Thursday of the Third
Week of Lent
Solemnity OF ST.
JOSEPH-spring begins
Matthew,
Chapter 1, verse 19-20:
19
Joseph her
husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly. 20 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.
Even righteous people become afraid at times but
Mark Shea a catholic writer points out that Joseph being a devote Jew may have
had Holy fear as the basis of his being afraid.
“Modernity assumes it was because he thought her guilty of adultery,
but the typical view in antiquity understood the text to mean he was afraid of
her sanctity — as a pious Jew would be afraid to touch the Ark of the Covenant.
After all, think of what Mary told him about the angel's words: "The Holy
Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the Child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God."[1]
We should follow the example of Joseph and be not afraid
to take Mary into our home!
I know one small way I have taken Mary in my home
is to silently say a Hail Mary when I wash my hands to eat-praying,
“Mary help me not to
wash your son’s blood from my hands as Pilot did. Help me to have no innocent
blood on my hands. Let me not wash off responsibility for others.”
Prayer. MAY heavenly
propitiation increase Thy people subject to Thee, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and
make them ever servants of Thy commandments.
EPISTLE.
Jer. vii. 1-7.
In those days the
word of the Lord came to me, saying Stand in the gate of the house of the Lord,
and proclaim there this word, and say: Hear ye the word of the Lord, all ye men
of Juda, that enter in at these gates, to adore the Lord. Thus, saith the Lord
of hosts, the God of Israel: Make your ways and your doings good: and I will
dwell with you in this place. Trust not in lying words, saying: The temple of
the Lord, the temple of the Lord, it is the temple of the Lord. For if you will
order well your ways, and your doings: if you will execute judgment between a
man and his neighbor, if you oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the
widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, and walk not after strange gods
to your own hurt, I will dwell with you in this place: in the land which I gave
to your fathers from the beginning and forever, saith the Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL.
Luke iv. 38-44.
At that time Jesus, rising up out of the synagogue,
went into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great
fever, and they besought Him for her. And standing over her, He commanded the
fever, and it left her. And immediately rising, she ministered to them. And
when the sun was down, all they that had any sick with divers’ diseases brought
them to Him. But He laying His hands on every one of them, healed them. And
devils went out from many, crying out and saying: Thou art the Son of God. And
rebuking them He suffered them not to speak, for they knew that He was Christ.
And when it was day, going out He went into a desert place, and the multitudes
sought Him, and came unto Him: and they stayed Him that He should not depart
from them. To whom He said: To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of
God: for therefor am I sent. And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
Lenten
Calendar[3]
Read: The Seven
Penitential Psalms, Day Three:
(During times when we wish to express
repentance, and especially during Lent, it is customary to pray the seven
penitential psalms. The penitential designation of these psalms’ dates back to
the seventh century. Prayerfully reciting these psalms will help us to recognize
our sinfulness, express our sorrow and ask for God’s forgiveness.) Today we
will focus on Psalm 38.
Pray: “LORD, do not
punish me in your anger, in your wrath do not chastise me!” (Ps 38:2)
ST. JOSEPH was descended from the kingly line of David
and was a kinsman of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Matt. i. 1-16). The Gospel gives
him the praise of being just (Matt. i. 19), that is, a man distinguished for
all virtues. And surely, as he was chosen from all other men by God to be the
foster-father of His Son, he undoubtedly excelled, in virtues and sanctity, all
saints then living. Of his youth nothing certain is known to us, and of his
later life we know only what the Gospel relates. He was a carpenter (Matt.
xiii. 55), and lived at Nazareth, in Galilee (Luke ii. 4). Being espoused to
Mary, he was inclined, upon learning that she was with child, to put her away
privately, not wishing to expose her to public reproach but being instructed by
an angel, he took her to himself, in obedience to the command of God, went with
her to Bethlehem, and afterwards, with Mary and the new-born child, fled,
without timidity, to Egypt (Matt. ii. 13). At the command of the angel he
returned thence, and again dwelt in Nazareth (Matt. ii. 23). From this place
they went every year to the feast at Jerusalem, where it happened that Jesus,
then twelve years old, remained behind them in the temple, and was anxiously
sought for by them. More than this is not told us. At the time of the marriage
at Cana it would seem that he was no longer living, since there is no mention
made of him. Though little is said of him, that little is rich in profitable
instruction. How worthy to be admired and imitated is his example his chastity,
his tenderness towards Mary, his forbearing to pronounce a judgment in regard
to her condition when he could not explain it, his quick and unreserved
obedience towards God and the commands of authority, his love for Jesus, and
his care for both the mother and the child. On account of his sanctity God has
specially distinguished him by miracles, and the Church honors him in a
particular manner. In the Litany of the Saints he is named among the
patriarchs, and the feast of his patronage is celebrated on the third Sunday
after Easter. Venerate, therefore, St. Joseph choose him for your protector in
life and in death and make yourself worthy of his protection by following his
example.
