St. Joseph, pray for us

St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Patron of the Universal Church
J.M.J.

SAINT JOSEPH

March 19 -- Patron of the Universal Church

From "Lives of the Saints for every day of the year", edited by Rev. Hugo Hoever, S.O.Cist., Ph.D.

St. Joseph, the pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of our Blessed Lord, was descended from the royal house of David. He is the "just man" of the New Testament, the lowly village carpenter of Nazareth, who among all men of the world was the one chosen by God to be the husband and protector of the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ, God Incarnate. To his faithful, loving care was entrusted the childhood and youth of the Redeemer of the world.

After the Mother of God, not one of the children of men was ever so gifted and adorned with natural and supernatural virtues as was St. Joseph, her spouse. In purity of heart, in gentleness and manliness of character, he reveals to us the perfect type and model of the true Christian.

Poor and obscure in this world's possessions and honors, he was rich in grace and merit, and eminent before God in the nobility and beauty of holiness. Because St. Joseph was the representative of the Eternal Father on earth, the divinely appointed head of the Holy Family, which was the beginning of the great Family of God, the Church of Christ, on December 8, 1870, the Vicar of Jesus Christ, Pope Pius IX solemnly proclaimed the foster father of Jesus, Patron of the Universal Church, and from that time his feast has been celebrated on March 19th as a feast of high rank. In some places it is observed as a holy day of obligation.

Devotion to St. Joseph, fervent in the East from the early ages, has in later times spread and increased in such a marvelous way that in our day the Catholics of all nations vie with one another in honoring him. Besides the feast of March 19th there is another feast, that of St. Joseph the Workman, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Confessor (May 1st). Promulgated in 1955, it replaced the older "Solemnity of St. Joseph" which had been celebrated since 1847 --- first as the "Patronage of St. Joseph" on the third Sunday after Easter and after 1913 as the "Solemnity of St. Joseph" on the Wednesday before the third Sunday after Easter.

From his throne of glory in heaven, St. Joseph watches over and protects the Church militant, and no one calls on him in need ever calls in vain. He is the model of perfect Christian life and the patron of a happy death. His patronage extends over the Mystical Body of Christ, over the Christian family, the Christian school, and all individuals who in their need appeal to his charity and powerful intercession, especially in the hour of death; for he who, when dying, received the affectionate ministry of his foster Son, Jesus, and his Virgin spouse, Mary, may well be invoked and trusted to obtain for us poor sinners the mercy of God and the grace of a peaceful and holy death.

CONSECRATION TO ST. JOSEPH

O, my beloved St. Joseph, adopt me as thy child, take care of my salvation, watch over me day and night, preserve me from the occasion of sin, obtain for me purity of soul and body! Through thy intercession with Jesus grant me a spirit of sacrifice, of humility and self-denial, a burning love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and a sweet tender love for Mary, my Mother. St. Joseph, be with me living, be with me dying and obtain for me a favorable judgment from Jesus, my merciful Savior. Amen

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Sincerely in Christ,
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls."
http://olrl.org

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Friends of the Cross

Fourth Sunday of Lent
(Laetare Sunday)
J.M.J.


Friends of the Cross

St. Louis Marie de Montfort

St. Louis Marie de Montfort gave the readers of his long "letter" the title "Friends of the Cross" since they were determined to fight against the disorders of their time and to make reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He praises them, he encourages them, and he gives them precious advice. Below are a few of his 14 "rules" on how to carry one's cross.

"Eighth Rule. Take advantage of your sufferings and more so of the small ones than of the great. God considers not so much what we suffer as how we suffer. To suffer much, yet badly, is to suffer like reprobates. To suffer much, even bravely, but for a wicked cause, is to suffer as a martyr of the devil. To suffer much or little for the sake of God is to suffer like saints.

"If it be right to say that we can choose our crosses, this is particularly true of the little and obscure ones as compared with the huge, conspicuous ones, for proud human nature would likely ask and seek for the huge, conspicuous crosses even to the point of preferring them and embracing them. But to choose small, unnoticeable crosses and to carry them cheerfully requires the power of a special grace and unshakable fidelity to God. Do then as the storekeeper does with his merchandise: make a profit on every article; suffer not the loss of the tiniest fragment of the true Cross. It may be only the sting of a fly or the point of a pin that annoys you, it may be the little restlessness of soul, a slight physical weakness, a light pain in your limbs. Make a profit on every article as the grocer does, and you will soon become wealthy in God, as the grocer does in money, by adding penny to penny in his till. When you meet with the least contradition, simply say: 'Blessed be!
God! My God I thank you.' Then treasure up in the till of God's memory the cross which has just given you profit. Think no more of it, except to say: 'Many thanks!' or, 'Be merciful!'

"Twelfth Rule. Never murmur or deliberately complain about any created thing that God may use to afflict you. It is important to note the three kinds of complaints that may arise when misfortune assails you. The first is natural and involuntary. This happens when the human body moans and groans, sobs and sighs and weeps. If, as I said, the higher point of the soul submits to the will of God, there is no sin. The second is rational. Such is the case when we complain and disclose our hardships to some superior or physician who is able to remedy it. This complaint may be an imperfection, if too eagerly made, but it is no sin. The third is sinful. This happens when a person complains of others either to rid himself of the suffering they cause him, or to take revenge. Or else when he willfully complains about the sorrow he must bear and shows signs of grief and impatience.

"Thirteenth Rule. Whenever you are given a cross, be sure to embrace it with humility and gratitude. If God, in His infinite goodness, favors you with a cross of some importance, be sure to thank Him in a special way and have others join you in thanking Him. Do as that poor woman did who, through an unjust lawsuit, lost everything she owned. She immediately offered the last few pennies she had, to have a Mass said in thanksgiving to Almighty God for the good fortune that had come to her.

"Fourteenth Rule. If you wish to be worthy of the best crosses, those that are not of your choice, then, with the help of a prudent director, take on some that are voluntary.

* Suppose you have a piece of furniture that you do not need but prize. Give it to some poor person, and say to yourself: 'Why should I have things I do not need, when Jesus is destitute?'

* Do you dislike certain kinds of food, the practice of some particular virtue, or some offensive odor? Taste this food, practice this virtue, endure this odor, conquer yourself.

* Is your affection for some person or thing too ardent and tender? Keep away, deprive yourself, break away from things that appeal to you.

* Have you that natural tendency to see and be seen, to be doing things or going some place? Mind your eyes and hold your tongue, stop right where you are and keep to yourself.

* Do you feel a natural aversion to some person or thing? Rise above self by keeping near them.

"If you are truly Friends of the Cross, then, without your knowing it, love, which is always ingenious, will discover thousands of little crosses to enrich you. Then you need not fear self-conceit which often accompanies the patient endurance of conspicuous crosses and since you have been faithful in a few things, the Lord will keep his promise and set you over many things (Matt. 25,21,23): over many graces he will grant you; over many crosses He will send you; over much glory He will prepare for you..." (from A Circular Letter to The Friends of the Cross by Saint Louis Marie de Montfort, Montfort Publications, Bay Shore, NY, available from Angelus Press)

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Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls"
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