Ite ad Joseph! - Go to Joseph!...

     Solemnity of St Joseph

+ Patron of the Universal Church +
+ Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary +

+ Protector of the Divine Infant and Mary +

March 19
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Grant, we pray, almighty God, that by Saint Joseph's 

intercession your Church may constantly watch over 

the unfolding of the mysteries of human salvation, 

whose beginnings you entrusted to his faithful care.

Collect ~Today's Liturgy

 "The same divine hand which fashions each man's heart
gave a father's heart to Joseph and a son's heart to Jesus, so that 

Jesus obeyed Joseph and Joseph did not fear to command Jesus.  

It was because Christ's true Father had chosen Joseph to act 

as father to His Son in this world.  And in so doing God had,
as it were, charged Joseph's breast with some ray 

or spark of His own boundless love for His Son.  

It was that that aroused a father's love in Joseph; so much 

so that, feeling a father's heart burn within him, Joseph also felt 

that God was telling him to use a father's authority." -  Bossuet

"Saint Joseph believed unhesitatingly in the 

mystery of the Incarnation, in the fruitful virginity 

and in the divine maternity of Mary. He believed 

without seeing the miracles that were to fill Judea 

with his glory and renown of his holy name.

We too should recognize Jesus in the frail Host 

that is offered to us at the altar. Here He is even 

smaller than at Bethlehem, more hidden than 

in Saint Joseph's workshop.  Still it is He, 

'I believe all the Son of God has spoken,

than Truth's own word there is no truer token.'"

  Bishop Pierre-Anastase Pichenot

“He [St. Joseph] nourished with the greatest solicitude

Him whom the faithful were one day to receive as the 

Bread of Life on their homeward journey.” - Pope Pius IX  

"Saint Joseph  joined with Mary in adoration and 

united himself to Christ, Whose heart surged with sentiments of 

adoration, love and praise for the Father and of charity for men. 

St. Joseph’s adoration kept pace with every stage of 

our Lord’s life, drawing upon the grace, the spirit, and the 

virtue of each mystery.  In the Incarnation he adored the 

self-annihilation of the Son of God; at Bethlehem, the poverty; 

at Nazareth, the silence, the apparent weakness, 

the obedience, and all the other virtues of Christ.…

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.” - St Peter Julian Eymard

 "When Egypt was laid waste by the great famine,

Pharaoh told his people,

Ite ad Joseph! - Go to Joseph!... (Genesis 41:55)

So if we are in trouble, let us listen to the word of the Lord
and take Pharaoh's advice;
let us go to Joseph if we wish to be consoled." 
- St Alphonsus de Ligouri
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"To other Saints our Lord has given power to help in one sort

of need, but this glorious saint, as I know by experience,

helps us in every need." - St Teresa of Avila

 

St Joseph, pray for us!

Click here: Prayer to St. Joseph in Any Urgent Need - YouTube

Click here: Why St. Joseph? Patron of the Church and Spiritual Father

Bring joy to the face of your soul...

 "Since Christ Himself said in reference to the bread: 

"This is My Body," who will dare remain hesitant? 

And since with equal clarity He asserted: 

"This is My Blood," who will dare entertain any doubt 

and say that this is not His Blood?" - St Cyril of Jerusalem

"Do not, then, regard the Eucharistic 

elements as ordinary bread and wine:  

they are in fact that Body and Blood of the Lord, 

as He Himself has declared.  Whatever your 

senses may tell you, be strong in faith. You have 

been taught and you are firmly convinced 

that what looks and tastes like bread and wine is not 

bread and wine but the Body and Blood of Christ.  

You know also how David referred to this long ago, 

when he sang:  Bread gives strength to man's heart 

and makes his face shine with the oil of gladness.  

Strengthen your heart, then, by receiving 

this bread as spiritual bread, and bring joy 

to the face of your soul. May purity of conscience 

remove the veil from the face of your soul so that by contemplating the glory of the Lord, as in a mirror, 

you may transformed from glory to glory 

in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

To Him be glory for ever and ever.  Amen."

   An except from 

The Bread of Heaven and the Cup of Salvation, 

   St Cyril of Jerusalem, Early Church Father

St Cyril of Jerusalem
313-386

Bishop of Jerusalem

Scripture scholar, Catechist par excellence
Doctor of the Church, Early Church Father

Feast Day - March 18

St Cyril admonished catechumens surrounded by heresy:

 "Make your fold with the sheep;

flee from the wolves:

depart not from the Church."

Click here: St. Cyril of Jerusalem - YouTube (2 mins)

St Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us!

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Novena to St Joseph - Day #9

Tomorrow is the Feast!

I arise today - in strength...