Instruction
To encourage us to veneration for St. Joseph St.
Teresa wrote “I do not remember to have asked St. Joseph for anything which he
did not grant me. The great favors which God has granted me through him, and
the many dangers of soul and body from which he has freed me, truly deserve
admiration. It seems that God has granted to other saints the grace of
assisting, in particular needs, those who invoke their intercession; but this
glorious saint assists in all needs. The Lord seems thereby to indicate that,
as He was subject to Joseph on earth, so now He grants him whatever he asks
for. The same thing has been experienced by persons whom I have advised to
recommend themselves to him.” “I would gladly advise everyone,” says St.
Alphonsus, to have a great devotion towards this saint, since I have
experienced what graces he can obtain from God. For several years I have asked
him, on his feast, for some particular grace, and every time my petition has
been granted. As we all have to die, we should have a particular devotion
towards St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death for all Catholic
Christians consider him to be an intercessor for the dying, and that he
assists, at the hour of death, those who venerate him; and this for three
reasons
1.
Because Jesus loves him, not only as a friend, but as a father, on which
account his intercession is more powerful than that of any other saint.
2.
Because St. Joseph obtained special power against the evil spirits who tempt us
at the hour of death.
3.
The assistance which Jesus and Mary gave to Joseph at the hour of his own death
procured for him the right to obtain a holy and easy death for his dependents.
If in their dying hour they invoke his aid, not only will he assist them, but
he will obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and Mary. “Ought not these
words of a great saint encourage you to venerate St. Joseph every day? Should
not the hope of dying one day under the protection of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
move you to devotion to the foster-father of Jesus?”
Prayer
to St. Joseph
O
most chaste Joseph, who, by thy purity and other exalted virtues, wast worthy
to be chosen for the spouse of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus, I beseech
thee, by the great graces of which thou wast made partaker, that thou wouldst,
by thy intercession, obtain for all parents grace to rear their children
piously; for all married persons who are distressed and afflicted through
poverty and tribulations consolation and encouragement; for all unmarried
persons who have devoted their chastity to God the grace of perseverance; and,
finally, for all the dying the grace to come, after a happy death, to thy
fosterchild, Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and
reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.
Meditate on the humility of Saint Joseph this day; ask
his assistance and special protection.
·
A
table overflowing with good Italian food honoring St. Joseph is a traditional
Sicilian custom. The feast of San Giuseppe began in the Middle Ages when Sicily
was suffering from a severe drought and the desperate people begged St. Joseph
for rain. When they received rainy weather in response, they held a huge
"feste" in Saint Joseph's honor. Even today, Sicilians go to Mass
before their St. Joseph's day dinner and then process to their festive tables,
decked out in flowers, breads, and all sorts of Italian foods. The priest
blesses the food, and everyone shouts, "Viva la tavola di San
Giuse!" (which your children will readily do with great gusto). After
the meal is done, everyone present is given something to take home, in the
generous spirit of this day. Try some of our delicious recipes linked here. We
especially recommend the traditional Minestrone. Italian sausage
is always a favorite, as well. And you should have bread of all kinds — this
recipe for Italian Decorative
Breads
can provide the traditional shape of your choice (St. Joseph's staff, his
beard, etc). Also a traditional must with children is St. Joseph's
Sfinge,
(Cream Puffs). Plan a St. Joseph's potluck for this day with other Catholic
families — invite a parish priest and ask his blessing over the food before you
begin the meal. If you do not have the time or resources to do this, plan a
smaller affair with your own family, complete with prayers to St. Joseph, a
little procession with candles for the older children and your favorite hymns,
and then the father of the family ought to say a special blessing over the food
before you begin.
