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The reason this blog is called "Iceman for Christ" is I was a member of Navel Mobile Construction Battalion that complete construction of the South Pole Station in 1974. At that time there was only one priest in Antarctica and I was asked by him to give the eucharistic to my fellow Catholics at a protestant service celebrated by the Battalion Chaplin on Sundays. At that time only priestly consecrated hands could give the eucharist. There were not eucharist ministers at that time. I was given permission by a letter from the bishop to handled our Lord. Years later I was reading the bible and read "and you shall take me to the ends of the earth." I reflected on it for a second and thought Yes, been there done that. Be not afraid and serve Christ King. Greater is HE; than he who is in the world.

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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

MARCH 19 Tuesday-Solemnity of St. Joseph SPRING BEGINS   John, Chapter 9, Verse 22 His parents said this because they were AFRAID of the Je...

Iceman's Total Consecration to St. Joseph


Day 1[1]

I did not understand St. Joseph well enough, but that will change.

— St. John of the Cross

In the 16th century, St. John of the Cross humbly acknowledged that he lacked a proper understanding of the greatness of St. Joseph. Inspired by the tremendous love that his friend, St. Teresa of Avila, had for St. Joseph, St. John of the Cross made a firm resolution to get to know and love St. Joseph better.
What about you? Do you know St. Joseph? Do you feel you understand his greatness and love for you?

 Saint José Manyanet, a priest in 19th-century Spain, fervently promoted devotion to St. Joseph and the Holy Family. He prophesied that a “time of St. Joseph” would soon arrive in the life of the Church. He wrote:

I believe that the true time of Saint Joseph has not arrived yet: after two thousand years we started only now to glimpse something of the mystery in which he is immersed.

Well, my friends, I firmly believe that in our day the Lord wants to direct our hearts, families, parishes, dioceses, and Church to St. Joseph in a major way. In 1961, St. Pope John XXIII made a profound statement about St. Joseph. He wrote:

In the Holy Church’s worship, right from the beginning, Jesus, the Word of God made man, has enjoyed the adoration that belongs to him, incommunicable as the splendor of the substance of his Father, a splendor reflected in the glory of his saints. From the earliest times, Mary, his mother, was close behind him, in the pictures in the catacombs and the basilicas, where she was devoutly venerated as “Holy Mother of God.” But Joseph, except for some slight sprinkling of references to him here and there in the writings of the Fathers [of the Church], for long centuries remained in the background, in his characteristic concealment, almost as a decorative figure in the overall picture of the Savior’s life. It took time for devotion to him to go beyond those passing glances and take root in the hearts of the faithful, and then surge forth in the form of special prayers and of a profound sense of trusting abandonment. The fervent joy of pouring forth these deepest feelings of the heart in so many impressive ways has been saved for modern times!

What the Vicar of Christ clearly stated is that now is the time of St. Joseph. We are living in modern times, the time in which the Church is witnessing an unprecedented era of devotion to St. Joseph. According to St. Pope John XXIII, God desires devotion to St. Joseph to surge forth in our day in the form of special prayers of “trusting abandonment.” This means one thing in particular: It’s time for total consecration to St. Joseph!

Here is a list a list of remarkable events that have taken place over the past 150 years that show St. Joseph’s increasing importance in the life of the Church. They clearly indicate that we are living in an unprecedented time of St. Joseph.
  • 1868 — Blessed Jean-Joseph Lataste, OP, writes a letter to Blessed Pope Pius IX asking him to declare St. Joseph the “Patron of the Universal Church.”
  • 1870 — Blessed Pope Pius IX declares St. Joseph the “Patron of the Universal Church.”
  • 1871 — Founding of the Josephites by Cardinal Herbert A. Vaughan
  • 1873 — Founding of the Congregation of St. Joseph by St. Leonardo Murialdo
  • 1878 — Founding of the Oblates of St. Joseph by St. Joseph Marello
  • 1879 — Apparitions at Knock, Ireland. Saint Joseph appears with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Apostle, and Jesus (appearing as the Lamb of God).
  • 1889 — Pope Leo XIII writes Quamquam Pluries, an encyclical letter on St. Joseph.
  • 1895 — Blessed Petra of St. Joseph begins construction on a shrine to St. Joseph in Barcelona, Spain. It is consecrated in 1901. At her beatification in 1994, St. John Paul II calls Blessed Petra the “apostle of St. Joseph of the 19th century.”
  • 1904 — Saint André Bessette constructs an oratory dedicated to St. Joseph in Montreal, Canada. It expands, is declared a minor basilica, and finally is completed in 1967. Today, it is known as St. Joseph’s Oratory and is considered by many to be the preeminent international center of devotion to St. Joseph.
  • 1908 — Saint Luigi Guanella begins constructing a church dedicated to St. Joseph in Rome. It is completed and consecrated as a basilica in 1912.
  • 1909 — Saint Pope Pius X officially approves the Litany of St. Joseph.
  • 1914 — Saint Luigi Guanella founds the Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Salvation of the Dying.
  • 1917 — Apparitions at Fatima, Portugal. During the last apparition on October 13, St. Joseph appears holding the Child Jesus and blessing the world.
  • 1921 — Pope Benedict XV inserts the phrase “Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse” into the Divine Praises.
  • 1947 — Spanish Discalced Carmelites found Estudios Josefinos, the first theological journal devoted to St. Joseph.
  • 1950s — The alleged apparitions of Our Lady of America given to Sr. Mary Ephrem emphasize a renewed devotion to St. Joseph, and St. Joseph himself speaks to the visionary about this devotion.
  • 1955 — Venerable Pope Pius XII establishes the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, to be celebrated on May 1.
  • 1962 — Saint Pope John XXIII inserts St. Joseph’s name into the Canon of the Mass (Eucharistic Prayer I).
  • 1989 — Saint Pope John Paul II writes Redemptoris Custos, an apostolic exhortation on St. Joseph.
  • 2013 — Pope Francis, echoing and fulfilling the intentions of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, inserts the name of St. Joseph into all Eucharistic Prayers. He also consecrates Vatican City State to St. Joseph.
Whoa! Did you know all that? Most people are unaware of these remarkable events. Without exaggeration, the Church has done more to promote St. Joseph in the last 150 years than in the previous 1,800 years of Christianity! But why now? Why St. Joseph?

There are many reasons, but I believe there are two that are especially important.
First, we need the spiritual fatherhood of St. Joseph to help us protect marriage and the family. Marriage and the family have always been under attack, but in modern times, the threats have reached extraordinary heights. Many people no longer know what it means to be a man or a woman, let alone what constitutes a marriage and a family. Many countries even claim to have redefined marriage and the family. There is great confusion on these matters, greater confusion than in any previous era of human history. The Servant of God Sr. Lucia dos Santos, the longest-lived visionary of the Fatima apparitions, knew the seriousness of the times and made a powerful statement about this issue. She wrote:

The final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about marriage and the family.
To combat and overcome Satan’s deceptions, the Church needs St. Joseph. His example and protection are the only way out of the confusing mess we are in. Who else can we turn to who can help us understand what marriage and the family are all about if not to the Head of the Holy Family and our spiritual father?

Second, the entire world needs to be re-evangelized, including the vast majority of baptized Christians. Saint Joseph was the first missionary. Today, he desires again to bring Jesus to the nations. Many nations and cultures that were previously Christian have fallen away from their Christian roots and are on a path of self-destruction. Countries once established on Judeo-Christian principles have become overrun by ideologies and organizations that seek to strip society of all that is sacred. Without a major turnaround, civilization itself is going to self-destruct.

In an apostolic exhortation on St. Joseph in 1989, St. John Paul II reminded us of the necessity of invoking St. Joseph in the work of re-evangelizing the world. He wrote:

This patronage [of St. Joseph] must be invoked as ever necessary for the Church, not only as a defense against all dangers, but also, and indeed primarily, as an impetus for her renewed commitment to evangelization in the world and to re-evangelization in those lands and nations where religion and the Christian life were formerly flourishing and are now put to a hard test.

Now is the time to consecrate yourself to St. Joseph! God is telling his Church that, in order to defend marriage and the family, elevate morals, recover lost ground, and win souls for Jesus Christ, we need to bring St. Joseph onto the battlefield. He is the Terror of Demons! With his powerful spiritual fatherhood, incredible love for his spiritual children, and constant intercession, the Church can be renewed as a light to the nations!

What exactly is consecration to St. Joseph? In other words, what does it mean for a person to be consecrated to St. Joseph? Well, it basically means that you acknowledge that he is your spiritual father, and you want to be like him. To show it, you entrust yourself entirely to his paternal care so that he can help you acquire his virtues and become holy. Total consecration to St. Joseph means you make a formal act of filial entrustment to your spiritual father so that he can take care of your spiritual well-being and lead you to God. The person who consecrates himself to St. Joseph wants to be as close to their spiritual father as possible, to the point of resembling him in virtue and holiness. Saint Joseph, in turn, will give those consecrated to him his loving attention, protection, and guidance.

Perhaps someone reading this has already consecrated themselves entirely to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and is wondering if they can consecrate themselves to St. Joseph and entrust everything to him, as well. The answer is a resounding “Yes!” God desires that all children be committed to the love and care of a mother and a father. You are not a member of a single-parent spiritual family. Mary is your spiritual mother, and St. Joseph is your spiritual father. The spiritual fatherhood of St. Joseph is extremely important for your spiritual growth. Total consecration to Mary is not diminished by total consecration to St. Joseph. Mary wants you to consecrate yourself to St. Joseph! Jesus wants you to consecrate yourself to St. Joseph! Everything you have given to Jesus and Mary can also be given to St. Joseph. The hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are one.

So, is there a book that offers a method of consecration to St. Joseph? Yes, there is! It’s called Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of our Spiritual Father and it follows a method similar to the tried-and-true 33-day preparation method employed by St. Louis de Montfort in his Marian consecration. The 33-day program can be done by individuals, parishes, and entire diocese. Through this program, I hope to spark the first worldwide movement of consecration to St. Joseph!
Consecration to St. Joseph has endorsements from Cardinal Raymond Burke, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Jim Caviezel, Scott Hahn, and many others. Get your copy of Consecration to St. Joseph and be part of the movement! Go to www.consecrationtostjoseph.org to find out more!

Veni Sancte Spiritus[2]

Holy Spirit, God of light, fill us with your radiance bright;
Gentle father of the poor, make us, by your help, secure;
Come, your boundless grace impart, bring your love to every heart.

Lord of consolation, come, warm us when our hearts are numb;

Great consoler, come and heal, to our souls your strength reveal;

Cool, refreshing comfort pour, and our peace of mind restore.

Light immortal, fire divine, with your love our hearts refine;

Come, our inmost being fill, make us all to do your will;
Goodness you alone can give, grant that in your grace we live.

Come, our lukewarm hearts inspire, mold our wills to your desire;

In our weakness make us strong, and amend our every wrong;

Guide us when we go astray, wash our stain of guilt away.
Give to every faithful soul, gifts of grace to make us whole;
Help us when we come to die, so that we may live on high;
Ever let your love descend, give us joys that never end.

Litany of St. Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
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.
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.
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.
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 takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us, O Jesus.
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.




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veni_Sancte_Spiritus

Day 2[1]


The Litany of St. Joseph teaches us the virtues we need to emulate to “Be all we can be”, for God. The basis of Father Calloway’s Total Consecration to St. Joseph is contained in the litany. Today spend some time in quiet reflection with the litany before the blessed sacrament.

Litany of St. Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
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.
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.
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.
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 takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us, O Jesus.
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.

Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896

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 inter cession 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 foster child, Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God, world without end. Amen. Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Memorare to St. Joseph[2]

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession were left unassisted.
Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection.
Despise not O Guardian of the Redeemer my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.

Act of Consecration to St. Joseph

O dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector and my guide in the way of salvation.

Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life.

After your example may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

O Blessed St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[2]https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/memorare-to-st-joseph-350


Day 3[1]

On Day 3 Father Calloway using the Litany points to the Mission of Christ which is to intercede and show us the mercies of God.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us. 

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

Father Calloway stresses on this day that:

·         Consecration to St. Joseph will increase the presence of the father in your life.
·         The fatherhood of St. Joseph reflected the presence of the heavenly father in the life of Jesus.
·         What the Heavenly Father Did for Jesus He Wants to Do for You.

Notice the use of the word presence, St. Joseph was a man of presence. If we wish to emulate St. Joseph, we must be men of presence too. To be present is to be in the moment and be aware of the visible and the invisible. We must be in the presence of our Lord and talk to Him.

If you haven’t already done so, I recommend you develop the habit of spending 10-15 minutes a day with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or if that is not available some other quiet place where you can be in the presence of our Lord. Read the daily entry and reflect on it asking our Lord and St. Joseph to talk to your heart and reveal to you the will of the Father and then Do it.
St. Joseph as our patron must be invoked as a defense against all dangers and for a renewed commitment to evangelization in the world. St. John Paul II in Redemptoris Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer).



John Paul II further said, “Because St. Joseph is the protector of the Church, he is the guardian of the Eucharist and the Christian family. Therefore, we must turn to St. Joseph today to ward off attacks upon the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and upon the family. We must plead with St. Joseph to guard the Eucharistic Lord and the Christian family during this time of peril.”

St. Joseph Our Spiritual Father[2]

Joseph is the Patron of the Universal Church and our own father in the spiritual life. The Eternal Father is our Father in the most perfect sense. But even the eternally begotten Son of this Father was obedient and entered the care of St. Joseph. As members of Christ’s body, we too enter into the care of St. Joseph who still acts as a “faithful and wise servant” over his Master’s household.

There are few other reasons that enlighten us as to why St. Joseph is so crucial for the Church as a fatherly model for the Christian life. Although he was in the Davidic line, Joseph was not a political agitator, haughtily complaining of Roman occupation and stirring up support for his own cause. Rather, and more positively, he was a builder. The Greek tekton certainly can be translated as carpenter, but also has a broader connotation of craftsman or builder. Joseph, the kingly carpenter, would teach the Son of God, through whom all things were made, to fashion things with his hands. To be a builder or craftsman is fitting for one who is like God, sharing in God’s own creative work. It is from Joseph that Jesus the Creator learned to create. St. John Paul II draws this out in his encyclical Laborem Exercens, describing Christ’s “gospel of work,” and how “he who proclaimed it was himself a man of work, a craftsman like Joseph of Nazareth.”



We also see in Joseph the importance of the role of husband and father. St. Joseph is necessary right now as a model of fatherhood as we face its near extinction. In a piece called The Crisis of Fatherhood, Ray Williams describes how “America is rapidly becoming a fatherless society, or perhaps more accurately, an absentee father society” and gives startling statistics on the effects of the absence of fathers. Fathers have to be spiritual and moral leaders, as it has been widely noted that fathers are the number one influence on the religious practice of their children. St. Joseph’s courageous care for his wife and foster child, through poverty, danger, and hardship, is a model for us as we seek to restore fatherhood to its foundational role in society and the Church.

·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.


Day 4

On Day 4 Father Calloway using the Litany points to the idea that Christ is our only hope.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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.

Father Calloway stresses on this day that:

·         Consecration to St. Joseph will increase your love for Jesus.

St. Joseph just as he was for Jesus is also our guardian, loving protector, and fearless defender. He is our model of heroic manhood and marriage, chastity, and life itself.

One of my favorite representations of the Lords delight with us is a statue of Joseph and the baby Jesus. Jesus and Joseph are playing.  Joseph is slightly bent with the baby Jesus giggling crawling over the back of Joseph and peeking over his shoulder looking at his face in peek a boo fashion and delight is all over both of their faces. How can we fear when we have a God who loves us so! 

In times of tribulation when we feel courage being drained from our souls let us remember the courage of blessed Saint Joseph reflecting on his courage, strength and of course gentleness with our Lord Jesus. In times of trouble let us call on the aid of St. Joseph reflecting on this portion of the litany of Saint Joseph[2]

”St. Joseph, Renowned offspring of David, Light of Patriarchs, Spouse of the Mother of God, Chaste guardian of the Virgin, Foster father of the Son of God, Diligent protector of Christ, Head of the Holy Family, Joseph most just, Joseph most chaste, Joseph most prudent, Joseph most strong, Joseph most obedient, Joseph most faithful, Mirror of patience, Lover of poverty, Model of artisans, Glory of home life, Guardian of virgins, Pillar of families, Solace of the wretched, Hope of the sick, Patron of the dying, Terror of demons, Protector of Holy Church.  Pray for Us!”

The Intercession of Saint Joseph Is Most Powerful[3]

·         first, for attaining the virtue of purity and overcoming the sensual inclinations of the flesh.

·         secondly, for procuring powerful help to escape sin and return to the friendship of God.

·         thirdly, for increasing the love and devotion to most holy Mary.

·         fourthly, for securing the grace of a happy death and protection against the demons in that hour.

·         fifthly, for inspiring the demons with terror at the mere mention of his name by his clients.

·         sixthly, for gaining health of body and assistance in all kinds of difficulties.

·         seventhly, for securing issue of children in families.

These and many other favors God confer upon those who properly and with good disposition seek the intercession of the spouse of our Queen, saint Joseph. I beseech all the faithful children of the Church to be very devout to him and they will experience these favors, if they dispose themselves as they should in order to receive and merit them.

·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.





[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[2]https://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/litanies/joseph.htm
[3]Venerable Mary of Agreda. The Mystical City of God:



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[2]https://catholicexchange.com/why-st-joseph-patron-of-the-church-and-spiritual-father

Day 5[1]

On Day 5 Father Calloway using the Litany points to the idea that the Holy Spirit wants us to know and love St. Joseph.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Father Calloway stresses on this day that:

·         St. Joseph wants you to be docile to the direction of the Holy Spirit so that you can be led in the ways of holiness.
·         St. Joseph is a model of the interior life for all his children.
·         Consecration to St. Joseph will increase the Holy spirit in your life.

Holiness is living in intimate loving communion with God. St. Joseph knew, and he wants you to know holiness is for everyone. St. Joseph will help you become a saint. Ask and you will receive. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you into another Joseph. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the graces of St. Joseph.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

1. Wisdom

Wisdom is not the quoting of facts. Wisdom is a gift that allows a person to understand things from God's point of view. In other words, Wisdom allows a person to recognize truth. A person with the Gift of Wisdom is able to take this truth and use it to glorify God by choosing Godly solutions to problems. 

