God, humbled Himself, and became a child. On which He adds: For of such is the kingdom of heaven.

CHRYS. For indeed the mind of a child is pure from all passions, for which reason, we ought by free choice to do those works, which children have by nature.

THEOPHYL. Wherefore He says not, for of these, but of such is the kingdom of God, that is, of persons who have both in their intention and their work the harmlessness and simplicity which children have by nature. For a child does not hate, does nothing of evil intent, nor though beaten does he quit his mother; and though she does him in vile garments, prefers them to kingly apparel; in like manner he, who lives according to the good ways of his mother the Church, honors nothing before her, nay, not pleasure, which is the queen of many; wherefore also the Lord subjoins, Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

BEDE; That is, if you have not innocence and purity of mind like that of children, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Or else, we are ordered to receive the kingdom of God, that is, the doctrine of the Gospel, a little child, because as a child, when he is taught, does not contradict his teachers, nor put together reasonings and words against them, but receives with faith what they teach, and obeys them with awe, so we also are to receive the word of the Lord with simple obedience, and without any gainsaying. It goes on: And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. Fitly does He take them up into His arms to bless them, as it were, lifting into His own bosom , and reconciling Himself to His creation, which in the beginning fell from Him, and was separated from Him. Again, He puts His hands upon the children, to teach us the working of His divine power; and indeed, He puts His hands upon them, as others are wont to do, though His operation is not as that of others, for though He was God, He kept to human ways of acting, as being very man.

BEDE; Having embraced the children, He also blessed them, implying that the lowly in spirit are worthy of His blessing, grace, and love.

Catena Aurea Mark 10

20 posted on 03/01/2014 6:39:51 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)

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