·
Check
out this wonderful site that explains the St. Joseph Altar more in detail,
includes recipes, history, and allows virtual offerings.
·
For
further reading:
2.
A Table for Saint
Joseph: Celebrating March 19th with Devotions, Authentic Italian Recipes, and
Timeless Traditions
by Mary Anne Scanlan Grasso.
6.
Interested
in history? Read this article on the history of devotions to St. Joseph, Finding
St. Joseph,
by Sandra Miesel.
·
Here
is a link to several meditations on St.
Joseph
— choose the one that is perfect for you and your family!
·
Young
girls ought to pray to St. Joseph for their future spouse.
·
Joseph
is noted in the Bible for being a direct descendant of King David in the Old
Testament, which gives him a royal lineage (Matthew 1:1-16, Luke 3:23-38).
·
St.
Joseph actually has two feast days in the Roman Catholic Church. The
March 19 date celebrates him as husband of Mary. He is revered again on
May 1 as a worker. In the Orthodox tradition, Joseph is revered during
the Great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord in September.
·
St
Joseph is the patron saint of the dying and of carpenters.
St Joseph Top Events and Things to
Do[7]
·
Practice
carpentry skills to build something. Jesus is known as the son of a
carpenter, or builder. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of carpenters
.
·
Investigate
your lineage. Genealogy can sometimes yield interesting information about
where we came from. Maybe you come from royal lineage, too!
·
Joseph
raised a child that was not his own. Thank a man who has served as a
father for someone else's children.
·
Enjoy
Italian food in St. Joseph's honor. He is one of the most beloved saints
in Italian-American communities.
·
Visit
an Italian Bakery and pick up some delicious St Joseph's bread (Pane di San
Giuseppe). St. Joseph's Bread is typically made with egg and has a
thicker crust. It is often marked or shaped in a cross.
Spring
traditionally marks the end of winter and
the beginning of a season that signifies longer days and warmer temperatures.
The first day of Spring is also known as the Vernal Equinox. This
marks the day that the Sun's path is directly over the equator. This day
also contains equal amount of daytime and night time. This day typically
occurs each year on March 20, and on March 21 on some years.
The
First Day of Spring is also called the Vernal Equinox.
·
The
Vernal Equinox is the day of the year where there are exactly 12 hours of
daylight and 12 hours of dark in the Northern Hemisphere.
·
On
the vernal equinox, the Sun crosses the equator into the Northern Hemisphere.
This has the effect of making the days longer in the Northern Hemisphere
until the Summer Solstice occurs.
·
The
Egyptian Great Sphinx points directly at the Sun on this day.
Vernal
Equinox-Spring Begins Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit
a nursery and purchase seeds or plants.
·
Start
your spring cleaning.
·
Plan
your flower beds and garden.
·
Put
away winter clothes and prepare summer clothes.
The ordinary activity of the Enemy is to seek the ruin of souls through various kinds of temptation. These passages offer counsel about how to turn away from evil so that you can overcome temptation and pass the tests that God allows for your strengthening.
·
Because
He Himself suffered and has been tempted, He is able to help those who are
tempted. We may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 2: 17–
18; 4: 14– 16
·
My
son, if you come forward to serve the LORD, remain in justice and in fear, and
prepare yourself for temptation. Sir 2: 1
·
[Jesus
prayed:] “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that
you should keep them from the Evil One.” Jn 17: 15 RSVCE
·
Blessed
is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been tried, he will receive
the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no man say
when he is tempted, that he is tempted by God; for God is no tempter to evil,
and He Himself tempts no one. But everyone is tempted by being drawn away and
enticed by his own passion. Then when passion has conceived, it brings forth
sin; but when sin has matured, it begets death. Therefore, my beloved brethren,
do not err. Jas 1: 12– 16
·
The
fear of men lays a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD is safe. Pr 29: 25
·
The
Lord knows how to deliver the God-fearing from temptation. 2 Pt 2: 9
·
Have
no anxiety, but in every prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
petitions be made known to God. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest,
brethren, whatever things are true, whatever honorable, whatever just, whatever
holy, whatever lovable, whatever of good repute, if there be any virtue, if
anything worthy of praise, think upon these things. Phil 4: 6– 9
Daily
Devotions
[2]
Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896
[4]
Goffine’s Divine Instructions, 1896
[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2018-03-19
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