2. Understanding

Understanding is the second gift of the Holy Spirit, and people sometimes have a hard time understanding (no pun intended) how it differs from wisdom. While wisdom is the desire to contemplate the things of God, understanding allows us grasp, at least in a limited way, the very essence of the truths of the Catholic Faith. Through understanding, we gain a certitude about our beliefs that moves beyond faith

3. Counsel

The Gift of Counsel is also known as a Gift of Right Judgment. Counsel, the third gift of the Holy Spirit, is the perfection of the cardinal virtue of prudence. Prudence can be practiced by anyone, but counsel is supernatural. Through this gift of the Holy Spirit, we are able to judge how best to act almost by intuition. Because of the gift of counsel, Christians need not fear to stand up for the truths of the Faith, because the Holy Spirit will guide us in defending those truths.

4. Fortitude

The Gift of Fortitude is also known as the Gift of Courage. Through this Gift a person is no longer afraid to stand up for God and His truths. A person who has the Gift of Fortitude will stand up for good against evil and is convicted to take a stand when the occasion arises.

5. Knowledge

The Gift of Knowledge allows a person to understand the meaning and purpose God has for him and to live up to this meaning. It differs from wisdom in that it is an action, not just a desire to live up to the ways of God. It differs from Understanding in that it is not just ability, it is a knowing.

6. Piety

Piety, the sixth gift of the Holy Spirit, is the perfection of the virtue of religion. While we tend to think of religion today as the external elements of our faith, it really means the willingness to worship and to serve God. Piety takes that willingness beyond a sense of duty, so that we desire to worship God and to serve Him out of love, the way that we desire to honor our parents and do what they wish.

7. Fear of the Lord

The Gift of Fear of the Lord puts God in the proper perspective. A person with this Gift understands the greatness and awesomeness of the Lord. They want to serve Him because of who He is. A person with the Gift of Fear of the Lord understands who they are and why they are here in relationship to God; In other words, everything they are is due to the wonder, love, grace, and perfection of God. They are totally dependent on the Lord as a child is to a parent. The Gift of Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. Once a person understands who God is and desires to please Him, they can begin to understand things from God's point of view or have Wisdom.
·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph



Day 6[1]

On Day 6 Father Calloway using the Litany points to the idea that the Holy Trinity is a family and we can be a member of that family.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Father Calloway stresses on this day that:

·         St. Joseph is the father of the Trinity on earth.
·         If you want to be a member of the Trinitarian Family in heaven, you need to be a child of St. Joseph on earth.


St Joseph’s Oratory is the father house of shrine’s to St. Joseph. It is also a basilica which is a church granted special privileges by the Pope. This shrine was started by a man like Joseph; a simple man who also like Joseph never was a priest and was a simple doorman of a college; known to the world as Brother Andre. Brother Andre’s advice is:

“When you invoke St. Joseph, you don’t have to speak much. You know your Father in heaven knows what you need; well, so does his friend St. Joseph. Tell him, “If you were in my place, St. Joseph, what would you do?”

THE GREAT SAINT OF EVERYDAY LIFE[2]

Saint Joseph can be seen as the saint of everyday life, to whom one turns for help with both minor worries and at life-defining moments. Saint Brother André had boundless trust in Saint Joseph, his friend and guide. His dream was to build on Mount Royal a chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph — an oratory for prayer to him. Crowds soon flocked to the place. Following Brother André’s recommendation, the great saint is invoked here because, according to him, “He lets no one fall by the wayside.” Traditionally, one confides to the care of Saint Joseph issues related to family, work, health, death and material needs.

The Spiritual Side of Saint Joseph

The Gospel of Matthew presents Joseph as a righteous man:

    This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they were married, she found herself to be with child, through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, being a righteous man, did not wish to disgrace her publicly, resolving instead to break the engagement privately. (Matthew 1, 18-19)

Joseph’s generosity and greatness are revealed in these few words. But Joseph went further in the gift of self by agreeing to become the real father of this child who was sent to save humanity. He served God’s purpose with dignity and deeply loved this Emmanuel, Jesus, God-with-us.

With simplicity and discretion

Joseph’s entire life as a laborer born into a modest home embodies the sanctity of daily life. He is a model for ordinary people who are called upon to live their lives as God’s children, through good and bad days, with simplicity and discretion.

The Scriptures do not contain any of Joseph’s words. The evangelists reveal a man who acts according to his conscience and obeys the instructions of the Lord’s angel. In his family life in Nazareth, he was guided by the obligation of performing everyday tasks. He passed on the values of altruism and honesty to the child Jesus, who was then an adolescent. Just like millions of other fathers, he did his best to educate his child, then let him go into the world when the time came.

An unusual vocation

In fact, Joseph was not a paragon of faith. Yet he acted like all of the faithful of his time, adhering to the commandments in the Scriptures, going on the pilgrimages required by Law and praying ardently each day. He was a genuine saint because he heard and accepted God’s call to accept a unique vocation: to become the earthly father of Jesus. He lived according to this vocation of husband, father, worker and good person. He is a just man, an inspiration and a companion to all “ordinary” believers, those who live their lives unspectacularly, and remain loyal to their faith and vocation.

Guardian, protector, supporter

Saint Joseph supports believers in many aspects of their lives. He has many designations: Guardian of the Pure in Heart, Hope of the Sick, Consolation of the Afflicted and Patron of the Dying. He is also known as a Model of Workers, Protector of the Church, Support of Families, and Terror of Demons. These multiple designations reveal a saint who is present in our daily lives, in times of suffering, and in the fears and hopes of those who pray.

·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph


Day 7[1]

On Day 7 Father Calloway using the Litany points to the idea that we look to Mary just as Joseph did. Joseph only found rest in Mary.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Father Calloway stresses on this day that:

·         St. Joseph will greatly bless those who love and honor Mary.
·         St. Joseph will increase your love for the virgin Mary.
·         Consecration to St. Joseph will make you a knight of the Holy Queen.

The Consecrated Knight

St Joseph is the model for total consecration to Mary. St. Joseph teaches that the Virgin Mary is what every Christian knight seeks. Those who find her find Jesus in Holy Communion. Mary desires to lead all souls to Holy Mass. Catholicism and its greatest treasure is Jesus in Holy Communion. Joseph was the first warrior knight that protected Mary and Christ.

Joseph the Warrior[2]

All of us have heard the phrase, “Nice guys finish last.” There is this idea in the world today that “Meekness equals weakness,” and humility so often implied that you will get walked on. Unfortunately, in many cases the meek and the humble do very well and go unnoticed in their accomplishments and may not get the same attention, job opportunities or as many “likes” on their latest social media sites. Instead of encouraging men to be meek and humble, the world teaches men to go out into the world and dominate. We are encouraged to out-perform others so as to prove ourselves through our bank accounts, our possessions and our record of achievements. As someone once said, “Money is just a way of keeping score.” Many men are totally dedicated to winning the game, as if life were a game to begin with.

Nevertheless, Christian men are called to be meek and humble. “Far from being weak, however, the meek possess an inner strength to restrain anger and discouragement in the midst of adversity” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible). We can practice these ideals in the simple ways in which we respond to the challenges of everyday life. Whether our wives snap at us at the end of a long and frustrating day, or a guy rudely cuts us off on the freeway, our responses define us. It is inevitable that life will provide us with major adversities in which to practice these difficult virtues! How you respond to God’s grace can truly make or break these experiences. We are called to be charitable, to love others and even pray for our enemies. It takes heroic strength and defining virtue!

Courage is also needed in order to withstand the storms of life that come our way. I can’t help but call to mind one of my favorite speeches from the classic movie, The Count of Monte Cristo:

“Life is a storm my young friend, you will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into the storm as you shout as you did in Rome. Do your worst for I will do mine. Then the Fates will know you as we know you as Albert Mondego, the man.”

There is something compelling in a man that seems to be calling us to fight and compete; but where is our ultimate battle? With whom are we fighting?

Joseph is our ultimate example of what it means to live authentic masculine Christianity. He was quite possibly the meekest and most humble of all. Yet at the same time, he was without question a warrior and a fighter. He participated in the greatest battle of all time. However, it was precisely his humility and meekness that allowed him to trample over the Evil One rather than faltering before him.

St. John Paul II proclaimed, “The family is placed at the heart of the great struggle between good and evil, between life and death, between love and all that is opposed to love” (Letter to Families, #23). Pope John Paul II insists that at the core and heart of Satan’s attack is the family. We see this vividly played out in the book of Revelation. “And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne” (Rev 12:4-5).

The Church understands this passage to have multiple meanings, but it is particularly clear that evil is attacking Our Lady and the Christ-child. This verse strikingly illustrates the attack of Satan at the very heart of the family. This is both a spiritual and a practical truth.

God chose Joseph for this battle because Joseph was a warrior for God. When Joseph said “Yes” to take Mary as his bride and Jesus as his Son, he was avowing “Yes” to engage in the most epic battle in human history. He was prepared to fight to the end to keep his family safe. From the beginning of Christ’s life, the powers of darkness wanted Joseph’s child dead and were willing to go to extreme lengths to accomplish their ambition. It’s incredibly ironic that Herod needed to take the life of an infant, the weakest and most helpless of mankind, in order for him to remain in a position of absolute power and strength. Herod represents an icon of what men who desire power over humility are willing to do and what men of humility are up against.

On the other hand, Joseph was willing to do whatever the Lord asked of him no matter what the personal cost. What strength! Most men lack the strength because most men lack the meekness.

Knighthood[3]


A knight is a man granted an honorary title of knighthood by a monarch, bishop or other political or religious leader for service to the monarch or a Catholic church, especially in a military capacity. Examples of some orders include Knights of Columbus, Knights of St. Malumba, Knights of St. John, Knights of the Cross and Knights of the Blessed Sacrament.

Pontifical knighthoods are honors conferred by the papal court on laymen who are of irreproachable (fine) character, who have promoted the welfare of society, the Church, and the Holy See (office of the pope). These decorations are bestowed by motu proprio (without any formal request from another person) and forwarded by the Secretary of State, or when petitioned by a bishop expedited through his chancery.

The papal orders of knighthood are:

·         Supreme Order of Christ.
·         Order of Pius IX.
·         Order of St. Gregory the Great.
·         Order of St. Sylvester.
·         Order of the Holy Sepulcher, which may be conferred on clerics and women.

5 requirements to become a Knight of the Catholic Church

1.      Be a role model:

St. Francis of Assisi was a “knight errant” figure, and he is the model for the new Knights. Francis wandered the countryside defending truth and preaching love for the King of kings. St. Francis lived an itinerant lifestyle of poverty. He chose to be a “lesser brother” preaching repentance and conversion. His simple rule for the life of his followers was to “imitate Christ”. In this same vein of virtue and simplicity, the Knights of the Holy Eucharist teach and give witness to their adoration for the Lord of hosts.

2.      Be Evidently charitable:

The Knights are one of the largest charitable organizations in the world. Through a variety of fundraisers throughout the year, the Knights raise financial support for many charities, including the Special Olympics and the Global Wheelchair Mission. The service aspect of the Knights encompasses the Church, Community, Council, Family, Pro-Life, and Youth.

3.      Be supportive of the Church’s functions and activities:

The Knights have been a foundation of support for the Catholic Church. In recent years, the Knights have performed a variety of projects for the Universal Church as well as worked with Bishops of the particular churches here in Rome and also in-home countries where the Knights reside.

4.      Be married:

Since the traditional family is composed of the husband, wife, and children, the Knights see them as the core, foundation, and fabric for all of society. Although the council meetings are for the members, many councils sponsor activities with the family in mind. It’s a great time to gather together as Catholic Christians and members of the Mystical Body of Christ. Asking for the intercession of the Holy Family is at the center of prayer for the Knights when it comes to family life.

5.      Be Faithful to the Catholic Church:

Knights are faithful by being obedient to the teachings of the Church, its Bishops, and Priests, and showing fidelity to the See of Peter. As faithful Catholics, the Knights foster and develop Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life, and Holy Matrimony. Standing with the Catholic Church, the Knights also fight for Religious Liberty, which is being threatened across the globe still to this day.

·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.





[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[2] https://stjosephnovena.com/day-22/
[3]https://yeahcatholic.com/5-simplest-elements-to-become-a-knight-of-the-catholic-church/



Day 8[1]

On Day 8 Father Calloway using the Litany points to the idea that we are members of the new covenant family and we should ask St. Joseph as head of that family to pray for us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Father Calloway stresses on this day that:

·         St. Joseph is a new Adam.
·         St. Joseph will help you get to the wedding feast of heaven.
·         St. Joseph is the delight of the Saints.

Marriage is at the center of creation and redemption. When we ask St. Joseph to pray for us he will increase our wisdom and virtue that we need to have a “proper attire” for the heavenly wedding feast.

Delight of the Saints

St Joseph is the model of love, humility and dedication to Jesus and the Virgin Mary. In the Kingdom of God, Mary is the most elevated of all creatures, but Joseph outranks all other saints. He is the Father of Christ, and husband/First Knight to Christ and His Mother. As such Joseph outranks all other saints. In the early Church it was understood that Joseph was the holiest human person after Mary. St. Lawrence of Brindisi stated, “And as in that first marriage God created Eve to be like Adam, so in this second marriage he made Joseph to be like the Blessed Virgin in holiness and justice.”

The church has created ranks of order and respect in the Kingdom.

1.      We are to give Adoration and Worship alone to God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and we are to serve only Him.
2.      We are to give the Highest reverence to Mary.
3.      We are to give first respect (revered) to Joseph.
4.      All others (saints) are revered (honored).

What about the angels? Only God is worthy of adoration. The Virgin Mary is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit; she is Queen of Heaven whom the highest choirs of angels serve. Yet since Joseph was united to the Blessed Virgin by the conjugal bond and God gave Joseph to Mary to be her spouse, he has via the conjugal bond an eminent dignity with Mary. St. Joseph is close to God because he is the father of Jesus. Saint Joseph’s role was planned from all eternity, even before the creation of the angels. His intercession is all powerful, he is the delight of saints and popes; the Italians and he should be your delight as well.

·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph


Day 9[1]

On Day 9 Father Calloway using the Litany points to the idea that St. Joseph came from a noble family of Kings.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble offspring of David, Pray for Us.

Father Calloway stresses on this day that:

·         St. Joseph was King of the Holy Family.
·         St. Joseph is a noble lord.

Son of David

As a descendant of David St Joseph knew the prophesies about the messiah.

In his new book, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives , Pope Benedict takes the position that Joseph did not yet believe that Mary had conceived by the Holy Spirit. He writes:
Joseph had to come to terms with the fact that Mary “was with child of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 1:18). With regard to the child’s origin, Matthew is anticipating something here that Joseph does not yet know. Joseph has to assume that Mary has broken their engagement, and according to the law he must dismiss her. He has a choice between a public juridical act and a private form. He can bring Mary before the court or he can issue her with a private writ of divorce. Joseph decides on the latter option, in order not “to put her to shame” (1:19). Matthew sees in this choice an indication that Joseph was “a just man.” . . .After the discovery that Joseph made, his task was to interpret and apply the law correctly. He does so with love: he does not want to give Mary up to public shame. He wishes her well, even in the hour of his great disappointment. He does not embody the form of externalized legalism that Jesus denounces in Mt 23 and that Paul opposes so strenuously. He lives the law as Gospel. He seeks the path that brings law and love into a unity. And so he is inwardly prepared for the new, unexpected and humanly speaking incredible news that comes to him from God. . . .The message conveyed to Joseph is overwhelming, and it demands extraordinarily courageous faith. Can it be that God has really spoken, that what Joseph was told in the dream was the truth—a truth so far surpassing anything he could have foreseen? Can it be that God has acted in this way toward a human creature? Can it be that God has now launched a new history with men? Matthew has already said that Joseph “inwardly considered” (enthymẽthéntos) the right way to respond to Mary’s pregnancy. So we can well imagine his inner struggle now to make sense of this breathtaking dream-message: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 1:20).[2]

·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[2]https://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/why-did-joseph-plan-to-divorce-mary


Day 10[1]

On Day 10 Father Calloway points out that all fathers are reflections of our Father in heaven.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.
Noble offspring of David, Pray for Us.

Light of Patriarchs, Pray for Us.

Father Calloway stresses on this day that:

·         St. Joseph is a reflection of the Father of Lights.
·         St. Joseph will help you live in the light of God.
·         The “Lumen Patriarcharum” terrifies Satan.

Saint Joseph is a bearer of light. The Devil hates St. Joseph and his light. Satan’s other name is Lucifer, which means “light bearer”. Satan also fears your spiritual father because he is a humble man of flesh and blood who perfectly reflects the Father of Lights. Stay close to St. Joseph and walk in the light.

Ite ad Ioseph

This means go to Joseph.

Father Calloway states:

Today, there is a worldwide spiritual and moral famine on the earth. Souls are dying because of a lack of spiritual nourishment. Hearts are broken; marriages are ruined; lives are destroyed; children are murdered in the womb; and truth and common sense are in short supply. The spiritual and moral famine in the world is devastating every nation, laying waste to humanity. There is not a single country left that has not been affected by it. What are we to do? To whom can we go to find nourishment for our souls.

ITE AD IOSEPH

Jesus loves him because St. Joseph faithfully served as his virginal father on earth. As his earthly, adoptive father, St. Joseph modeled all the virtues for his divine Son, teaching the Incarnate God how to be a man and make sacrifices. Jesus looked up to St. Joseph (see Lk 2:51-52). In fact, it was St. Joseph who saved Jesus by taking him to Egypt when Herod wanted to murder the newborn King. It is for this reason that St. Joseph is the only human person who has been given the title of “savior of the Savior.” Saint Joseph truly is the man closest to Christ. Even in eternity, Jesus perpetually shines his divine face on St. Joseph and responds to his every request and desire.[2]

·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph


Day 11[1]

On Day 11 Father Calloway points out that there has never been a man more in love with Mary than St. Joseph.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.
Noble offspring of David, Pray for Us.
Light of Patriarchs, Pray for Us.

Spouse of the Mother of God, Pray for us.

Father Calloway stresses on this day that:

·         St. Joseph is a model husband and father.
·         St. Joseph is the model for all men.

Saint Joseph was a real man and real men are gentlemen at the service of others. St. Joseph although depicted as an older man was not much older than Mary. He needed to be viral to protect Mary and Jesus. He was a torch of love for them and mostly spent himself in dying selfless love for his family. Just as the Holy Roman Catholic Church will not ordain a man to priesthood who has not his vital powers. Likewise, God would not have place a weaken man as the head of the Holy Family.