I can do all things through Christ

who strengthens me. - Phil 4:13

St. Patrick is said to have written this prayer to strengthen himself with God's protection as he prepared to confront and convert Loegaire, pagan high king of  Ireland and his druid priests. Through the prayers and pleas of St Patrick, the power and might of God came upon this druid land and that day a broken king knelt before God.

This confrontation between Patrick's God and demonic forces marked the beginning of a thirty-year mission to Ireland. Danger and hardship remained Patrick's constant companions. Many sought his life. Twice he was imprisoned by his enemies--once for two full months. Intimidated? Not Patrick. "Daily I expect murder, fraud, or captivity," he wrote, "but I fear none of these things because of the promises of heaven. I have cast myself into the hands of God Almighty who rules everywhere."

St Patrick's Breastplate

I  arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through the confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I  arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the Judgment Day.

I  arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I  arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I  arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of demons,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I  arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.  AMEN.

St Patrick

Nee in England - 381-461

Bishop, Patron of Ireland

Fearless

Feast Day - March 17

 

St. Patrick “had no illusions about how difficult the task was that lay in front of him. He went to France to prepare for the priesthood so that he would be able to bring the greatest gift of all, the presence of the Lord in the sacraments, to his missionary land. In France, he prayed, fasted and readied himself for 20 years. Then, at the age of 43 . . . [he was] consecrated bishop so that he could found churches and ordain priests.”  - Fr. Roger J. Landry

Click here: Saint Patrick's Day: celebrating a life of mission - YouTube

Click here: St. Patrick - YouTube (2 mins) 
Click here: Bind On the Breastplate of Saint Patrick

St. Patrick's Breastplate UNPACKED

 St Patrick, pray for us!

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Novena to St Joseph - Day 8

The Clinic is open...

 "The Eucharist is the medicine of immortality, 

and the antidote to prevent us from dying, but which 

causes that we should live forever in Jesus Christ."

 St Ignatius of Antioch

Dom Pius Parsch in The Church's Year of Grace invites us to look courageously into the Lord's Face and say: "Thou art my Physician. Cut away, cauterize, work Thy healing art on me . . . only make me well for everlasting life." He presents the Church as a sanatorium for sin-sick souls. 

    "Before leaving the world our Saviour established a clinic, the Church, whose main task was to heal sick souls. The Church is a great spiritual sanatorium. All the practices and ordinances of the Church have as their ultimate purpose to heal men and keep them healthy. 

     Think of the sacraments: baptism, penance, extreme unction. Think in particular of the medicinal power of the Holy Eucharist. Yes, the twofold purpose of the Eucharist is to nourish and to heal. Nourishment to build divine life, medicine to overcome the diseases ravaging the soul.

      To our great detriment we have practically forgotten the latter significance of the Eucharist. We keep believing that Communion is only for saints, a reward for virtue. The time of Mass is the heavenly Physician's normal office hours. . .

    We have a Healer who wishes to heal our infirmities; we have a clinic providing all the means needed to restore our health; we have a medicine which infallibly produces its effect if we use it as prescribed."

Bring someone to the holy Clinic 

this Lenten Season 

- and see what God will do!

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Novena to St Joseph - Day 7

Rejoice - be encouraged: Fourth Sunday of Lent...

 The fourth Sunday of Lent is called " Lætare Sunday", taking its name from the opening words of the Mass, the Introit's "Lætare, Jerusalem" — "Rejoice, O Jerusalem".  In celebration, the priests wear rose-colored vestments.  The point is to provide us encouragement as we progress toward the end of the penitential season.  The day is a day of relaxation from normal Lenten rigors; a day of hope with Easter being at last within sight. Instrumental music is permitted, and the altar may be decorated with flowers

Lætare Jerusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae. (Psalm) Laetatus sum in his, quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus. Gloria Patri.

Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation. (Psalm) I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. Glory be to the Father.

  Prayer over the Offerings (Today's Liturgy)

 We place before You with joy these offerings,

which bring eternal remedy, O Lord,

praying that we may both faithfully revere them

and present them to You, as is fitting,

for the salvation of all the world.

Through Christ our Lord.

   

A bit more on Lætare Sunday:

Lætare Sunday is also called Mothering Sunday in Europe, which is similar to the celebration of Mother's Day in the United States. The name Mothering Sunday came about after the Epistle of the day from Galatians 4:26, which states, "But Jerusalem which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all." The Epistle calls Jerusalem the mother of us all and this Sunday all mothers, the Blessed Virgin Mary and especially “mother church” are honored. People frequently try to attend Mass at the nearest cathedral, their mother church. 

Tradition also holds that on Lætare Sunday, English children who lived away from home returned to visit the church in which they were baptized or raised. Children also visited their mothers, bringing flowers or a type of fruit cake. The occasion led to the old saying, "He who goes a-mothering finds violets in the lane."

Novena to St Joseph - Day 6