I read the most wonderful book on St Joseph by Maria Cecilia Baij years ago. There are just no words. I also am in love with St Joseph.
I am really convinced that St. Joseph has an important part to play in the world at this time. I offered up the St. Joseph litany for our country during the 54 day novena and the 9 day novena leading up to the election. He is the protector of Holy Mother Church and it's whole body. St. Joseph pray for us! I just received this from Pelianito: St. Joseph, pray for us… by Janet Klasson Blessings dear friends. Ever since my pilgrimage to St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal last June, I have had a much stronger devotion to St. Joseph. The Oratory is the largest shrine dedicated to St. Joseph in the world, and was built against all odds through the prayers and inspiration of St. Brother André Bessette, the humble doorkeeper of Notre Dame College in Montreal, whose devotion to St. Joseph developed into a great ministry of healing. The secular press once dubbed him, “The Miracle Man of Montreal”. With a conservative estimate of 10,000 healings attributed to his prayers to St. Joseph in the 60 years or so of his healing ministry, it can be argued that he was one of the greatest healers in the history of the Church. However, he never took credit for any of the miracles. When asked for prayers, he would tell people, “Pray to St. Joseph. I will pray with you.” Near the end of that article on my pilgrimage to the Oratory, I noted that in reflecting on the life of St. Brother André one thing that occurred to me was that his mission and ministry in life was not primarily one of healing, but of making St. Joseph more well known and loved, of increasing devotion to him for the greater glory of God. I have come to believe that God means this to be the era of Mary and Joseph. The Church has had 2000 years in which to solidify her theology and establish Jesus Christ as her true and only centre. However, it seems that Jesus wants his Mother and Foster-Father to be more well known and loved now. He is bringing them out from behind the veil as if to say, “Children, here are your Mother and Father. Listen to them, as I do. Love them as I do. Pray to them and I will respond with great joy.” My devotion to St. Joseph since returning home has blossomed and I recently had an experience which left me feeling called to promote St. Joseph even more fervently. Last Wednesday, the first Wednesday of November, I spoke to a classroom of students about my trip to Montreal. I related to them that I felt that the mission of St. Brother André was not so much one of healing, but of making St. Joseph better known. Interiorly, I felt privileged to be doing the same with these students in my small way. When I came home I checked my blog comments and one of my readers had posted this comment: “…It’s the first Wednesday of the month. In the approved apparitions of St Joseph in Brazil, he said: ‘My beloved son, today is the first Wednesday of the month. On every first Wednesday of the month, my Chaste Heart pours numerous graces on all who rely on my intercession. On these Wednesdays, men will not receive a shower of simple graces, but very strong torrents of extraordinary graces! I will share them with those who honor me and rely on me, all the blessings, all the virtues, and all the love I received from my Divine Son Jesus and my spouse the Blessed Virgin Mary while still living in this world and all the graces that I continue to receive in the glory of paradise.’” I was overwhelmed that this “First Wednesday” was the day I had evangelized about St. Joseph. I had been praying for a specific intention and that same day it seemed a great grace was given with regard to that intention. I was quite overwhelmed when I put the pieces together! I responded to the comment with this prayer: Good St. Joseph, thank you! I claim these graces, these torrents of graces, over the one I am praying for most fervently, and all those poor sous in my spiritual territory. Today I had the honour of making you better known to a group of school children. I promise you good Father, that I will re-double my efforts in making you better known in the world, should you condescend to answer my prayers–and even if you don’t, for I know that whatever you do or don’t do is within God’s perfect will. May God’s holy will be done in me, through me, and around me. I love you Papa Joseph! St. Brother André, pray with me. Amen. I think there can be no doubt that the days will continue to darken. I want to urge all readers to develop a devotion to the Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph. Rather than duplicate what has already been done well, I will direct you to the Apostolate of St. Joseph website, where I also found this reference to a vision of Blessed Catherine de St. Augustin regarding the Ascension of Jesus: “I saw a very august procession of blessed souls... St John the Baptist was at the head and carried a white banner, white as snow, on which was written in large red characters these words: Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi. … This procession seemed to rise in the air, and the King of glory, in the centre of this entire troop, was taken up in an admirable way by His proper virtue. I followed as much as I could and my spirit accompanied Him… St Joseph was the closest at the entrance of the eternal gates, and it was he, it seemed to me, who spoke first to the Most August Trinity; and addressing himself to the person of the Father, after the most sacred Humanity was put into its appointed place, said to Him in a language of the blessed: “’This talent has profited so much that not only do I return it to You doubled, but You see this multitude that it has acquired; I return all to You and offer it to You.’ “The Eternal Father then not only set him over a great many people, but even said to him: ‘Faithful servant! Since you were the steward of My house on earth, I want you to command here and to have all power.’ The Son Himself gave him power over Him, all King of glory that He was, and wanted him to have the honor of commanding Him.” We can do no wrong in honoring St. Joseph and continuously begging his intercession. Believe in his faithful intercession and don’t stop praying. St. Joseph is a most powerful ally in this evil age, and he is meant to be our special intercessor and protector. St. Joseph Guardian of the Unborn, pray for us. St. Joseph, Terror of Demons, pray for us. (A litany of St. Joseph may be found on EWTN.)