Young Husband of Mary[2]

The Venerable Fulton Sheen describes St. Joseph in this way:

Joseph was probably a young man, strong, virile, athletic, handsome, chaste, and disciplined; the kind of man one sees sometimes shepherding sheep, or piloting a plane, or working at a carpenter’s bench. Instead of being a man incapable of love, he must have been on fire with love… Instead, then, of being dried fruit to be served on the table of the king, he was rather a blossom filled with promise and power. He was not in the evening of life, but in its morning, bubbling over with energy, strength, and controlled passion.

St. Joseph practiced virtue in a heroic fashion which transformed him into a man’s man. 
Virtue. Aristotle says that “excellence is an art won by training and habituation” and that virtue is essentially practicing good habits. To be an excellent man like St. Joseph, is to be virtuous.
Four simple steps to forming virtue.

1. Start Small

When you embark on the journey to practice virtue, you must start small. Don’t try to practice every virtue all at once.

If you desire to become more patient, start by putting up with that one really annoying person at work. Or if you desire to be milder and gentler, start holding your road rage at bay on your commute into work. If you desire to be more pious, start by waking up in the morning and making the Sign of the Cross.
Whatever virtue you decide to tackle, start small.

2. Be Mindful of Your Negative Thoughts and Temptations

Once you begin to form a new habit, you will be tempted to fall back into your old ways. Temptation comes from the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The world is the people and influences around you. They can either lead you to greatness or keep you in mediocrity.  I heard it once said, “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” The world will tempt us to be mediocre, but we are called to greatness.

The flesh is your own weak humanity that is further weakened by the effects of original sin.  Our love for bodily comforts can tempt us away from virtue. But the man endeavoring to live a life of virtue must “deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mt. 16:24).

The devil, the third source of temptation, is the last person who wants us to be virtuous. St. Joseph is called the terror of the devils because he was virtuous. Don’t let the devil tempt you from being virtuous.

3. Have A Plan for When You Falter

Needless to say, that when begin to struggle for virtue, we will falter. Have a plan for when you do falter.

Perhaps that really annoying guy at work is beginning to grate on your nerves, have a compliment or kind word ready for him to help you regain your patience.

4. Rejoice at The Small Victories

All virtues are obtained by a hard-fought struggle and with the help of God’s grace. When you win that struggle and the good habit is transformed into a virtue, rejoice!
“For you O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy” (Psalm 92:4)

St. Joseph was able to share in the fatherhood of God because he was virtuous.
If you are single man and hope one day to be a husband and father, you must struggle for virtue like St. Joseph. If you are a married man and you are already a father, you must be virtuous like St. Joseph by being an excellent father.

If you are a single lady who is looking for a husband, ask God to send you a virtuous man. If you are a married woman, be like Our Lady and help your husband be a virtuous man.
St. Joseph, pillar of families and glory of home life, pray for us!


·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[2]https://www.catholicmatch.com/institute/2016/06/st-joseph-wants-you-to-be-a-better-man/


Day 12[1]

On Day 12 Father Calloway points out that chastity is an especially important virtue. To be chaste is to have self-mastery and preserves the human heart and body for authentic self-giving. You cannot give what you do not have. Chastity is the virtue that prevents us from being slaves to our passions and acting like irrational animals. Saint Joseph was both chase and celibate. Both Mary and Joseph were consecrated virgins to God.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.
Noble 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.

Father Calloway stresses

·         St. Joseph is pure of heart.
·         Your spiritual father is a gentleman.

Saint Joseph was married to the most beautiful woman in the world, and he treated her with respect, dignity, and reverence. Joseph must have had the most chaste and pure eyes of any husband who ever lived. In fact, both he and Mary lived in what is often called a “Josephite marriage”. Their hearts were so pure toward God that they never engaged in sexual relations and yet they were the most perfect example of a true marriage loving each as other seeking the good of the other.

The Feast of the Holy Spouses

The Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Marriage of the Virgin Mary is a feast that is celebrated in certain parts of the Roman Catholic Church among certain congregations such as the Oblates of St. Joseph. It was removed from many local calendars by the Sacred Congregation of Rites. It was formerly generally observed on January 23.[2]

Marriage is a basic human and social institution. Though it is regulated by civil laws and church laws, it did not originate from either the church or state, but from God. Therefore, neither church nor state can alter the basic meaning and structure of marriage. Marriage, whose nature and purposes are established by God, can only be the union of a man and a woman and must remain such in law. In a manner unlike any other relationship, marriage makes a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the common good of society, especially through the procreation and education of children. The union of husband and wife becomes, over a lifetime, a great good for themselves, their family, communities, and society. Marriage is a gift to be cherished and protected.[3]

·         1244 First Holy Communion. Having become a child of God clothed with the wedding garment, the neophyte is admitted "to the marriage supper of the Lamb" and receives the food of the new life, the body and blood of Christ. The Eastern Churches maintain a lively awareness of the unity of Christian initiation by giving Holy Communion to all the newly baptized and confirmed, even little children, recalling the Lord's words: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them." The Latin Church, which reserves admission to Holy Communion to those who have attained the age of reason, expresses the orientation of Baptism to the Eucharist by having the newly baptized child brought to the altar for the praying of the Our Father.

·         1621 In the Latin Rite the celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful normally takes place during Holy Mass, because of the connection of all the sacraments with the Paschal mystery of Christ. In the Eucharist the memorial of the New Covenant is realized, the New Covenant in which Christ has united himself for ever to the Church, his beloved bride for whom he gave himself up. It is therefore fitting that the spouses should seal their consent to give themselves to each other through the offering of their own lives by uniting it to the offering of Christ for his Church made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice, and by receiving the Eucharist so that, communicating in the same Body and the same Blood of Christ, they may form but "one body" in Christ.

·         2685 The Christian family is the first place of education in prayer. Based on the sacrament of marriage, the family is the "domestic church" where God's children learn to pray "as the Church" and to persevere in prayer. For young children in particular, daily family prayer is the first witness of the Church's living memory as awakened patiently by the Holy Spirit.

·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



Day 13[1]

On Day 13 Father Calloway points out that St. Joseph’s role in naming the Savior was an extremely important one. Fathers are called by God the Father, to nurture the children they create. Often men are cavalier in their duties as co-creators with God and sometimes out of self-interest men shun their duty of fatherhood. It was not so with Joseph; out of pure love and humility he felt unworthy of being the “Nurturer of the Son of God” until the moment he was commanded to “Be not Afraid”, to take Mary as his wife.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.
Noble 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.

Father Calloway stresses

·         St. Joseph’s spiritual fatherhood is forever.
·         Saint Joseph will always be your spiritual father.

What is valid for Jesus is valid for you-Saint Joseph is your spiritual educator, protector and provider. Saint Joseph’s spiritual fatherhood over Christ and us (the mystical body of Christ) endures forever.

Virginal Father of Jesus

Saint Joseph was by birth of the royal family of David, but was living in humble obscurity as a carpenter, until God raised him to the highest office ever accorded a mortal man, by choosing him to be the spouse of the Virgin Mother, the virginal father and guardian of the Incarnate Word. Joseph, says Holy Scripture, was a just man. He was innocent and pure, as became the husband of Mary; he was gentle and tender, as one worthy to be named the father of Jesus; he was prudent and a lover of silence, as became the master of the holy house; above all, he was faithful and obedient to divine calls. His conversation was with Angels rather than with men. When he learned that Mary bore within Her womb the Lord of heaven, he feared to take Her as his wife; but an Angel bade him put his fear aside, and all doubts vanished.[2]

Sacred Scripture has no direct reference to the question of Saint Joseph’s virginity. It does, however, bring out the fact that Joseph, while being the true father of the Son of God and the husband of Mary, is certainly not the natural father of Jesus. Indirectly it shows that the union between Mary and Joseph, while a true marriage, was primarily virginal.[3]

Vision of Venerable Mary of Agreda. The Mystical City of God:

760. During this time saint Joseph said to his spouse Mary: "My spouse and Lady, I give thanks to the Lord most high God for the favor of having designed me as your husband without my merits, though I judged myself unworthy even of thy company; but his Majesty, who can raise up the lowly whenever He wishes, showed this mercy to me, and I desire and hope, relying on thy discretion and virtue, that Thou help me to make a proper return in serving Him with an upright heart. Hold me, therefore, as thy servant, and by the true love which I have for thee, I beg of thee to supply my deficiencies in the fulfillment of the domestic duties and of other things, which as a worthy husband, I should know how to perform; tell me, Lady, what is thy pleasure, in order that I may fulfill it."

761. The heavenly Spouse heard these words with an humble heart, and yet also with a serene earnestness, and She answered the saint: "My master, I am fortunate, that the Most High, in order to place me in this state of life, has chosen thee for my husband and that He has given me such evident manifestation of his will, that I serve thee; but if thou givest me leave I will speak of my thoughts and intentions, which I wish to manifest to thee for this purpose." The Most High forestalled the sincere and upright heart of saint Joseph with his grace and inflamed it anew with divine love through the word of most holy Mary, and he answered Her, saying: "Speak, Lady thy servant hears." On this occasion the Mistress of the world was surrounded by the thousand angels of her guard, in visible form. She had asked them to be present in that manner, because the Lord, in order that the most pure Virgin might act with greater grace and merit, had permitted her to feel the respect and reverence, with which She was bound to speak to her husband and left her to the natural shyness and dread, which She always felt in speaking to men alone; for She had never done this, except perhaps by accident with the high priest.

762. The holy angels obeyed their Queen and, visible only to Her, stood in attendance. In this glorious company She spoke to her spouse saint Joseph, and said to him: "My lord and spouse, it is just that we give praise and glory with all reverence to our God and Creator, who is infinite in goodness and incomprehensible in his judgments. To us, who are so needy, He has manifested his greatness and mercy in choosing us for his service. I acknowledge myself among all creatures as more beholden and indebted to Him than all others, and more than all of them together; for, meriting less, I have received from his liberal hand more than they. At a tender age, being compelled thereto by the force of this truth, which, with the knowledge of the deceitfulness of visible things, his divine light made known to me, I consecrated myself to God by a perpetual vow of chastity in body and soul; his I am and Him I acknowledge as my Spouse and Lord, with fixed resolve to preserve for Him my chastity. I beseech thee, my master, to help me in fulfilling this vow, while in all other things I will be thy servant, willing to work for the comfort of thy life as long as mine shall last. Yield, my spouse, to this resolve and make a like resolve, in order that, offering ourselves as an acceptable sacrifice to our eternal God, He may receive us in the odor of sweetness and bestow on us the eternal goods for which we hope."

763. The most chaste spouse Joseph, full of interior joy at the words of his heavenly Spouse, answered Her: "My Mistress, in making known to me thy chaste and welcome sentiments, thou hast penetrated and dilated my heart. I have not opened my thoughts to Thee before knowing thy own. I also acknowledge myself under greater obligation to the Lord of creation than other men; for very early He has called me by his true enlightenment to love Him with an upright heart; and I desire Thee to know, Lady that at the age of twelve years I also made a promise to serve the Most High in perpetual chastity. On this account I now gladly ratify this vow in order not to impede thy own; in the presence of his Majesty I promise to aid Thee, as far as in me lies, in serving Him and loving Him according to thy full desires. I will be, with the divine grace, thy most faithful servant and companion, and I pray Thee accept my chaste love and hold me as thy brother, without ever entertaining any other kind of love, outside the one which Thou owest to God and after God to me." In this conversation the Most High confirmed anew the virtue of chastity in the heart of saint Joseph, and the pure and holy love due to his most holy spouse Mary. This love the saint already had in an eminent degree, and the Lady herself augmented it sweetly, dilating his heart by her most prudent discourse.

·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[3]http://osjusa.org/st-joseph/church-fathers/chapter-i/


Day 14[1]

On Day 14 Father Calloway points out that we need the protection of St. Joseph and that he will never abandon us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.
Noble 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.

Zealous Defender of Christ, Pray for Us.

Father Calloway stresses

·         St. Joseph fervently defends us.
·         Saint Joseph will increase our passion for Christ.
·         Our defense of Christ must be great.

With St. Joseph by your side you have nothing to fear. You have the aid of St. Joseph. Like St. Joseph we should always strive to defend the person and the name of Jesus Christ against all blasphemy, insult, and sacrilege. To do this we must defend the Church, her teachings, and Sacraments from all attacks and falsehoods. We must model St. Joseph by always being willing to sacrifice yourself for the love of truth.

Savior of the Savior

To give life to someone is the greatest of all gifts. To save a life is the next. When St. Joseph took Jesus from the clutches of Herod to Egypt, he saved his life. We like Joseph must defend the innocent from Satan and the Harrod’s of the world.

What persons are like Herod?  [2]

All those who destroy children, in body or in soul; for example unmanly men who are cruel to their wives while with child, who strike them, incite them to anger, or terrify them; heedless parents who neglect their little ones, who do not take pains to keep them clean and healthy; those corrupt and godless women who destroy the fruit of their shame either before or after birth, and while yet unbaptized.  But more cruel than all these, and even than Herod himself, are they who scandalize little children by impure conversations, by indecent songs, by acts of impurity in their presence, or by inciting them to the like; for thereby they plunge the souls of the children into destruction.

Jesus Said, "whatever you do to the least of My brethren you do unto Me."[3]

·         When we call a child in the womb a "choice" that can be killed we are making a "choice" like Herod to kill who and what belongs to God.

·         When we say a child in the womb is not fully human, we are acting like Herod by denying the fact of every persons God given right to life.

·         When we say a woman must be free to control her own body, we are really saying with Herod we have the power to kill another person and we will use it.

·         When we say the government has no right to interfere in someone’s personal "choice" to end a pregnancy we are saying as Herod did that the lives of other persons have no meaning if they interfere with my wants.

·         When we say no mother should be forced to give birth to a child, we say with Herod if a child is already alive, but we can’t endure her presence we can destroy her life.

·         When we say there are too many children in the world, we are saying with Herod this world belongs to me alone and you have no rights unless I give them to you.

·         When we say with Herod what give you religious people the right to tell me what I can and cannot do, we are as blind as Herod was to the fact that life is a gift from God and those who destroy this gift in others stand in danger of losing this gift for themselves for all eternity.

·         What Herod’s henchmen and modern abortion supporters refuse to acknowledge, blinded by a diabolic selfishness, is God took on flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary to teach us God’s heart to heart relationship and union of love with every child in the womb.  The Word became flesh in the womb of a woman to be in communion with every one of us when we were in our mother’s womb.  Jesus in the womb of Mary shows us that God’s capacity to love knows no bounds; that God has a covenant relationship with every person no matter how small and powerless.

·         Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
[3] https://prolifecorner.com/the-new-herods-rage-against-babies/


Day 15[1]

On Day 15 Father Calloway points out calling a man the “head” of the Family is often frowned upon.
The traditional family structure in the United States is considered a family support system involving two married individuals providing care and stability for their biological offspring. However, this two-parent, nuclear family has become less prevalent, and alternative family forms have become more common. The family is created at birth and establishes ties across generations. Those generations, the extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins, can hold significant emotional and economic roles for the nuclear family. Over time, the Tran structure has had to adapt to very influential changes, including divorce and the introduction of single-parent families, teenage pregnancy and unwed mothers, and same-sex marriage, and increased interest in adoption. Social movements such as the feminist movement and the stay-at-home father have contributed to the creation of alternative family forms, generating new versions of the American family. Beginning in the 1970s in the United States, the structure of the "traditional" nuclear American family began to change. It was the women in the households that began to make this change. They decided to begin careers outside of the home and not live according to the male figures in their lives. These include same-sex relationships, single-parent households, adopting individuals, and extended family systems living together. The nuclear family is also choosing to have fewer children than in the past. The percentage of married-couple households with children under 18 has declined to 23.5% of all households in 2000 from 25.6% in 1990, and from 45% in 1960.[2]

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.
Noble 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.
Zealous Defender of Christ, Pray for Us.

Head of the Holy family, Pray for Us.

Father Calloway stresses

·         Husbands and fathers need to imitate St. Joseph.
·         Make St. Joseph the spiritual head of your family.

Ephesians 5:22-33
22  Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. 24 Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, 27 so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. 33 Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

Why is the husband, rather than the wife, called to be head in the family?[3]

One obvious reason is that since the wife bears the children and takes the lead in their nurturing, the husband has more freedom to fill the role of head. Another reason is that, in times past at least, the greater physical strength of the man has better qualified him for service as head of his wife and family. But there’s a deeper reason. A couple may choose to reject the whole concept of headship for the husband. They may simply affirm—as many couples today do affirm—that “because we’re both persons, we’re equal—and equal in our marriage.” But the truth is that on the natural, human level, what they are saying is false. On the natural level husband and wife are not truly “equal.” In any given culture, past or present, a wife may or may not have equal civil rights with her husband. But in the marriage, itself, as wife and mother the woman fills a role that is more central—more important to the spiritual and emotional life of the family—than the role of the husband. His is very important, of course, but the wife’s is more so. Thus, on the natural level, there is an inescapable, inherent inequality between husband and wife within the marriage. (Remember now, we already have noted that in the eyes of God there is perfect equality between the spouses.) If spouses insist on their natural equality, they cannot truly share in that spousal complementarity that, as Pope John Paul II has so often reminded us, is God’s plan for the marriage relationship. Only in true complementarity can husband and wife achieve true oneness. That’s the fact. Now allow me to offer an opinion about headship and the natural inequality in marriage. This opinion is not specific teaching of the Catholic Church, but it is in full harmony with what the Church does teach about marriage:

God bestows headship on the husband in order to bring the husband up, so to speak, to a position of full equality with his wife on the natural, human level. The wife is called by God to share in bestowing headship on her husband. She does this by lovingly consenting to her husband’s filling that role. She does this by helping him in every way she can to carry on his service of headship. Then, when they are truly equal on the natural level, they become capable of that complementary that enables them to become one on the deepest level.



The holiest house in the world is in Italy. Think about it; the same walls you touch are the same walls touched by Jesus, Joseph and Mary.

The "house" itself consists of three stone walls. It is a plain stone structure, with a door on the north side and a window on the west. The size is 31 13 feet, i.e. 9 x 4 m [6] (or 8.5 m by 3.8 m and 4.1 m high). The "house" contains the "Altar of the Apostles", venerated as the authentic one built by St Peter and the Apostles. A niche contains a 33 inches high black image of the Virgin and Child, a statue made of Lebanon cedar, richly adorned with jewels, placed above the altar. A legend attributes the statue to Saint Luke, described in the Bible a physician, with a later tradition adding painting to his skills, and here given also the attribute of a sculptor; but its style suggests it was created in the 15th century. The "Black Madonna", known as Our Lady of Loreto, owes its dark color to centuries of lamp smoke and is carved from Cedar of Lebanon. Much like the Holy House, it is associated with miracles. The statue was commissioned after a fire in the Santa Casa in 1921 destroyed the original Madonna, and it was granted a Canonical Coronation in 1922 by Pope Pius XI. In October 2019 Pope Francis restored the feast of Our Lady of Loreto, commemorated on December 10, to the universal Roman calendar.[4]

Sweet were the days the Blessed Virgin Mary spent with Saint Joseph and the Holy Child in their modest little home. Their life within the clay walls was affluent with poverty, resonant with silence, and illustrious in humility. “Her actual life, both at Nazareth and later, must have been a very ordinary one…” said Saint Therese, the Little Flower of Jesus, who once visited the Holy House. “She should be shown to us as someone who can be imitated, someone who lived a life of hidden virtue, and who lived by faith as we must.” This beautiful and much needed lesson of extraordinary sanctity in very ordinary circumstances, is precisely what the humble and Holy House of Loreto bespeaks to us.[5]

Jubilee of Loreto 2019- 2020   Called to fly high[6]

The Holy House, carried by angels in flight according to ancient tradition, inspired the veteran aviators of the First World War to rely on Mary as their main patron saint. At that time, in fact, airplanes were popularly called flying houses. Thus, Pope Benedict XV, on March 24, 1920, declared the Blessed Virgin of Loreto "main patroness before God of all aircraft". Today, in a short time, we can fly all over the world, learn about the extraordinary variety of humanity and weave deep relationships, promoting fraternity between peoples and promoting a sustainable future at an environmental, social and economic level. Airplanes, from flying houses, have become bridges that unite men and embrace the continents. The flight of planes also inspires the metaphor of our existence: we are called to fly high, because the Lord wants us to be saints. The concrete reality of our daily lives becomes the runway for taking off and flying high. And if, from time to time, we no longer remember how to fly, let us entrust ourselves to the Lord, who is ready to help us and let us draw on His strength so as never to surrender. The ways of holiness are many, according to the vocation of each. A large number of Christians, and among them many lay people who attained holiness in the most ordinary circumstances of life. The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living. (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 31). The course of this Jubilee: holiness for all I keep alive the memory of a story that struck me as a child. It tells of a fact that happened at an airport. A furious thunderstorm had hit all the passengers of a departing plane who were in a hurry to board. A steward, who checked that all the passengers were on board, closed the door. However, the plane did not take off. Suddenly a man from the outside knocked hard on the tailgate and asked for it to be opened. The steward firmly replied that the time for boarding was over and that it was no longer possible to get on. The man continued to knock. Then a woman, who was watching the scene, stood up, approached the steward and persuaded him to open the door. The man entered: he was the pilot. For us, too, there is a risk of leaving the pilot of our life, Christ the Lord, on the ground. And Mary is the Woman who helps us to open the door for Him because we have nothing to fear with God. He stands at the door and knocks (cf. Rev 3:20), constantly asking to enter. It is up to us to open up to him, to make room for him and to let ourselves be guided by him, so that he may direct the flight of our existence. The path of holiness is to live Christ (cf. Phil 1:21), which gives life a new horizon and thus the decisive direction (Deus caritas est, 1). This is the authentic and profound meaning of this Jubilee: to turn to the Lord, to renew our trust in Him and to let ourselves be carried upwards by Him, to live life in the breath of the Spirit, redeeming us from those realities that can weigh it down or even crush it and imprison it. Holiness for all is therefore the spiritual content and the route that this Jubilee proposes to welcome us to give new form and stronger hope to our daily lives. As Mary and Joseph have witnessed in the humility and simplicity of the Holy House. Mary lived on earth a life common to all, full of family concern and work (cf. Apostolate of the Laity, 4). A weekday holiness, I would say almost homely, that weaves and irrigates the daily life of the Church and society and takes charge of the place and situations in which we live. We fly high, because only from on high, with the eyes of God, can we understand the profound meaning of our life, of the world and of the Church. Let us fly high, but with our feet on the ground, because being holy does not mean "fluttering", that is, wandering about extraordinary undertakings, but doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way, that is with faith and much love, as it was in the house of Nazareth. Mary supports us in making our Yes to daily life more generous, to make our life the house of God, the truth of his presence. To be holy does not require being a bishop, a priest or a religious… We are called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves.

·         Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out your commitment with joy.

·         Are you married? Be holy by loving and caring for your husband or wife, as Christ does for the Church.

·         Do you work for a living? Be holy by laboring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters.

·         Are you a parent or grandparent? Be holy by patiently teaching the little ones how to follow Jesus.

·         Are you in a position of authority? Be holy by working for the common good and renouncing personal gain. (Gaudete et exsultate, 14).






[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[6]https://www.jubilaeumlauretanum.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/PASTORAL-LETTER-_JUBILEE-LAURETAN-INGLESE.pdf


Day 16[1]

On Day 16 Father Calloway points out that a just man is someone who loves God and proves his love by keeping God’s commandments and directing his whole life towards the service of his brothers, his fellow men. What about you? Do you love God, keep his commandments, and act with honor and charity toward your neighbor?

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.
Noble 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.
Zealous Defender of Christ, Pray for Us.
Head of the Holy family, Pray for Us.

Joseph Most Just, Pray for Us.

Father Calloway emphasizes

·         Saint Joseph will increase in you the virtue of justice.

Sometimes to understand something is to examine similar things and opposite things. One way to do this is to look at the synonyms and antonyms of the word “Just”.

Just=Really, Only, Now, Simply, Good

Unjust=Unfair, Discriminatory, Biased, Unwarranted, Unreasonable

Saint Joseph was a man who gave each their due. You could say he really cared, when he was with you; you were his only agenda; and Joseph acted now; he was simple and direct seeking the good God placed in his heart for you.

Unlike the men of his age and ours he did not seek an unfair advantage; nor did he discriminate; nor was he biased in his mind. He did not seek injury to another that was unwarranted or unreasonable. I think that when Jesus mentioned that if a neighbor asks you to walk a mile with him you should walk two, he was thinking of Joseph the Just. If Joseph was so with his neighbors how do you think he was with God. We cannot be just to others if we begrudge justice to God by halfheartedly spending one hour a week thanking Him and worshipping him. Are you a just man?

Just and Reverent Man
St. Joseph must have confronted all sorts of events, whether advantageous or adverse and always acted in accord with the Divine Will and strove to give God and others their due. Joseph was a living example of a man who lived the Shema Israel; he loved and put God first.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your Heart, and with all your soul, and with your entire mind, and with all your strength.

St. Joseph, the model Christian.[2]

The Church recognizes him as the greatest saint after the Virgin Mary. What is absolutely remarkable is that the most holy place of Nazareth was also home to great discretion, to such a simple almost ordinary life consisting of married and fatherly love. A life turned completely to God, to observing prayers and religious laws. A life marked by obedience to civil laws and daily monotony. We can never meditate enough on this contrast between St. Joseph’s remarkable sanctity and his modest everyday life.

St. Joseph is the “silent” doctor of this Nazarene school. He mastered the art of listening to the voice of God in reciting “Shema Yisrael” (“Hear, O’ Israel”) twice a day. So, his silence was actually an ability to listen and promptly obey. Here are some examples of his unwavering abandonment to Divine Providence: He took his wife (Matt. 1:24); he went up to Judea, to Bethlehem (Luke 2:4); and he took his wife and the child and fled to Egypt (Matt. 2:13). After Herod had died, he returned to Nazareth together with his wife and child (Mark. 2:19-23).

Through the example of his earthly life, Mary’s husband, the father of Jesus and the village artisan, attests to the mystical life. He was “just” because “the just man is the person who prays, lives by faith, and seeks to do good in every concrete circumstance of life,” said St. John-Paul II.

Something that is never explicitly mentioned about St. Joseph is all those years of love and hard work, which remind us of our own daily lives. It’s as if God is telling us through Joseph: Don’t look anywhere else but your actual life for occasions to be sanctified. Don’t leave it to seek out God; don’t think of your own sanctity – just receive it, work humbly and steadfastly on it in all circumstances, since there are so many occasions and so many places to obey the will of God and to generously give yourself to God and others.

St. Joseph’s sanctity is silent, but it doesn’t lack in eloquence. It invites us to listen to the Word, made flesh, which was the center of his life and has now become the center of ours. Father Nicolas Buttet




[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph


Day 17[1]

 On Day 17 Father Calloway points out that Joseph was a virgin just as Mary was herself. Joseph desired to love the Lord his God with his entire heart for “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. Keeping your heart true to something is being chaste. Saint Joseph has three treasures: Jesus, Mary and you. As his children we have a father with a hearth that is strong, protective, and gentle. He is a father, king, warrior and chaste man of God.

 

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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

 

Father Calloway emphasizes

 ·         Saint Joseph will help you have a chaste heart.

 Father Calloway states that lust is the predominant vice at work in the hearts of men and women today. Indeed, Mary warned St. Jacinta that many souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh. We are at war with the World, the flesh and the devil. Our sexuality is part of the objective in this battle. It is a double-edged sword that if used via the will of God will cut for us; but if used improperly will cut against us. Joseph as your mentor will help you to be victorious in this battle to be pure in mind, heart, and soul. Seek the protection of the cloak of St. Joseph. If men were to reverence their wives as holy temples, families will be renewed and the devils attacks on the dignity of the human person will be overcome.

 Jewish Sexuality

 Judaism regards sex as a "divine gift" from God, for the purpose of procreation, as well as for the purpose of companionship and happiness. The core belief is that sexuality is good, and healthy for human beings. This gift from God is a strong drive that Judaism affirms must be under control because it is not just a mere physical act, solely for procreation, but an encounter that involves the whole being. Judaism regards sex as the cord that secures the union of two lovers for life: for shared strength, joy, and ease, and for the rearing of children". In this way, sex becomes a "mitzvah," which is a good deed or meritorious act. One of the most notable attitudes in Judaism is the fact that while it regards sex as a healthy and necessary part of a couple's life, it also asserts that the purpose of the sexual relationship within the bounds of a marriage is to satisfy the needs of the woman first of all.[2]

 Santo Anello

In an interview by “Our Sunday Visitor” Father Calloway explains the need to go along with St. Joseph.

 Our Sunday Visitor: What were some of the more interesting things you learned about St. Joseph?

 Father Calloway: A lot of awesome stuff. I discovered the ring that St. Joseph gave to the Virgin Mary on their wedding day is still in existence. It’s known as the Santo Anello, “The Holy Ring,” and it’s housed in the cathedral, in a gigantic reliquary, in Perugia, Italy, which is really close to Assisi. And it’s exposed every year for the faithful to venerate. Married couples and those who are engaged are given the privilege of going up and touching their wedding ring to the Santo Anello. That was just mind-blowing to me. And then, the Holy House of Loreto, the home of the Holy Family in Nazareth, which was transported by angels to Italy in the 13th century. It’s been in Loreto, Italy, ever since. It’s one of the greatest relics on the planet, and I have in my book all the saints who visited it and what they said about it. That stuff was just awesome.

 Our Sunday Visitor: It’s fair to say that St. Joseph is often overlooked. Why do you think that is?

 Father Calloway: I think part of it is that we don’t have one word from him in the New Testament. For him, actions speak louder than words. Unfortunately, in the early Church, there were a lot of false documents circulating about different things associated with the life of the Holy Family. They’re not approved or inspired writings, they’re apocrypha, but they unfortunately set in motion an image of St. Joseph that he was old, widowed from a previous marriage with children. All that stuff is a legend; it’s never been the teaching of the Church, but all that stuff got into art, and people just looked at St. Joseph like, “Well, he’s not really important. He didn’t say anything, and he was old, and was just there as kind of a fill-in.” People didn’t really pay much attention to him. But now, especially in the last 150 years, the Church has done more to promote St. Joseph than in the previous 1,800 years of Christianity. It’s really building, and I think it’s crescendoing now with this movement of consecration to St. Joseph.

 Our Sunday Visitor: That he is not even quoted in Scripture, did that make it difficult for you to do research on him?

 Father Calloway: When it comes to a primary source, yes. But it wasn’t too difficult, because you can unpack his actions, his obedience, his faith from the things that he did. Even though he didn’t say anything, his actions speak really loudly. And then you can just look at what was required of a first-century Jewish husband and father with the working and the incredible amount of walking. What would have been going on with him when he had to take his family and flee to Egypt and be there for many years? And then you fill it in with what popes have said, with what saints have said, what mystics have said in the Catholic tradition. After a while, you get a really good picture of who this guy was.

 Our Sunday Visitor: What is the image like of St. Joseph that began to emerge as you studied his life?

Father Calloway: You get an image of a guy who was not old. If you do the math, he was required by Jewish law to walk to Jerusalem three times a year to fulfill certain rites of the Jewish religion. If he had to do that three times a year, for let’s say 30 years, if you add up the distance, St. Joseph walked around the planet. There’s no way an old man could do this. You had to be young. So as the model of manhood for his son, our Savior, he had to be young and strong. We call him the Model of Workmen, the Pillar of Families, the Glory of Domestic Life, the Terror of Demons — those are not the titles of an old man who’s taking afternoon naps and forgetting things. You get an image of St. Joseph that he was strong, a worker, really in a certain sense the first knight of the Virgin Mary. He’s the first one who called her “My Lady.” He’s the first one to give his life for Jesus and Mary and sacrifice himself. We’re talking about extraordinary holiness here.

 Our Sunday Visitor: You’ve mentioned elsewhere that you encountered difficulties in writing this book, even of a supernatural kind. What do you mean by that?

 Father Calloway: Some of it, I can’t go into that much, but the devil did not want the book published. There was resistance. The devil was really trying to destroy the book and not let it get into the hands of people, because the devil knows the power St. Joseph has in his intercession with God. There were some really difficult things in trying to get the book published.

 Our Sunday Visitor: What are the spiritual fruits of consecrating oneself to St. Joseph?

 Father Calloway: The greatest thing is for us to be drawn closer to Jesus through this. Ultimately, it’s all about Jesus, just like Marian consecration helps us to draw closer to Jesus. The second thing would be, if we are spiritual sons and daughters of St. Joseph, all children are called to resemble their parents. He’s not a biological father, of course, but we can resemble him in his virtues. That litany unpacks many of his virtues. He’s patient, he’s courageous, obedient, faithful. So if we want to be like him, we have to imitate him. That’s a key fruit of seeking to imitate him in our lives. Some people have asked, “Can you really consecrate yourself to St. Joseph if you’ve already consecrated yourself to Mary?” Yes. We’re not members of a one-parent spiritual family.

o   Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.

                            
                    

[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]http://www.mesacc.edu/~thoqh49081/StudentPapers/JewishSexuality.


Day 18[1]

On Day 18 Father Calloway points out that Joseph was a gentle soul that was never too lenient nor too harsh. Joseph’s principal virtue was that of prudence. Prudence is necessary in the avoidance of erroneous extremes. A prudent man has the perfect balance of self-restraint, fairness and courage.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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.

 

Father Calloway emphasizes

 ·         Saint Joseph will help you develop the virtue of Kings and Rulers: PRUDENCE.

 St. Joseph had prudence that was supercharged with the love of God. Unlike human prudence that guides a person to avoid difficulty, suffering and hardship. Joseph sought God’s heart which moved him to always strive for the greater good of God and man, even if it caused him suffering.

 St Joseph’s Prudence[2]

 1.  St. Joseph never acted on impulse.  He always reflected before acting.  What husband would not have put away his wife without any delay when he discovered that she was about to give birth to a child that was not his’ Not so St. Joseph.  He waited and pondered and prayed, and gradually formed the prudent resolve of sending her back in secret to her friends.  Even after deciding on this plan as the best, he again waited and commended it to God, turned it over and over in his own mind, prayed still more before proceeding to act.  It was this prudence of his, this charitable delay, that earned for him the solution of his doubts by an angel’s voice.

 2.  St. Joseph had entrusted to him the training up of Jesus.  The formation of the character of the divine Child was committed to him.  What prudence, what perfect prudence must he have possessed whom God considered as the fit guardian of the Eternal Word!  If I were more prudent, God would entrust to me greater works to be done for Him.

 3.  Our Lady must have had wonderful confidence in the prudence of her spouse when she arose unhesitatingly at dead of night to fly with him to Egypt, just because he told her he had had a dream warning him to do so.  But she knew not only how naturally careful and wise he was, but that he had an infused and supernatural prudence that could not be deceived.  If I were more prudent, others would trust me more, and listen with greater confidence to my advice or commands.

 Seven Sorrows and Seven Joys[3]

Over the centuries there grew many different devotions to St. Joseph, expressing a deep filial love for the foster-father of Jesus. Among them was the powerful Seven Sunday’s devotion.

 According to Salt and Light Media, “The story goes that two Franciscan monks who were shipwrecked at sea clung to a plank for two days, and were saved by a man of venerable appearance who miraculously brought them to shore. When they asked who he was, he replied, ‘I am Joseph, and I desire you to honor my seven sorrows and seven joys.'”

 Whatever the origins may be, a devotion was developed where the seven sorrows and seven joys of Joseph became the focus of meditation on the seven Sundays preceding his feast on March 19. The first Sunday of these meditations is typically either the last Sunday of January or the first Sunday of February.

 Below are the following joys and sorrows of St. Joseph, along with their respective passages in scripture. One approach to these Sundays is to read each passage and consider how Joseph would have felt in the situation. This is a form of lectio divina or “divine reading,” where you are able to put yourself into the scene and see Joseph’s expressions during each episode.

 When praying the Seven Sunday’s devotion, it is customary to pray for a specific intention, asking St. Joseph’s powerful intercession for your needs.