Thank you Sam, Very edifying! A litany of St. Joseph. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Jesus, hear us. Jesus, 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 Spirit, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. St. Joseph, pray for us. St. Joseph the Worker pray for us Renowned offspring of David, pray for us. Light of 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. Virginal father of Jesus, pray for us. Diligent 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 strong, 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 artisans, pray for us. Model of fathers, pray for us. Glory of home life, pray for us. Guardian of virgins, pray for us. Pillar of families, pray for us. Solace of the wretched, 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 Holy Church, pray for us. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. He made him the lord of his household. And prince over all his possessions. Let us pray, --- O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever. Saint Joseph, pray for us.
St Joseph, Spouse of Mary, is of course my patron but I also pray to some other St Josephs including St Joseph of Egypt of the coat of many colours, like me he left his brothers and lived in a far away land, St Joseph of Arithmethea who gave me the hope that I could be rich as well as good, St (Benedict) Joseph Labre who lived in holy poverty, " as a result of his poverty, Benedict soon ceased to be clean; the smell of Benedict was not always pleasant; even his confessor, who wrote his life, tells us very frankly that when Benedict came to confession he had to protect himself from vermin." My old mum said I was the dirtiest baby ever. Who said cleanliness was next to Godliness - wrong! The last two particularly appealed to me as a child because they could levitate - I always dreamed of flying. St Joseph of Cupertino was always cheerful despite constant ridicule by his fellow monks. It is said he would rise up into the air at meal times and float above his fellow monks who were afraid he may drop hot soup on them from the bowl in his his hands. I am sure there are many other St Joseph's and they all added to the g;lory of God - after all that is what the name means: One who adds.
oops sorry Padraig - I should have waited to be invited to stay before commenting again. I forgot. Honest.
There are many wonderful Josephs who are saints in heaven! St Therese the little flower had four siblings who died in infancy. Two of them were brothers, both named Joseph [and one of her two sisters was named Therese!]. St Therese once said that she knew her little brothers and sisters in heaven were praying for her and her sisters still here in this vale of tears. She realised that infants have great power with God in heaven. The year before my youngest daughter was born, I suffered a miscarriage, it was Monday the 1st of November 1993 and I was at Mass for the feast of all saints. I was only 12 weeks pregnant and I didn't know the gender of my unborn child but I firmly believed he was a little boy. At the hospital, I poured water over my belly and baptised him Joseph Mary while he was still in my womb. Of my nine children, two are in heaven! My little Joseph and [my Little Erin Therese who died on Christmas day 1987, aged 1 month, 1 week and 1 day]. I pray to both my little Darlings in heaven, I especially ask them to pray for their four brothers, three sisters and their nine nieces and nephews, here on earth. I know my little Joseph is cradled in the most Chaste Heart of St Joseph and my little Erin is cradled in Our Lady's Immaculate Heart, where they are enclosed in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I sometimes imagine Gods Holiness in Heaven to be like a beautiful crystal ocean that splakles with millions of reflecting Holy lights; these lights are all the souls of the blessed in Heaven who are encompassed in this ocean of awe and holiness. I was speaking of St Joseph but I sort of went off track there. St Joseph pray for us. Amen.
What a beautiful account Carolyn. Thank you. Sad stories are often the best. It's amazing how readily chlidren respond to them and display a wisdom beyond their years. I used to walk every morning and often dropped into the childs section of the cemetery. I would pray for them and ask them to pray for me. My Granny lost a wee boy in childbirth. She never spoke about this but mum would often pray to her brother. As a nurse mum always baptised children in danger of death. I know of other nurses who continue this practise today in their busy lives, often secretly, to avoid the loss of their jobs. I have only ever baptised 3 people under such circumstances. A previous patient has recently returned for treatment. I sponsored her many years ago thru her RCIA. When she was baptised infront of the congregation she was at the fullness of her pregnancy. In leaning forward over the baptismal font to recieve the sacrament some water splashed on her belly. She looked up smiling at the people and said, "Well, that's both of us done." Recently she has said the grown up son who was in her belly at the time stands in need of my services. I look forward to meeting him again. My uncle Charlie and Aunt Eileen had seven daughters and one son who died in childbirth one Christmas. They baptised him Noel. I sometimes pray to him. While such losses are occasions of grief there is a sacred mystery in the transformation of these innocents into powerful intercessors for us on earth. Even more so there is a sacred connection between these Saints and their mothers who once carried them and who are now carried by them in their lives with God in heaven. This circle of life will be complete in God's time as it always has been and always will be. Last year we had an infant funeral for a wee boy called Sebastian. He made me think of St Sebastian de Garabandal. And just a few weeks ago I tended the mother of an infant who died in her arms on the beach. I often wonder if the angels and saints play a special role in administering the scrament of baptism to those in need just as the Angels administered the sacrament of Holy Eucharist to the girls in Garabandal when there was no other way they could receive. May your Saints Joseph and Erin shine on in God's crystal ocean lighting the way home for us wanderers here below. In your bright vision of their life in heaven we see how sad stories can be the best and will remain so until every tear is wiped away and we see our loved ones once again. Thank you Carolyn for giving us two more saints to add to that number on whose constant intercession we rely for help. You did not go off track there but led us back to St Joseph, spouse of Mary, through the sharing of your own sacred experience of parenthood. And in going through Joseph and Mary we come to Jesus. You could not be more on track. Sts Joseph and Erin of Carolyn pray for us.