 1st Sunday

Sorrow (Matthew 1:19) The Doubt of St. Joseph
Joy (Matthew 1:20) The Message of the Angel

 2nd Sunday

Sorrow (Luke 2:7) The Poverty of Jesus’ Birth
Joy (Luke 2:10-11) The Birth of the Savior

 3rd Sunday

Sorrow (Luke 2:21) The Circumcision
Joy (Matthew 1:25) The Holy Name of Jesus

 4th Sunday

Sorrow (Luke 2:34) The Prophecy of Simeon
Joy (Luke 2:38) The Effects of the Redemption

 5th Sunday

Sorrow (Matthew 2:14) The Flight into Egypt
Joy (Isaiah 19:1) The Overthrow of the Idols of Egypt

 6th Sunday

Sorrow (Matthew 2:22) The Return from Egypt
Joy (Luke 2:39) Life with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth

 7th Sunday

Sorrow (Luke 2:45) The Loss of the Child Jesus
Joy (Luke 2:46) The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

o   Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[3]https://aleteia.org/2018/01/28/what-is-the-powerful-seven-sundays-devotion-to-st-joseph/


Day 19[1]

On Day 19 Father Calloway points out that Joseph feared nothing, other then, offending God and exercised tremendous fortitude in his protection of Jesus and Mary.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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.


Father Calloway emphasizes

 ·         Saint Joseph is a man of courage.

·         Saint Joseph will help you to be courageous.

·         Saint Joseph will increase the virtue of fortitude in you.

 St. Joseph was the biblical example of a US Marine for he was “Always Faithful”. It takes courage and humility to be in the presence of the two most holy humans in the world, Jesus and Mary. It takes courage to love more than you fear evil and suffering. To be a Saint, like Joseph, you must not hesitate to enter enemy territory or undergo spiritual combat. Saint Joseph feared no man because God was with him. St. Joseph could not be intimidated. With St. Joseph as your spiritual father you have nothing to be afraid of. Once your face is set never look back.

 Old Men don’t Walk to Egypt[2]

Old men don’t walk in all types of weather 80 miles from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Have an all-night vigil at the birth of their first-born son and then at the command of God walk another 40 miles from Bethlehem to Egypt. An old man then, at the death of Herod, will not be able to walk another 120 miles from Egypt to Nazareth. Joseph, the father of Christ, was a vigorous energetic man who walked wherever he needed to go, guarded his family, worked hard to provide for his family; and spent himself physically and spiritually in the service of his family and his God.

 Jesus’ in the Sermon on the mount described a way of life he observed in Joseph. In Joseph, Christ observed a spirit of sacrifice, hard work and devotion to God, his family, and his fellowman. It was in Joseph that Christ observed a man who lived the beatitudes Christ talked about in the sermon.

 We too, like our spiritual father, Joseph, must be men who live the beatitudes. Men who love God with their entire mind, heart, soul and strength. Yet, being mere men, we often go astray, walking away from God and becoming lukewarm of heart. When we find ourselves in this condition we must turn around. We must pray for ourselves, reflect on our shortcomings and pray for others who do so as well.

 Below is a hike or walk you can pray the Divine Mercy Prayers and reflect on ways you may have been walking away from God. 

Beatitudes Hike[3]

 

During this hike you will be praying the Divine Mercy Prayer, Christ asked that we pray for the lukewarm.

 

"Today bring to Me the Souls of persons who have become lukewarm and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy." 

 

Most compassionate Jesus, you are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power. Eternal Father turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.[4]

 

During this hike you will meditate on each of the ways you may have been walking away from God; marking each of the points as you hike stopping multiple times to pray. On the return hike, you will meditate using the walking towards God meditations. Remember every journey away from something is a journey toward something—the first meditations are the seven deadly sins with fear added as an eighth; and you will be meditating on the Beatitudes of Christ on the way back in reverse order.

 

Pray the chaplet first or if you wish after you finish the meditation on the deadly sins. This meditation uses synonyms of fear, pride, envy, anger, avarice, sloth, gluttony and lust.  Words are the music of the human heart; different words carry different emotions and meanings.  If a certain word strikes your heart-it is the Lord speaking to you.

 

Walking Away from GOD

(Have I been/Shown?)

 

1. FEAR:  Terror, Dread, Horror, Fright; Panic, Alarm, Trepidation, Apprehension.

2. PRIDE/HUBRIS:  Arrogant, Conceit, Smugness, Self-importance, Satisfaction, Pleasure, Delight.

3. ENVY:  Jealousy, Desire, Resentment, Spite, Malice, Meanness.

4. WRATH:  Anger, Annoyance, Rage, Fury, Aggravation, Frustration.

5. AVARICE:  Greed, Materialism, Covetousness, Acquisitiveness.

6. SLOTH:  Laziness, Idleness, Sluggishness, Inactivity, Indolence (condition that is slow to develop or be healed and causes no pain-i.e. fail to resist evil) Apathy.

7. GLUTTONY:  Excess, Exclusivity, Overindulgence, Intemperance.

8. LUST:  Yearn, Desire, Long for, Hanker for, Hunger for, Ache for, Crave.

Walking toward GOD

(Have I failed to be, do or show?)

 

8.      CHASTITY (PURITY OF HEART):  Cleanliness, Wholesomeness, Spotlessness, Clarity; Transparency, Knowledge, Honesty, Wisdom. Opposing Deadly Sin: LUST

 

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. The clean of heart are those who preserve with care the innocence with which they are invested at holy Baptism, or seek to regain it, when lost, by penance; those who keep their hearts and consciences unspotted from all sinful thoughts, particularly from all unchaste thoughts, desires, words, and acts, and who endeavor in all things to have a pure intention directed to God alone. They shall see God, that is, they shall know Him even here upon earth, for as the eye that is to see must be clean, so only souls that are pure and unstained can behold God. But further, our knowledge is like our hearts; the purer the heart the clearer and greater is the knowledge of God. But in the world above they shall see, know, and possess Him as He is. What blessedness! Strive, therefore, to keep your heart clean. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)

 

7.      TEMPERANCE (POOR IN SPIRIT):  Sacrifice, Give Up, Forgo, Let Go, Surrender, Tithe, Self-Control, Abstention. Opposing Deadly Sin: GLUTTONY

 

The poor in spirit are:

 

·         Those who, like the apostles, readily forsake all earthly things, and for Christ’s sake become poor.

·         Those who, happening to lose their property by misfortune or injustice, suffer the loss patiently, in resignation to the will of God.

·         Those who, like Jesus, are content with their poor and humble position, seek no higher or happier one, and would rather suffer want than enrich themselves by unlawful acts, by fraud or theft.

·         The rich and noble who set not their hearts upon the riches and greatness of the world who use their riches and influence to relieve the misery of the needy and oppressed.

·         Finally, the truly humble, who, convinced of their weakness, their helplessness and misery, think lowly of themselves, and regard themselves but as beggars, who are always in need of the grace of God. To all these, therefore, in whose hearts the world has no place, there is assured, as their inheritance, the kingdom of heaven; here the kingdom of grace there the kingdom of glory. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)

 

6.      DILIGENCE (HUNGER & THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS):  Fairness, Impartiality; Righteousness, Evenhandedness, Fair Dealing, Persistence, Effort, Ethics, Rectitude. Opposing Deadly Sin: SLOTH

 

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall have their fill. Hunger and thirst denote the most ardent longing after those virtues which constitute Christian perfection, such as humility, meekness, the love of God and of our neighbor, penance. Whoever longs for these virtues as the hungry man does for food and drink and prays to God for them with perseverance and earnestness, shall have his fill; that is, he shall be enriched with them, and one day shall be satisfied with eternal Happiness. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)

 

5.      CHARITY (MERCIFUL):  Compassion; Kindness, Pity, Bigheartedness, Clemency, Openhandedness, Forgiveness, Liberality, Understanding, Leniency, Will, Benevolence, Generosity. Opposing Deadly Sin: AVARICE

 

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. The merciful here spoken of are:

 

·         Those who willingly forgive the injuries done to them.

·         Those who have compassion on their poor neighbors, and, according to their ability, sustain them by alms. These shall obtain mercy; that is, God will forgive them their sins and endow them abundantly with the goods of this world and of the world to come. Thus, God deals with us as we deal with others. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)

 

4.      PATIENCE (PEACEMAKERS):  Relations, Mediation, Negotiation—Prevents Destruction, I.E. Stem Cell/Abortion, Sufferance. Opposing Deadly Sin: WRATH

 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. By peacemakers we are to understand those who have peace with themselves, that is, a quiet conscience, and who endeavor to maintain peace among others, or to restore it when broken. Such are called the children of God, because they follow God, Who is a God of peace, and Who even gave His only Son to reconcile the world with Him, and to bring down upon earth that peace which the world itself could not give. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)

 

3.      KINDNESS (MOURNING):  Grief, Sorrow; Remembrance, Respect, Loyalty, Integrity. Opposing Deadly Sin: ENVY

 

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. By them that mourn we are not to understand such as grieve and lament over a death, a misfortune, a loss of worldly goods, or the like; but those who are grieved that God should be in so many ways offended by themselves and by others that His Church should be so heavily oppressed, and thereby so many souls lost that have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. The only evil really to be grieved for is sin, and the tears shed on account of sin are the only tears that are profitable, for they shall be recompensed with everlasting joy. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)

 

2.      HUMILITY (MEEK):  Modesty, Not Assuming, Reverence, Altruism. Opposing Deadly Sin: PRIDE/HUBRIS

 

Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land. That man is meek who does not murmur against God for sending afflictions upon him, who is not angry at men who do him injury, but who rather suppresses impatience, anger, envy, and revenge, nay, who seeks to recompense the evil done him by his neighbor with good. Such a one is greater than he who takes by storm fortified cities (Prov. xvi. 32); he possesses an unfailing fountain of peace, quiet, and cheerfulness; by his meekness prevails over the most hostile minds, is by such means truly a ruler upon earth, and will one day, for his portion, obtain heaven, the land of the living, there to enjoy eternal peace. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)

 

1.      LOVE & COURAGE (FAITH-BE NOT AFRAID):  Affection, Adoration, Friendship, Confidence, Courageous, Trust, Valiant, Reliance, Heroic, Assurance, Bold, Conviction, Daring, Belief, Fearless, Devotion, Plucky, Loyalty. Opposing Deadly Sin: FEAR

 

Love Brothers and sisters do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ’s power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “what is in man”. He alone knows it. So often today man does not know what is within him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns into despair. We ask you therefore, we beg you with humility and trust, let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of eternal life.[5]

o   Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[3]http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-havermale/divine-mercy-hikes/paperback/product-23710456.html

[5]http://www.catholicvote.org/john-paul-iis-first-homily-sacrifice-humility-courage/#sthash.coO9xfTF.dpuf


Day 20[1]

On Day 20 Father Calloway points out that Joseph was obedient, to his God, his countrymen, and the laws of the temple, but he was obedient to God first.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 was quick to obey the laws of Judaism and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit; he even obeyed in his sleep. Obedience requires trust. One of the major ploys of the evil one is to instill doubt. Joseph did not doubt. We must obey the 10 commandments; attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days and go to confession. Also, we must defend the laws of the church regarding marriage and the protection of children in the womb. We must be also prepared to suffer mocking or even violence for our obedience to the laws of God. 

·         Saint Joseph is model of obedience.

·         Saint Joseph will increase the virtue of obedience in you. 

Sleeping St. Joseph[2] 

According to Father Calloway God loves sleep-He made it. In fact, Saint Joseph’s sleep was so important and powerful that Satan fears it. God wants us to rest-remember the sabbath. Sleep is pleasing to God.

This is the secret to being indefatigable[3]

Just sleep. Why don’t people make use of it. I’ve given this secret to everyone, says God, I haven’t sold it. He who sleeps well, lives well. He who sleeps, prays. (He who works, prays too. But there’s time for everything. Both for sleep and for work. Work and sleep are like two brothers. And they get on very well together. And sleep leads to work just like work leads to sleep. He who works well sleeps well, he who sleeps well works well.)

Sleep[4]. Something we all need more of, but never seem to get. (If only we had more timeright?) Today we’re going to cover how you can. First stop and think!

Sleep is important, and you should get more of it!

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid, when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” (Proverbs 3:24)

Before we cover why sleep is important, let’s talk about what happens when you don’t get enough For example: If you manage to only get four hours of sleep, a sleep deprived body can actually act similarly to an intoxicated body.

Getting less sleep than average regularly? This is correlated with increased bodyfat percentage, more issues with insulin sensitivity, and even a disproportionate decrease in lean muscle mass when eating a caloric deficit. We all know missing sleep can make us grouchy, miserable, unfocused, and unproductive. I know I’m going to have a crappy day in the gym when I don’t get enough sleep the night before. I know not sleeping enough AFTER a workout day can further hinder the muscle building process.

So, what else happens when you don’t get enough sleep? “One study found that skipped sleep led to a shrinking brain. The heart and kidneys also take a beating as does your blood pressure. You, in fact, put yourself at continually increased risk for a whole host of lifestyle diseases, including obesity and diabetes

What is the logical extension of this pattern? Numerous studies link partial sleep deprivation/disruption and increased mortality risk!”

Conversely, let’s talk about the awesomeness that is sleep.  Here are the benefits associated with getting enough shut eye:

·         Sleep will enhance your memory performance and creative problem solving skills.  You know, those things that make you smart.

·         Sleep can boost your athletic performance.  And we all know appearance is a consequence of fitness.

·         Sleep triggers the release of human growth hormone (HGH), which plays a huge role in muscle and cellular regeneration.

·         Sleep cuts your risk for the common cold (Corona Virus) and other basic illnesses.  Less sick days at work = more productivity, more awesome, more leveling up.

·         Sleep makes you more resilient to daily stress. aka more willpower!

Moral of the story: Sleep is awesome.  Yes, some adults can function perfectly on only five hours of sleep, while others need 9-10 hours of sleep to thrive. Most people will fall in that 7-9 range for sleeping needs. So, let’s get to the root of the problem for most: “I know I need to sleep more, but my day is too busy, and I just can’t get to bed sooner or wake up earlier.” First and foremost, you’re not alone. According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly a third of all working Americans get six hours or fewer of sleep a night. 

Does any of this sound like you? I am always freaking tired, and I need five cups of coffee to get through the day. Even on days when I get enough sleep, I wake up groggy. I get to ‘bed’ but I toss and turn and it takes me forever to fall asleep. I hit snooze half a dozen times before miserably crawling out of bed.

A perfect night of sleep

Let’s imagine a perfect night:  

·         You go to bed at a time that you’re happy with.  

·         You’re not stressed out because you didn’t just watch The Walking Dead.

·         You’re reading a good book in bed that’s putting you closer to sleep rather than checking your smart phone or screwing around on the internet (damn you Twitch.tv).  

·         You sleep uninterrupted through the night

·         . You have good dreams.

·         When you wake up, either naturally or with an alarm…you immediately get out of bed, without a single snooze, and you feel damn good.  

·         You then crush your morning routine and dominate your day.

If you’re looking at your screen and laughing right now, you’re not alone.  I’d guess this is a pipe dream for a huge majority of our society because they’re not sure how sleep actually works, and thus have NOT made sleep a priority. 

It’s time to start looking at sleep as one of your most important tasks.

How to get better sleep

We have a circadian rhythm (a daily biological clock) that ebbs and flows throughout the day. Our body uses outside stimuli and our own activity to produce certain hormones at certain times to make our body more prepared for the required functions at that time (alertness vs restfulness).

·         When the sun rose, our bodies are signaled “the day has begun! Get cracking!” We reduce the hormones that make us sleepy and produce more hormones that allow us to do the things that need to get done.

·         As the sun went down, our body starts to produce more melatonin, which produces that sleepy feeling and encourages us to rest/recover.  Our only option for light back then was a candle or campfire. If that went out, we’d have moonlight and nothing else.

·         While sleeping, our bodies knew to cut back on urine production, decrease body temperature, decrease heart rate, and muscle activity.  Our brains are still highly active during our sleeping.

Unfortunately, these days, our bodies aren’t tied to the rise and fall of that giant ball of gas above us. Instead, we use electricity, alarm clocks, computer screens, smart phone screens, and all other sorts of outside stimuli to adjust our natural sleeping schedule. This means that our bodies often have no effin’ clue what time it is!

Here’s how we can get back to our roots: 

Trying to get to bed sooner or fall asleep sooner? Limit your exposure to the blue glow of your computer screens, TV screens, and phones later in the evening.  Our bodies look at blue light and think “Sun is up! Sky is blue! Energy! WEEE!” Conversely, lights with a red/orange hue are more reminiscent of a campfire or candle.

·         If you are somebody who has to spend time on your computer at night, consider installing a program like F.lux – it syncs with the sunrise and sunset in your time zone, gradually shifting your screens hue from Blue and bright to red and dim.  I’ve been using the app for over a week now and have quickly adjusted to it.

·         Purchase old-man blue blocker glasses which limits the colors your eyes are exposed to after the sun has gone.

·         Consider purchasing red lightbulbs to install in your bedroom.

·         Consider getting black-out curtains for your bedroom windows, especially if you live in a city.

·         No TV in bed.  This might be incredibly difficult for you if you’ve been falling asleep to TV for years.  Instead of falling asleep with the blue glow of a TV at the foot of your bed, read a book – real books or read on a Kindle, no iPads! trust me, it will put you right to sleep.

·         Buy the right TYPE of Mattress for you

·         Have allergies? Try a hypoallergenic pillowcase!  Your allergies could be affecting you while you sleep and having the proper pillowcase can make a world of a difference.

How to get more sleep

 So we’ve covered how to get BETTER sleep, what if you also need to get more of it? In order to start getting more sleep, sleep must become more of a priority. If you constantly stay up too late because things need to get done, evaluate how your time is spent after work. Seriously, think about it!

Are you doing the important tasks first?

Are you watching late night shows long after they’ve become enjoyable, simply because your DVR records them?

Are you checking your smart phone while in bed, watching Vine videos, or using your laptop to watch more shows you don’t really care about on Netflix?

Here are the best practical tips for giving you the greatest chance at getting into bed earlier:

·         Don’t drink caffeine after lunch if possible.  Caffeine can have an effect up to 6 hours after consumption.  We love caffeine for many reasons (in moderation); however, you want to make sure it’s not consumed too late or your body will revolt.

·         Turn off the electronics sooner.  I have to enforce a “laptops closed by 11PM” or a “TV off after 10PM” rule on many nights or I never get to bed. I get lost in internetland far too easily.  Putting in actual barriers really helps.  If you find yourself checking Facebook and Twitter and other sites incessantly, BLOCK YOURSELF from those sites after a certain time.

·         Stop watching crap TV shows! DVRs can be helpful, but it’s so easy to record shows without second thought…and then we end up spending WAY too much time watching TV.  

·         Shift things by 15 minutes every week. If you want to get to bed sooner, don’t just try to get to bed an hour earlier than normal. You’ll probably lie in bed for that whole hour wondering why you can’t fall asleep, stressing yourself out and making things worse. I shifted my pattern by waking up 15 minutes earlier and getting to bed 15 minutes sooner. Then I repeated that process over a series of weeks. Eventually, you can shift your bedtime by an hour or two but do it gradually!

How to wake up better

Is there any more annoying sound in the world than the “beep beep beep” of an alarm clock?  So here you are, dreaming about riding a dragon with Daenerys Targaryen, doing improv with Liam Neeson, and playing poker with Iron Man and Spock…and that damn alarm clock wakes you up.  You are now incredibly groggy and miserable.

Here’s what’s happening: Remember earlier how we talked about different sleep cycles?  Depending on which cycle you were woken up during, your body can struggle to move from “asleep” to “wide awake.” Wake up in the right phase and you can feel energized and ready to go. Wake up in the wrong phase and you will feel lethargic and sleepy. Because we’re often waking up at times when we’re not ready to wake up, we need to use technology to our advantage.

This is why snoozing is a horrible idea!

Instead of snoozing, set your alarm for 30 minutes later and SKIP snoozing entirely.  If this is an issue for you, put your alarm across the room so you need to physically get out of bed to turn it off! 

I’ve been using the Sleep Cycle App to wake up and it’s been really interesting. You simply put the time in which you want to wake up, put your phone on your bed, and it will wake you up slowly and quietly in at the best point in a 30-minute window. Because it also tracks your sleep incredibly accurately, it’s probably the best 99 cents I’ve ever spent on an app. Try a dawn-simulator alarm clock.  Rather than waking yourself up in the pitch black with a disgusting beeping noise, why not gradually rise as if there was a natural sunrise in your room?

Still feeling groggy? Go for a walk first thing; a mile every morning, if you can.   Walking outside and seeing that blue sky can trigger your body to release the hormones that encourage you to feel more awake and alive.

What about naps?

Although generally not part of a day here in the states, we’re actually programmed to desire a quick nap in the early afternoon. In other countries, naps are more socially acceptable (Siesta?  Si, por favor!).  If you feel bad that you get tired in the early afternoon, it’s not because you’re lazy. It’s because you’re naturally wired for naptime.  Now, you might still be lazy, but it’s not related to your nap schedule.

What about second sleep? Biphasic Sleep is sleeping in two distinct periods. We’re gonna go back in the day again: during winter months, nighttime could last 12-14 hours. With our bodies production of melatonin (the “sleepy time” hormone) kicking into high gear when that sun drops, people had nothing else to do (no TV, PS4, or iPads) and would fall asleep early. Then they would wake up for an hour or two in the middle of the night to read, pray, or think, and then fall back asleep for another 4-5 hours before waking up for the day.

If you’ve ever gone to bed at a normal hour, and then woke up in the middle of the night without being able to fall back asleep for an hour or so, you know what I’m talking about. Here’s the thing: this is actually quite natural! Rather than freaking the heck out and lying in bed wondering why you can’t fall asleep…consider it something that is more common than our current sleep schedule. Don’t be afraid to turn on the light and read a book or use the time for meditation until you can fall back asleep. This one ‘mental shift’ alone can keep your stress levels down and let you get back to sleep faster and provide you with BETTER sleep.

o   Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[3] https://humanumreview.com/articles/the-surrender-of-sleep

[4]https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/are-you-making-these-mistakes-with-your-sleep/


Day 21[1]

On Day 21 Father Calloway points out that Joseph is a flawless model for us of the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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.

 

Joseph loved God more than Mary. Joseph shows us that a Christian’s relationship with God is a spiritual marriage and for this marriage to work there must be mutual love, sacrifice, and faithfulness. Joseph also never doubted the divinity of Jesus nor his power to conquer evil. He trusted and was faithful in good times and bad. 

·         Saint Joseph is a model of Faith.

·         Saint Joseph will increase your Faith. 

Adorer of Christ[2] 

Father Calloway points out that Joseph was one of the first Adorers of Christ.

·         "We cannot help but marvel at the faith of Saint Joseph. Tormenting doubts harass his soul and he is on the point of leaving Mary. But an angel appears to him and all his doubts and fears vanish. On the angel's word He accepts the mystery of the Incarnation. In the ensuing years his faith was to be frequently put to the test. At Bethlehem he had to content himself with a stable for a home where the Incarnate Word might be born. Soon after, he was forced to flee in order to save the Infant God, and when later he returned to the tiny village of Nazareth it was to live there unknown and in dire poverty. All these trials only tempered his faith. Although he sees only the Child's wretchedness and poverty, his faith pierces the shroud and uncovers the hidden God within this weak baby frame. Because his faith was so strong, Joseph's mind and heart bowed in perfect adoration. Imitate his faith as you kneel before the humble Christ annihilated in the Eucharist. Pierce the veil which covers this furnace of love and adore the hidden God. At the same time respect the veil of love and make the immolation of your mind and heart your most beautiful homage of faith."

·         "Words cannot express the perfection of his adoration. If Saint John leaped in the womb at the approach of Mary, what feelings must have coursed through Joseph during those six months when he had at his side and under his very eyes the hidden God! If the father of Origen used to kiss his child during the night and adore the Holy Spirit living within Him, can we doubt that Joseph must often have adored Jesus hidden in the pure tabernacle of Mary? How fervent that adoration must have been: My Lord and my God, behold your servant! No one can describe the adoration of this noble soul. He saw nothing, yet he believed; his faith had to pierce the virginal veil of Mary. So likewise, with you! Under the veil of the Sacred Species your faith must see our Lord. Ask St. Joseph for his Lively, constant faith."

·         "At Nazareth Joseph's days were filled with work which necessarily took him away at times from his Infant God. During these hours Mary replaced him, but when evening brought him home again, he would pass the entire night in adoration, never tiring, only too happy for the chance to contemplate the hidden riches of Jesus' divinity. For he pierced the rough garments the Child wore, until his faith touched the Sacred Heart. In profound adoration he united himself to the special grace of each one of the events in the life of Jesus. He adored our Lord in His hidden life and in His Passion and Death; he adored in advance the Eucharistic Christ in His tabernacles: there was nothing that our Lord could hide from Saint Joseph. Among the graces which Jesus gave to His foster-father -- and He flooded him with the graces attached to every one of His mysteries -- is that special to an adorer of the Blessed Sacrament. That is the one we must ask of St. Joseph. Have confidence, strong confidence in him. Take him as the patron and the model of your life of adoration."

·         St. Joseph worshiped Jesus as no saint before had done. From his deep, calm soul he poured out a very ocean of love - tenderest love, humblest love, love shrinking from being like the Father's love, yet also daring to be like it as Mary's had been like the conjoined loves of Father and of Spirit, as she was Mother and Spouse conjoined. No angel might love Jesus as Joseph loved Him, as Joseph was bound to love Him. No temporal love but Mary's could be more like an eternal love than the love of Joseph for the Child, because of its likeness to the love of the everlasting Father. Aside from the Blessed Virgin, Saint Joseph was the first and most perfect adorer of Our Lord."

- St. Peter Julian Eymard

 

o   Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.


[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]https://bellarmineforum.org/devotional/the-catholic-daily/march-month-st-joseph/march-26th-st-josephs-prudence/


Day 22[1]

On Day 22 Father Calloway confirms Joseph was a man of patience.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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. 

Joseph shows us patience in the midst of trouble. In the military we would say it was always, “Hurry up and then wait”. Time is a commodity being patient means trusting and being in the present. At Bethlehem Joseph was patient. Being patient is an act of trust in God and Joseph knew that.  Life is never easy, and God asks us to trust and be patient.  Father Calloway conveys that: 

·         Saint Joseph is a model of Patience.

·         Saint Joseph will increase your Patience. 

Being patient during times of trial is a door to strength and holiness. When your heart is filled with anxiety call on Joseph for help. Seek to be always peaceful, kind, calm and never abandon your trust in God. One of the greatest challenges to patience is unpleasant and self-centered people. When dealing with these people remember Gods concern and love for them and ask God to help you deal lovingly with them; seek to be kind, peaceful and merciful.   

The Roman Canon[2]

 

In the Roman Rite Catholic Latin Mass, the center of the Holy Mass is the Canon or Eucharistic Prayer.  In this very sacred part of the Holy Mass, it is introduced by the Preface and Trice prayed ‘Holy Holy Holy’, ‘Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus’. At this point of the Holy Mass, the bells are rung and everyone falls on their knees in humble preparation and adoration.  Everyone humbly gets down on their knees for what they know will soon to take place; Jesus will truly be made present, by the words of the priest who is in Persona Christi.  He exactly repeats Jesus’ words; “This is My Body”, “This is My Blood”.  At this moment, Jesus, the Lamb of God, offers His eternal Sacrifice of His Body and Blood on the cross, in an un-bloody manner, to Our Father the remission of our sins.

Although different readings and saints’ feasts were added in the Roman Missal, the exact words of the Roman Canon were never changed since the slight change Pope St. Gregory the Great made in 600 AD, when he added a few words to it.  The Roman Canon was unchanged for 1362 years.  It was not altered at all until 1962 when Pope John XXIII permitted the name of St. Joseph to be inserted. Although St. Joseph is such a wonderful powerful saint for the Catholic Church, the Church carefully guarded the integrity of the Roman Canon from any alteration.  In 1815, hundreds of thousands of signatures of clergy and laity were gathered to have his name inserted in the Canon.  But the Church would not dare change it.

What is so very very interesting to me, is that the leverage that finally changed the Roman Canon, after all those years, came from my own pastor, Monsignor Joseph Phelan at St. Joseph’s in Capitola California.  He collected over 150,000 signatures to put St. Joseph in the Canon.   I was baptized by him in the traditional Latin Rite when I was only 2 days old.  We lived closed to Capitola, in Aptos California.  It was not until later that they built Resurrection Parish where I attended for the next 20 years.

From this minute change, this small crack in the Roman Canon, Bugnini and his Concilium were able to dismantle the whole Roman Missal.

The Roman Canon was the only Canon in the Holy Latin Mass for 1369 years. The New Mass of Pope Paul VI has 4 Eucharistic Prayers (Canons) in the main part of the missal and many other optional Eucharistic Prayers in another part of the missal.

We are so blessed to be traditional Catholics and to be able to pray and work for the preservation of the Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus of the Holy Latin Mass.

o   Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]http://www.traditionalcatholicpriest.com/2015/03/17/st-joseph-added-to-traditional-catholic-latin-mass-canon/


Day 23[1]

On Day 23 Father Calloway confirms Joseph was a paramour of poverty.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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. 

Joseph’s ambition was to do the will of God; he had no desire accept to serve. In monetary wealth the Holy Family was poor, living on Divine Providence. Joseph earned his bread by the sweat of his brow and could only provide a home that was small and simple. However, Joseph was a model for “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Joseph was happy and blessed because he was free and detached from the things of this world. He was not far from the Kingdom of God. Joseph never found happiness in material things. He was the freest man alive being satisfied in God’s overflowing love. 

·         Saint Joseph will help you be poor in spirit. 

Joseph lived with Jesus for 30 years, his vocation was one of perpetual adoration. 

Eucharistic Adoration[2]

Eucharistic Adoration is the adoration of Jesus Christ present in the Holy Eucharist. In the many churches that have this adoration, the Eucharist is displayed in a special holder called a monstrance, and people come to pray and worship Jesus continually throughout the day and often the night. Christ’s great love for us was shown when He was crucified on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and give us eternal life. He loves us without limit, and offers Himself to us in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. The worship and custody of the Holy Eucharist, independently of Mass and Holy Communion, can be traced to post-apostolic times.

In his 1965 encyclical “Mysterium Fidei,” Pope Paul VI wrote, “The Catholic Church has always devoutly guarded as a most precious treasure the mystery of faith, that is the ineffable gift of the Eucharist which she received from Christ her Spouse as a pledge of His immense love, and during the Second Vatican Council in a new and solemn demonstration she professed her faith and veneration for this mystery...

“No one can fail to understand that the Divine Eucharist bestows upon the Christian people an incomparable dignity. Not only while the sacrifice is offered and the sacrament is received, but as long as the Eucharist is kept in our churches and oratories, Christ is truly the Emmanuel, that is, ‘God with us.’ Day and night, He is in our midst, He dwells with us, full of grace and truth. He restores morality, nourishes, virtues, consoles the afflicted, strengthens the weak. He proposes His own example to those who come to Him that all may learn to be, like Himself, meek and humble of heart and to seek not their own interests but those of God.”

Adoration means coming before the Real Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist. But what does that mean? What, or better who, is the reality of which we speak when we talk about the Real Presence?

This reality, as the Church has solemnly defined the truth for the faithful, is the “totus Christus,” the whole Christ: body and blood, soul and divinity. This is not a rhetorical expression nor a verse of poetry. It is an article of the undivided Roman Catholic faith.

There can be no doubt what the faithful are told when they are told to believe in this mystery. Once the words of consecration have been pronounced by a validly ordained priest, what used to be bread and wine are no longer bread and wine. Only the appearances or, rather, only the external physical properties of the former elements, remain. There is now on the altar Jesus Christ, true God and true man, full God and full man.

Does this mean that Jesus is present in the Eucharist? Yes. Is it Jesus in His divine nature? Yes. Is it Jesus in His human nature? Yes. But if Jesus in the Eucharist is really and truly present, is He there with all that makes Him not only man, but makes Him this man? Yes. After all, when God assumed human nature, He assumed this nature as a particular single human being. The divine Person of the Son of God did not merely in some abstract sense become human. He became a definite, historically specific human being.

Thus in the Eucharist is present the Jesus of history: the one who was conceived of His mother Mary at Nazareth; who was born in a stable at Bethlehem; who lived for 30 years in Palestine; and who walked and talked and wept and slept and ate and drank; who shed real red blood on the cross and who rose from the grave, and after His resurrection had the incredulous disciples put their fingers into His pierced side.

When, then, we speak of the Real Presence we imply that part of this reality, which is Christ, is the heart of flesh and blood that every human being has and also Christ has in the glorified body He now possesses since the resurrection.

Note what we are saying. We are affirming that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is not only a historical memory, as recorded by St. John when he tells us that the sacred side of the Savior was pierced on Calvary. Nor are we saying merely that, rising from the dead, Christ is now at the right hand of His heavenly Father in body and soul and therefore also with His human heart. Nor are we saying simply that in the Eucharist is some sort of abstract memorial of the real Christ, who is actually in heaven and no longer on earth. No; we profess on faith that Jesus is now simultaneously both in heaven and on earth; that He truly ascended into heaven and is truly still on earth; that although He left us visibly, He is with us really.

This means that the heart of Christ is in our midst, because Jesus is in our midst. He is the same Jesus in heaven and on earth. So, He must be present here with His Sacred Heart of flesh, living and beating in the bosom of a living human being.

He is present with His Sacred Heart, at once human and divine: human because He has a genuine human nature, like ours in all things but sin, and a truly divine nature, like that of the Father, with whom He is one God, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

But that is not all. We know that the heart of Christ is more than just a physical organ of His human body. It is also the symbol of God’s love for the human race, and, indeed, of the eternal love (that obtains) within the Blessed Trinity.

A Beginner’s Guide to Adoration[3]

by Caitlin Sica

The first time I went to adoration I was a sophomore in college, and it was unintentional.

Really. I was on vacation with a group of friends, but I made sure to check online for the nearest Mass schedule. I pulled into the parking lot at 10:20—10 minutes to spare, life was good. Except…the parking lot was empty. I walked to the front of the church—the doors were locked. I looked at the sign out front and realized I had missed Mass. Slightly panicked; I wasn’t sure what to do. I walked around for a bit and then remembered that this parish had perpetual adoration.

Restless

I walked up the hill to this tiny little chapel, opened the doors, and stepped inside. It was dark, chilly, and extremely quiet. I slid into a pew, knelt, and began to pray. I thought I could hear myself thinking. I looked down at my watch…3 minutes had passed. 3 minutes? I could hardly believe it. I looked next to me at the only other person who was in the chapel—a monk, who was sitting, barefooted, eyes closed, and smiling.

He made it look so easy, so peaceful. I, on the other hand, was in agony. I had promised myself I would stay in adoration for an hour—since that’s about how long Mass was. I closed my eyes, tried to relax. “Pray, Caitlin,” I coached myself, “it’s not that hard.” I opened my eyes. Another 5 minutes had gone by. 52 minutes to go, but who was counting?

Then it dawned on me that my whole attitude was wrong. God wasn’t forcing me to be there, to spend an hour with Him because I had missed Mass. I was choosing to be there. Did I want to be there? Did I want to spend time with Jesus? I did. So, I asked God for the grace to let me sit there with Him, in silence, peacefully.

Body, Soul, Blood and Divinity

I gazed upon the monstrance, containing Jesus — body, soul, blood, and divinity — and smiled at the intimacy of it all. I closed my eyes for the third time and prayed. This time, when I opened my eyes an hour had gone by! Halleluiah! I was filled with joy—not because I had fulfilled my made-up requirement, but because God had stilled my heart.

I left that chapel filled with a peace, contentment, and joy unlike anything I had felt before.

While it would be six months until I would attend adoration again, God had placed something on my heart—a desire to know Him more fully in the most Blessed Sacrament.


Today, I am a much different person than I was the first time I sat in adoration. I no longer dread the form of prayer, but desire it. I try to go to adoration several times a month. Sometimes, I am able to sit peacefully and sometimes my heart is more restless. But every time, I am grateful for the opportunity to sit and gaze upon the Lord.

5 Ways to be Successful in Adoration

Have you ever gone to adoration? Have you tried, but felt defeated like I first did, and occasionally still do? Here’s a list of 5 ways to be successful in adoration:

1. Be Patient

I was recently talking with a group of friends about their experiences of adoration. A lot of them expressed the same frustration—that sometimes, time seems to stand still, 5 minutes seem eternal. Have you ever been out of shape and tried to go for a one-mile run? Suddenly, 5 minutes into the run, you’re huffing and puffing, and you realize you’ve only gone one block. Rather than focusing on the success — you just ran for the first time in months!! — we tend to focus on the defeat. Adoration can be a bit of a workout… for your soul. So, set yourself up for success. If it’s been awhile, or your first time, 5 minutes of sitting with Jesus is a good goal. Slowly increase your time—you’ll be amazed at how God increases your capacity to be with Him!

2. Bring Scripture

Reading scripture is always a good thing, but is especially helpful and meditative during adoration. There are many prayer books and apps that contain daily scripture readings. I particularly like reading the Psalms and reflecting on a verse that speaks to me on that given day. As I read scripture, I ask myself: How is this scripture speaking to my heart? What changes is God asking me to take? How will I go about making those changes? I make this part of my prayer.

3. Pray the Rosary

The rosary is a beautiful prayer, one that many saints have prayed. St. Louis de Montfort said “’When the Holy Rosary is said well, it gives Jesus and Mary more glory and is more meritorious than any other prayer.” What better way to give Jesus and Mary glory than to pray the rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament? There are many guides and apps you can print/download to help guide you through this form of prayer.

4. Listen to Praise and Worship Music

When I’m the only one in the Church or chapel, I love to start adoration by listening to praise and worship music. “Restless” and “I Shall Not Want” by Audrey Assad, “Lay it Down” and “Lord, I Need You” by Matt Maher, are just a few of my favorite songs to listen to during adoration. The music and the lyrics help me quiet myself and turn my thoughts to God.

5. Be Okay with Silence

It’s so easy to go a whole day without silence. We get in the car and turn on the radio, we have our phones, with days’ worth of music, in our pockets, and at the end of the day there’s Netflix. Even if we are in a quiet environment, we are usually accustomed to checking our phones—for a text, the latest Facebook drama, the trending hashtag on Twitter, the newest picture on Instagram, the list goes on.

Don’t get me wrong, I fall prey to every one of those habits. Which is why, when I’m sitting in adoration, I can find it difficult to focus. I’ve become so accustomed to the business of the world, that being truly still, truly silent, can seem uncomfortable, foreign. But that discomfort is ok, good even. In Audrey Assad’s “Restless” she sings “And I’m restless, I’m restless, ‘til I rest in You.” I find this sentiment to be so true when I am in adoration. Sure, the first few minutes I am restless as I begin to wind down. But eventually, I am filled with insurmountable peace. Allow yourself to sit in silence and to just be with Jesus.

In an apparition to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus spoke these beautiful words: “I have a burning thirst to be honored by men in the Blessed Sacrament.” Go to adoration, even if it’s just for 5 minutes. Jesus desires to be with you, to have you gaze upon Him, as He so lovingly gazes upon you.

o   Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]http://catholicnewsherald.com/faith/198-news/faith/faith-facts/2207-eucharistic-adoration

[3] https://lifeteen.com/blog/a-beginners-guide-to-adoration/

Day 24[1]

On Day 24 Father Calloway states that the devil hates honest and diligent workers. Work reminds the devil of the love God has for man by humbling himself in taking human form and making himself capable of manual labor. Jesus learned how to work as a man by imitating Joseph.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 Workmen, Pray for Us. 

St. Joseph is a common working man with an uncommon faith. He models for us, as he did for Jesus, the benefits of hard work to the person, family, and society. 

·         Saint Joseph is the model of workmen.

·         Saint Joseph will teach you how to be a diligent worker. 

Joseph worked hard because he knew that work is honorable and pleasing to God. However, Joseph also knew that rest is also honorable to God. One need not be a workaholic. There is a time and place for everything; there is a time for Spirit, loved ones, enjoyment, and rest. Joseph could see in the eyes of his young son that God never desires his workmen to burn out from sheer exhaustion and that the divine spirit desires us to delight in the natural world He created for us. 

Saint Joseph the Worker[2] 

To foster deep devotion to Saint Joseph among Catholics, and in response to the “May Day” celebrations for workers sponsored by Communists, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955. This feast extends the long relationship between Joseph and the cause of workers in both Catholic faith and devotion. Beginning in the Book of Genesis, the dignity of human work has long been celebrated as a participation in the creative work of God. By work, humankind both fulfills the command found in Genesis to care for the earth (Gn 2:15) and to be productive in their labors. Saint Joseph, the carpenter and foster father of Jesus, is but one example of the holiness of human labor.

Jesus, too, was a carpenter. He learned the trade from Saint Joseph and spent his early adult years working side-by-side in Joseph’s carpentry shop before leaving to pursue his ministry as preacher and healer. In his encyclical Laborem Exercens, Pope John Paul II stated: “the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated, and to help to guide [social] changes so as to ensure authentic progress by man and society.” 

Saint Joseph is held up as a model of such work. Pius XII emphasized this when he said, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Savior of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with Him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work.” 

Reflection 

To capture the devotion to Saint Joseph within the Catholic liturgy, in 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph the patron of the universal Church. In 1955, Pope Pius XII added the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. This silent saint, who was given the noble task of caring and watching over the Virgin Mary and Jesus, now cares for and watches over the Church and models for all the dignity of human work.

o   Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-joseph-the-worker/


Day 25[1]

On Day 25 Father Calloway asserts that St. Joseph is interested in you and wants you to have a wonderful home life.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 Workmen, Pray for Us. 

Glory of Domestic Life, Pray for Us.

 

St. Joseph desires to increase God’s grace in you your family and home. 

·         Saint Joseph wants to bless your home.

·         Saint Joseph loves domestic life. 

Saint Joseph’s Workshop[2]

Scripture tells us St Joseph was a craftsman. Some Fathers of the Church add that he was a carpenter. When talking of the life of Jesus, St Justin says that he made ploughs and yokes. Perhaps that’s why St Isidore of Seville concludes that St Joseph was a blacksmith. In any event, he was a workman who supplied the needs of his fellow citizens with a manual skill acquired through years of toil and sweat.

The Gospels give us a picture of Joseph as a remarkably sound man who was in no way frightened or shy of life. On the contrary, he faced up to problems, dealt with difficult situations and showed responsibility and initiative in whatever he was asked to do.

I don’t agree with the traditional picture of St Joseph as an old man, even though it may have been prompted by a desire to emphasize the perpetual virginity of Mary. I see him as a strong young man, perhaps a few years older than our Lady, but in the prime of his life and work.

You don’t have to wait to be old or lifeless to practice the virtue of chastity. Purity comes from love; and the strength and gaiety of youth are no obstacle for noble love. Joseph had a young heart and a young body when he married Mary, when he learned of the mystery of her divine motherhood, when he lived in her company, respecting the integrity God wished to give the world as one more sign that he had come to share the life of his creatures. Anyone who cannot understand a love like that knows very little of true love and is a complete stranger to the Christian meaning of chastity.

Joseph was, we have said, a craftsman from Galilee, just one man among many. What had life to offer to someone from a forgotten village like Nazareth? Nothing but work: work every day, with the same constant effort. And at the end of the day, a poor little house in which to rest and regain energy for the next day.

But the name Joseph, in Hebrew, means “God will add.” God adds unsuspected dimensions to the holy lives of those who do his will. He adds the one important dimension which gives meaning to everything, the divine dimension. To the humble and holy life of Joseph he added — if I may put it this way — the lives of the Virgin Mary and of Jesus, our Lord. God does not allow himself to be outdone in generosity. Joseph could make his own the words of Mary, his wife: “He has looked graciously upon the lowliness of his handmaid... because he who is mighty, he whose name is holy, has wrought for me his wonders.”

St Joseph was an ordinary sort of man on whom God relied to do great things. He did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do, in each and every event that went to make up his life. That is why Scripture praises Joseph as “a just man.” And in Hebrew a just man means a good and faithful servant of God, someone who fulfils the divine will, or who is honorable and charitable toward his neighbor. So a just man is someone who loves God and proves his love by keeping God’s commandments and directing his whole life toward the service of his brothers, his fellow men.

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.


[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]https://opusdei.org/en-us/document/in-joseph-s-workshop/


Day 26[1]

On Day 26 Father Calloway underscores that virginity and chase purity is the greatest gift a man or woman can give back to God.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 Workmen, Pray for Us.

Glory of Domestic Life, Pray for Us. 

Guardian of Virgins, Pray for Us

 

To Joseph virginity is a treasure. 

·         Saint Joseph will help you be a guardian of virginity and purity.

 

Saint Joseph, father and guardian of virgins, to whose faithful keeping Christ Jesus, innocence itself, and Mary, the virgin of virgins was entrusted, I pray and beseech you by that twofold and most precious charge, by Jesus and Mary, to save me from all uncleanness, to keep my mind untainted, my heart pure, and my body chaste; and to help me always to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity. Amen.[2] 

A Miraculous Staircase in New Mexico[3]


When the Loretto Chapel was completed in 1878, there was no way to access the choir loft twenty-two feet above. Carpenters were called in to address the problem, but they all concluded access to the loft would have to be via ladder as a staircase would interfere with the interior space of the small Chapel.

Legend says that to find a solution to the seating problem, the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared at the Chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Months later, the elegant circular staircase was completed, and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. After searching for the man (an ad even ran in the local newspaper) and finding no trace of him, some concluded that he was St. Joseph himself, having come in answer to the sisters' prayers.

The stairway's carpenter, whoever he was, built a magnificent structure. The design was innovative for the time and some of the design considerations still perplex experts today.

The staircase has two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support. It is said that the staircase was built without nails—only wooden pegs. Questions also surround the number of stair risers relative to the height of the choir loft and about the types of wood and other materials used in the stairway's construction.

Over the years many have flocked to the Loretto Chapel to see the Miraculous Staircase. The staircase has been the subject of many articles, TV specials, and movies including "Unsolved Mysteries" and the full-length movie titled "The Staircase", starring William Petersen and Barbara Hershey.

 

·         If the carpenter were St. Joseph; I contend that as a father, he would have to have needed help to construct this staircase and as a dad would he not have called on his son to help him?

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]https://opusdei.org/en-us/document/in-joseph-s-workshop/


Day 271]

On Day 27 Father Calloway shows that devotion to St. Joseph will help families from falling apart. 

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 Workmen, Pray for Us.

Glory of Domestic Life, Pray for Us.

Guardian of Virgins, Pray for Us. 

Pillar of Families, Pray for us. 

The family was designed by God to be a school of love, something that is beautiful, delightful and life-giving. St. Joseph will help to protect your family which the devil and his cohorts desire to destroy. 

·         Saint Joseph loves the family!

·         Saint Joseph wants to be the pillar of your family. 

Joseph wants you to establish norms of: 

·         Prayer

·         mutual respect

·         purity

·         honesty

·         forgiveness

·         affection

·         and most importantly the supremacy of God as the head of your family. 

The TV’s current representation of the modern family is a lie and deception. Joseph will show you the means to be a true husband and father. The men represented by Satan are self-serving and seek to avoid responsibility. Joseph will help you to perfect your love through a spirit of sacrifice and faithfulness to your wife and children. You are the vicar of your family and God has appointed you to lead them to salvation.

TEN COMMANDMENTS OF A HUSBAND & FATHER[2]

“Take courage and be a man.  Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following His ways and observing His statutes, commands, ordinances and decrees, that you may succeed in whatever you do.” – 1 Kings 2:2-3

1.      Develop an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus, allowing Him to forgive you of your past, to talk to you, to heal you and to guide you. Then, trust the Holy Spirit in all things. Trust Him to provide everything you need, including financial help.

2.      Get your priorities in order: Jesus first, your wife second, your children third, your work fourth, etc.  Develop a weekly schedule, blocking out quality time for the Lord, your wife, each child and the family as a whole.  A husband’s most important time during any given day is the first five minutes when he gets home from work and the love and attention, he shows his wife and children at that time.  Remember that your human fatherhood is rooted in the Divine Fatherhood of Almighty God (cf. Ephesians 3:14-15; cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2214).

3.      Realize that you are the “vicar” of the home. It is your primary responsibility to oversee the TV and its influence, the internet and its influence, as well as the books and magazines that enter into your home.  You must stand firmly against all evil influences, asking constantly for God’s strength and guidance to lead your family in living a pure, holy and non-violent lifestyle.  Esto vir!  (Be a man!).  A father fosters moral virtue within his home first and foremost by example.  Get into the habit of blessing your children – both alone and with your wife – before they go to sleep at night or before they leave the house in the morning.

4.      Make sure you know what your children are being taught at school regarding morals and values. All teachers teach “in your place” as you and your wife are the primary educators of your children.  If objectionable subjects or materials are being taught in the classroom, you must stand strong.  The primary place for Christian morals and values to be taught and practiced is within the family home – your home, which you oversee.  This is an awesome responsibility given both to you (as the “head” of your household) and to your wife (as the “heart” of your household).  Realize that your headship is to be modeled after the headship of the wise and prudent king who loves and rules over his kingdom and its inhabitants.  Your headship is not to be modeled after the headship of the master who rules over his slaves.  You do not exist as the head of your family to have your needs met, but rather to have your family’s needs met.  Your headship is not about you being served, but rather about you serving.  Your headship is about sacrificial love and service.  As head of the family, you are called to great responsibility.  Many husbands and fathers want headship without the responsibility it demands.  Dare to discipline with love and firmness.  The wise and prudent king loves all of the subjects within his kingdom and wishes to see them prosper in the fullness of beauty and Truth.  He desires to bring them all to the fullness of Truth and prosperity.  Jesus Christ Himself is the Head of His Church; He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Augustine calls the family the “domestic church.”  You are the “head” and “king” and “lord” of this domestic church: “The place and task of the father in and for the family is of unique and irreplaceable importance.  In revealing and in reliving on earth the very fatherhood of God (cf. Ephesians 3:14-15), a man is called upon to ensure the harmonious and united development of all the members of the family” (Pope John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio [The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World], 25).

5.      Pray with your wife and regularly so. Try to keep a simple, but sincere spiritual journal and share it with her, even if your entries are just short, inspirational sentences.  Trust the Lord to guide, purify and sanctify your relationship with your wife.  She is the “heart” of the home.  Reverence her as such.  Love her with the same love and affection Christ has for His Church.  Remember that your sons will grow up to relate to women much in the same way that they saw you relate to your wife.  Similarly, your daughters will learn from their father what to expect from men in a relationship.  Share with your wife her burdens, her sorrows and her joys.  Ask the Lord for the strength to love her with the same love and purity with which He loves His Bride, the Church.

6.      Spend quality time with each child. Treat each child in a unique and personal way.  The power of a father’s affirming love is tremendously overwhelming and something truly wonderful.  Children need it.  They require it for their full and proper development.  Let each child share his or her ideas, feelings, fears and problems with you.  Do everything in your power to ensure that your child can always approach you in any matter.  Be sure to share periodically with your wife your insights concerning each child.  Discipline with firmness and love (again, your model here is that of the wise and prudent king who rules over the inhabitants of his kingdom with a firm, but great love and not of the master who rules over his slaves).

7.      Consecrate your home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Set up a “prayer corner” within the home in the room where the family most gathers.  In this room should be an “altar-table.”  On this table place a Bible, a good condensed version of the Lives of the Saints and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  On or around this table also place images (statues, pictures or icons) of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  The daily family Rosary is a powerful prayer.  If your children are still small, pray only a decade of the Rosary and/or vary it daily with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  A wonderful, fixed time for daily family prayer and spiritual reading (say, a total of just 15 or 20 minutes) is immediately after supper each evening.  Included here could be the Readings from the Mass of the day; purchase a daily Roman missal for this.  Again, remember that you are the priest of the home.  As such, you are called to be a true leader.  A child will remember well into his adult life these early family practices of the Faith.  They will never be forgotten.  A father must be the first Christian witness to his wife and children.  This is both a duty and a responsibility.  Also, be sure to foster the use of sacramentals among your family members.  Sacramentals are “sacred signs which bear a certain resemblance to the Sacraments and by means of which spiritual effects are signified and obtained through the prayers of the Church” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Glossary).  Examples of sacramentals include the Sign of the Cross, holy water, enrollment in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, religious medals, blessings, pilgrimages, processions, the Stations of the Cross, sacred art, rosaries and the veneration of relics.  While sacramentals do differ from the seven Sacraments, they are still very important in the life of a Catholic Christian. Also, promote visits to the Blessed Sacrament with your family members, for instance, when in town running errands.

8.      Do not let sports or outside activities become more important to you or to your children than Christ and family. Sports have become a false god in America today – especially on Sundays – and we tend to overemphasize them.  Spend fun time at home.  Do things together as a family.  This calls for creativity, imagination and frequent planning in advance.  Seek suggestions from your wife and older children in this regard.

9.      Pray that each one of your children may answer the call to the vocation that Almighty God has chosen for him or her from all eternity. Never ask your children, “What do you want to be?”  Rather, ask each child, “What do you think God is calling you to be?”  Help them to discern their states-in-life, whether it be singlehood, the married state or consecrated religious life.  Have this discussion often with your children, especially after they reach the age of 15.

10.  Ensure the frequenting of the Sacraments by your family members. The Sacrament of Confession should be partaken of at least monthly and the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist should be partaken of at least weekly.  You must make sure that your family’s sense of sin is never dulled.  Take your family to Sunday Mass precisely as a family. Do not give your teenagers an option here.  If you do, you are not fulfilling your vocation as a father.  Foster among your family members a great love of the Holy Eucharist.  Tithe regularly and devotedly.  Do everything in your power (as the wise and prudent king of your home) to truly make Sunday the Lord’s Day and a day of family togetherness; that is, a day of prayer, relaxation and recreation.  Again, this calls for creativity, imagination and frequent planning in advance.  Seek input from your wife and older children in this regard.  Remember, any good and wholesome recreation is really a “re-creation” of both body and soul.

Silent Witness[3] 

Joseph knew as a father “examples are caught; not taught”. Your actions are a silent witness. Who do you think modeled the “Our Father” for Jesus? Your attitudes toward bearing fatiguing work, or wealth/poverty; or in the bearing of injuries; or in standing up to injustice bear more of a witness that any spoken words. 

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]https://fathersofmercy.com/ten-commandments-of-a-husband-and-father/

[3]https://www.lorettochapel.com/info/staircase


Day 281]

On Day 28 Father Calloway relays that St. Joseph was not only a comfort to his family; he was in fact a comfort to his neighbors for Jewish law required:

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” appears in the Bible for the first time in Leviticus 19:18. In Hebrew, v’ahavta l’re’akha kamokha (v’a-HAHV-tah l’RAY’ah-KHA Kah-MOE-kha). The verse ends with, “Ani Adonai” (Ah-NEE Ah-doe-NYE, actually Ani יהוה). It is as if God signs His signature to the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself, to give it special emphasis. We are to do to others as we would wish them to do to us.[2]

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 Workmen, Pray for Us.

Glory of Domestic Life, Pray for Us.

Guardian of Virgins, Pray for Us.

Pillar of Families, Pray for us. 

Comfort of the Afflicted, Pray for Us. 

Joseph still cares for his neighbor of which you are one. 

·         Saint Joseph will comfort you in difficult times. 

Joseph wants you to know that neither he nor God will ever abandon you. From the Torah Joseph knew: 

·         Exodus 15: 1-3

 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea. My strength and my refuge is the LORD and he has become my savior. This is my God, I praise him; the God of my father, I extol him. The LORD is a warrior; LORD is his name!

·         Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you.

·         Joshua 1:9

I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go.

·         Nehemiah 8:10

He continued: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD is your strength!”

·         Habakkuk 3:19

GOD, my Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet swift as those of deer and enables me to tread upon the heights.

·         Psalm 9:10-11

LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you; you never forsake those who seek you, LORD.

·         Psalm 27:1-3

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should, I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, these my enemies and foes themselves stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart does not fear; Though war be waged against me, even then do I trust.

Pious Union of St. Joseph[3]

Joseph was a person of hope. He trusted in God, even in times of uncertainty and suffering, and he has been consoled by the presence of Jesus, the Son of God and his foster son, and Mary, his wife, and Mother of Our Lord. He shared his life, feelings, his whole being with them; they were the source of his strength, faith and courage. Jesus and Mary were with St. Joseph at the hour of his death.

Saint Louis Guanella, priest (1842 – 1915), was deeply devoted to St. Joseph and expressed an unconditional trust in his intercession.

Under the protection of Pope St. Pius X, who sponsored his project, Fr. Guanella began in 1909 to build a church in Rome, named for St. Joseph and dedicated on March 19, 1912. Today it is a Minor Basilica.

When the construction was complete, he confided to St. Pius X his desire to establish an association of devotees to St. Joseph, who pray each day for his intercession for the benefit of the suffering and dying. “Your idea has been inspired by God,” said the Pope. “We ourselves wanted to suggest it to you. We will be the first to be enrolled in this great Crusade of prayer.”

Canonically recognized on February 12, 1914, the Pious Union of St. Joseph for the Salvation of the Dying was declared a “Primary Confraternity” by Pope St. Pius X. wrote: “We desire to make known how much we appreciate this most praiseworthy Association and we wish our name to be the first inscribed among the members of the same, exhorting all our dear Brothers in the priesthood not to forget the dying each day in the Divine Sacrifice. We, likewise, exhort all the faithful, and especially Religious, to accustom themselves to raise up special prayers to God and to St. Joseph in favor of the dying”

Fr. Guanella felt deeply, “there is a need to live well, but there is even a greater need to die well. A peaceful death is everything, especially today when people value only material things and earthly enjoyments, rejecting eternal values.”

Members of the Pious Union of St Joseph honor St. Joseph on his Feast Day, March 19th, and every Wednesday. We rely on his intercession to aid us all as we pass from this world.  We pray to him every day asking for his intercession for the dying while sacrificing and offering our good works for their benefit.

Membership is without charge. A free-will offering when enrolling and an annual stipend accomplishes many good works but is not a requirement of membership. The sole commitment of membership is to pray every day to St. Joseph for the benefit of the suffering and dying, trusting in his intercession while praying the short and powerful prayer of the Pious Union.

If you wish to become a member of the Pious Union of St. Joseph, first search your heart before making a promise to pray each day to St Joseph for all those who will die that day.

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]https://www.jewishjewels.org/blog/love-god-love-your-neighbor/

[3] http://www.piousunionofstjoseph.org/


Day 291]


On Day 29 Father Calloway states that Joseph cares for the sick and wishes to bring them to health.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 Workmen, Pray for Us.

Glory of Domestic Life, Pray for Us.

Guardian of Virgins, Pray for Us.

Pillar of Families, Pray for us.

Comfort of the Afflicted, Pray for Us.

 Hope of the Sick, Pray for Us.

 

Joseph is the hope of the dying and the health of the sick.

 ·         Saint Joseph offers hope in times of sickness.

 If you or someone you know is ill or in poor health, ask St. Joseph to intercede.

 St. Joseph is a go-to saint for many faithful throughout the world. He is the loving father figure to Jesus and also the spouse of Mary, whom he protected and loved his whole life. I know I am among countless people who has turned to St. Joseph countless times. There is a long history of Christians consecrating themselves to St. Joseph during a plague. In fact, shortly before the current pandemic, Fr. Donald Calloway launched his ministry to lead people in consecrating themselves to St. Joseph (read about that here). So, a consecration to St. Joseph might be one way we can unite with our Catholic ancestors to bring a swift end to the effects of coronavirus. If you are not in a place to make a consecration, the St. Joseph novena is an easy prayer to pray for nine days in a row. There are many stories of miracles as a result of this novena and you can use it to turn to St. Joseph in these chaotic times.[2] 

Votive Masses[3]

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the most powerful of all prayers. A votive Mass is a Mass celebrated for a special purpose or occasion.

·         Votive Masses are always optional; they are never obligatory.

·         The Missale Romanum (1962) contains many votive Masses.  

·         According to the Missale Romanum (1962), the most fitting choices for particular days of the week are as follows:

 

Monday

Mass of the Most Holy Trinity

Tuesday

Mass of the Holy Angels

Wednesday

Mass of St. Joseph, or Mass of Saints Peter and Paul, or Mass of All Holy Apostles

Thursday

Mass of the Holy Spirit, or Mass of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, or Mass of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Supreme and Eternal Priest

Friday

Mass of the Holy Cross, or Mass of the Passion of the Lord, or Mass of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Proper’s for Certain Votive Masses:

·         Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

·         Votive Mass for the Deliverance from Death in Time of Pestilence (Against Coronavirus COVID 19 Plague)

·         Votive Mass for the Forgiveness of Sins

·         Votive Mass for the Unity of the Church

·         Votive Mass of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Adeamus cum fiducia) (in any season)

·         Votive Mass of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Adeamus cum fiducia) (in Eastertide only)

·         Votive Mass of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Adeamus cum fiducia) (after Pentecost)

·         Votive Mass of the Most Holy Trinity (Mondays)

·         Votive Mass of the Holy Angels (Tuesdays)

·         Votive Mass of Saint Joseph (Wednesdays)

·         Votive Mass of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Supreme and Eternal Priest (Thursdays)

·         Votive Mass of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Fridays)

·         Votive Mass for the Anniversary of the Coronation (Solemn Installation) of the Pope

·         Saturday of Our Lady (or Votive Mass) – Roráte cœli desuper during Advent

·         Saturday of Our Lady – Vultum tuum after Christmas and before February 2

·         Saturday of Our Lady – Salve, sancta Parens after the Purification and before Holy Thursday

·         Saturday of Our Lady – Salve, sancta Parens during Eastertide

·         Saturday of Our Lady – Salve, sancta Parens after Trinity Sunday and before Advent

·         Saturday of Our Lady – Salve, sancta Parens after Trinity Sunday and before Advent (Latin-English-Español trilingual)

·         Daily Mass for the Dead – For All the Faithful Departed (omitting Rite of Absolution)

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph


Total Consecration to St. Joseph-Day 30[1]


On Day 30 Father Calloway states that Joseph is the Patron of the dying and that he wants us to have a holy and happy death.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 Workmen, Pray for Us.

Glory of Domestic Life, Pray for Us.

Guardian of Virgins, Pray for Us.

Pillar of Families, Pray for us.

Comfort of the Afflicted, Pray for Us.

Hope of the Sick, Pray for Us.

 Patron of the Dying, Pray for Us. 


Joseph is our patron to a happy life and a happy end of life. 

·         Saint Joseph is your personal patron. 

In many monasteries there are signs that read “Memento Mori” (Remember you will die). These signs are not to frighten men but to encourage them of the need to be prepared for death. Call on St. Joseph at your death for this is as every priest knows when the devil makes an all-out effort to get you to turn away from God via despair; call on Joseph. With St. Joseph you do not have to be fearful of death. Remain in a state of sanctifying grace. Go to Confession and Holy Communion and give everything to Jesus’ Dad. 

Patron of a Happy Death[2] 

We are all going to die. Joseph died. Lazarus died not once but twice. Therefore, we should prepare.

There are three reasons why St. Joseph is the special patron of the dying:

1.       He is the foster father of the Eternal Judge, Who can refuse him no request.

2.       He is terrible to the demons; the Church calls him
the Terror of demons and Conqueror of Hell.

3.        His own death was most beautiful, for he died in the arms of Jesus and Mary; this is the principal reason why he is the patron of a happy death; the death no other Saint was so happy, so glorious.

St. Francis de Sales was of the opinion that St. Joseph died of the love of God; St. Alphonsus Liguori considered this most reasonable.[3]

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[3]http://www.catholictradition.org/Joseph/joseph7.htm#REASONS


Total Consecration to St. Joseph-Day 31[1]


On Day 31 Father Calloway states that Joseph has your back in the war against the powers of darkness.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 Workmen, Pray for Us.

Glory of Domestic Life, Pray for Us.

Guardian of Virgins, Pray for Us.

Pillar of Families, Pray for us.

Comfort of the Afflicted, Pray for Us.

Hope of the Sick, Pray for Us.

Patron of the Dying, Pray for Us.

 Terror of Demons, Pray for Us.

 

Demons fear Jesus and Demons fear Mary. Joseph his whole life protected Jesus and Mary from demons both human and spiritual; He will do the same for you. Joseph is the man; the only man empowered by God to protect the innocence of Christ and His mother. 

·         Saint Joseph is a dragon slayer!

·         Saint Joseph will protect you against Satan and his demons. 

Joseph’s primary weapons were his purity and his fearlessness. The demons even feared Joseph when he slept. Joseph was ready. His was the honor to protect, defend and fight for Jesus and Mary. Joseph was quiet but deadly in the face of evil. Through consecration to St. Joseph you are being called to the same mission as St. Joseph. You are called to protect Jesus and his bride the church and Mary Joseph’s Virgin Wife. To do this you must use the spiritual weapons of Joseph: purity and fearlessness. Strive to be chase in mind and body, pray the rosary, frequent the sacraments and the demons may fear you when you sleep. If men resemble St. Joseph, the kingdom of Satan will be destroyed. The purity of St. Joseph is a weapon against the filth and perversions of the devil. Satan is a filthy, perverse, and pornographic spirit. Purity repulses him. It pierces him. 

Terror of Demons[2]

What is terror? Terror can be defined as the "opposite of hope," a condition that stems from lack of trust that God loves you and wills what's best for you.

In her Diary, St. Faustina writes of terror - the terror of dying souls as well as her own brief moments of terror. In one instance, Jesus asks her to help Him to save souls by praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for dying sinners. She records, "I found myself in a strange cottage where an elderly man was dying amidst great torments. All about the bed was a multitude of demons and the family, who were crying. When I began to pray, the spirits of darkness fled, with hissing and threats directed at me. The soul became calm and, filled with trust, rested in the Lord" (1798).

The demons knew they didn't stand a chance against St. Faustina and the Chaplet.

Yet St. Faustina, too, experienced moments of terror. Jesus rebukes her for this at one point, saying:

I am displeased when a soul yields to vain terrors. Who will dare to touch you when you are with Me? Most dear to Me is the soul that strongly believes in My goodness and has complete trust in Me (453).

Saint Faustina would eventually learn to whom she can turn in order to allay her fears and unite her to Jesus. It was none other than Jesus' foster father, St. Joseph. The famous Litany of St. Joseph identifies him under the title Terror of Demons, and it's no wonder. Surely, this man entrusted by God with the singular mission of caring for and protecting the Holy Family was endowed with graces enough to strike fear in the forces of darkness. The demons don't stand a chance against St. Joseph. Saint Faustina writes:

Saint Joseph urged me to have a constant devotion to him. ... He has promised me this special help and protection (1203).

When you find yourself feeling overcome by the trials of life, turn to St. Joseph. He was a man who, in his earthly life, never succumbed to "vain terrors." He remained ever grounded in faith, ever attuned to the will of God in his life. From Heaven, he stands as a go-to saint to help you when forces beyond your control - including demonic forces - seek to unsettle you and pull you toward despair and ruin.

At the end of our lives, many people are susceptible to despair. Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons, will squash such despair and all things that stand in opposition to the hope found in the Risen Christ. From Heaven, this humble, quiet man of strength will lead us to the peace found in Jesus.

Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons, protect us.

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/terror-demons-explanation


Total Consecration to St. Joseph-Day 32[1]


On Day 32 Father Calloway states that the church needs protection of St. Joseph.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 Workmen, Pray for Us.

Glory of Domestic Life, Pray for Us.

Guardian of Virgins, Pray for Us.

Pillar of Families, Pray for us.

Comfort of the Afflicted, 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.

 

The church has always needed the protection of St. Joseph. The church like each human is not perfect and like any organization the good exist with the not so good. Jesus mentions this in his parable of the Weeds and the wheat that grow together. If we stay close to our protector, St. Joseph will ensure we will be counted among the wheat and not among the weeds.  

·         Saint Joseph protects the Church. 

Know that God will never abandon us, and that Joseph has been charged by Jesus to protect us and that he also will never abandon us.   

Patron of the Universal Church[2] 

This is St. John Paul II’s address at the General Audience on March 19, 2003, at the Solemnity of St. Joseph, in St. Peter's Square. The Pope reflected on the great saint, Patron of the universal Church and Patron of workers. He reminded us that St. Joseph is for us a model of life lived in faith. As protector of the Holy Family, this "just man" (Mt 1,10), was a humble worker and a faithful husband and father.

1. Today we are celebrating the Solemnity of St Joseph, the Husband of Mary (Mt 1,24; Lk 1,27). Scripture points him out to us as the "father" of Jesus (Lk 2,27.33.41.43.48), prepared to carry out the divine plan, even when it eluded human understanding. To him, "son of David" (Mt 1,20; Lk 1,27), God entrusted the safekeeping of the Eternal Word, made man by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. St Joseph is described in the Gospel as a "just man" (Mt 1,19), and for all believers he is a model of life in faith.

A just man

2. The word "just" evokes his moral rectitude, his sincere attachment to the practice of the law and his attitude of total openness to the will of the heavenly Father. Even in difficult and sometimes tragic moments, the humble carpenter of Nazareth never claimed for himself the right to dispute God's plan. He awaited the call from on High and in silence respected the mystery, letting himself be guided by the Lord. Once he received the mission, he fulfils it with docile responsibility. He listens attentively to the angel, when he is asked to take as his wife the Virgin of Nazareth (cf. Mt 1,18-25), in the flight into Egypt (cf. Mt 2,13-15) and in the return to Israel (cf. ibid., 2,19-23). In few, but significant strokes, the Evangelists describe him as the caring guardian of Jesus, an attentive and faithful husband, who exercises his family authority in a constant attitude of service. Nothing else is said about him in the Sacred Scriptures, but this silence contains the special style of his mission: a life lived in the greyness of everyday life, but with steadfast faith in Providence.

Person, work, society

3. Everyday St Joseph had to provide for the family's needs with hard manual work. Thus, the Church rightly points to him as the patron of workers.

Today's solemnity is also a wonderful occasion to reflect on the importance of work in the life of the human person, the family and the community.

The human being is the subject and the primary agent of work, and in the light of this truth, we can clearly perceive the fundamental connection between the person, work and society. Human activity — the Second Vatican Council recalls — proceeds from the human person and is ordered to the person. According to God's design and will, it must serve the true good of humanity and allow "man as an individual and as a member of society to cultivate and carry out his integral vocation" (cf. Gaudium et spes, n. 35).

In order to fulfil this mission, a "tested spirituality of human work" must be cultivated that is firmly rooted in the "Gospel of work" and believers are called to proclaim and to witness to the Christian meaning of work in their many activities and occupations (cf. Laborem exercens, n. 26).

Man, of peace

4. May St Joseph, such a great and humble saint be an example that inspires Christian workers, who should call on him in every circumstance. Today I wish to entrust to the provident guardian of the Holy Family of Nazareth the young people who are training for their future profession, the unemployed, and those who are suffering from the hardship of the shortage of employment, families and the whole world of work, with the expectations and challenges, the problems and prospects that characterize it.

May St Joseph, the Patron of the universal Church, watch over the entire ecclesial community and, as the man of peace that he was, may he obtain for all humanity, especially for the peoples threatened at this time by war, the precious gift of harmony and peace.

To the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors

I extend a special welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims here today, including the groups from England, Denmark, Korea, Japan and the United States and, particularly, to the Choir of St Cecilia Parish in Houston, Texas. May your visit to Rome be a time of spiritual enrichment. Upon all of you, I invoke the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To young people, the sick and newly-weds

Finally, I greet the young people, the sick, and the newly-weds.

Dear young people, who are here in large numbers, and especially you students coming from many schools, pray to St Joseph to help you follow day by day the Lord's desires for you. You, dear sick people, pray to him to support you in suffering, accepted as a way to cooperate with the salvation of the world. And you, dear newly-weds, at the school of the chaste husband of the Virgin Mary, nourish your heart with prayer and daily docility to the divine plan.

©L'Osservatore Romano, Editorial and Management Offices, Via del Pellegrino, 00120, Vatican City, Europe, Telephone 39/6/698.99.390.

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/terror-demons-explanation


Total Consecration to St. Joseph-Day 33[1]


On Day 33 Father Calloway states that St. Joseph is the guardian of the treasures of heaven.

Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy. 
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 Spirit have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.

Noble 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.

Zealous Defender 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 Workmen, Pray for Us.

Glory of Domestic Life, Pray for Us.

Guardian of Virgins, Pray for Us.

Pillar of Families, Pray for us.

Comfort of the Afflicted, 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.

 

He Made Him the Lord of His Household, and Prince Over All His Possessions.

 

Jesus will spare no effort to enrich and honor Joseph. We must, then be devoted to him. We must honor and consecrate ourselves to him. 

·         Saint Joseph is your increaser. 

Consecration Day[2]

By completing this 33 days with St. Joseph you are changed, and you are the recipient of a tremendous blessing. St Joseph is in your corner and he will help to increase your holiness. He will help you to worship with your entire heart, mind, soul and strength. Love, trust, and honor Joseph, he will guard you and help strengthen you. He will never be far from you and he will help you be fearless in living and passing on to others the “Good News” of his son.

Memorare to St. Joseph

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession were left unassisted. Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not O Guardian of the Redeemer my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.

Act of Consecration to St. Joseph

O dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life. After your example may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O Blessed St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.

Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.



[1]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph

[2]https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/terror-demons-explanation














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