Thursday, March 19, 2009

Solemnity of St. Joseph

I am late posting about Our Holy Father St. Joseph due to the fact I am unable to find an image of him that I like. The above is the best I could come up with.
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Things I know for certain about St. Joseph:
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As St. Teresa of Avila explained to us from her experiences with the patronage of St. Joseph, he is a saint who is ready to help us in every need. Thus, upon her recommendation I attached myself to him many years ago. Lately, images of St. Joseph no longer attract, nor do they tell me about him; neither do writings about his prerogatives, much less the well intentioned speculation concerning his earthly life. No. Rather it is his patronage, his spiritual assistance accompanied by his companionship, that enlightens me most.
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St. Joseph has helped me in every need. For example, he has always found lodging for me on my pilgrimage, as well as a sufficiency to satisfy my needs. And after I settled in one place, he always found suitable employment for me to earn my living. He obtained for me the grace of continence in my friendships, as well as the gift of chastity. He has taught me how to pray - or at least to keep trying to pray. He has obtained for me the gift of temperance, as well as the grace to stop smoking. Through his fatherhood he more or less re-parented me, and taught me to forgive and understand the mystery of God's love despite poverty, hardship, and neglect.
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Yet the greatest grace of all has been his fostering in my soul devotion to the Immaculate Conception and the Divine Infant Jesus.
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St. Joseph ought to have the title of "Wonder-worker" - although there is no more glorious title than, "Foster-father of the Son of God, and chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary."
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Go to Joseph if you find it difficult to live according to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church - he will obtain that grace for you if you ask with holy dispositions - and he will sustain you throughout your life, without sparing you the joy of suffering something for Christ in the process.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:09 PM

    This is one of my favorite pictures of St. Joseph:
    http://www.osjoseph.org/stjoseph/art/detail.php?id=175

    Very Jewish. (You might find an image of St. Joseph you like at this website.)

    Thanks for the post.

    God bless,
    Suzi

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  2. +JMJ+

    Terry, I also have difficulty finding images of St. Joseph that aren't treacly or make him look like Santa Claus. My two favourites are a painting by El Greco . . .

    http://www.wga.hu/art/g/greco_el/13/1302grec.jpg

    . . . and one depiction of the Holy Family by Murillo:

    http://www.joyfulheart.com/christmas/images/murillo_holy_family700x530.jpg

    I like them because they make him look like a dad! =)

    The Murillo painting is especially interesting to me because it doesn't make the Madonna and Child the focus, the way depictions of the Holy Family usually do. Instead, Mary is to the side and almost in the background. So we see St. Joseph and Jesus the way she must have seen them every day.

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  3. Enbrethiliel - Yes - I like these as well - very much.

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  4. Ter: Great piece of advice to go to St. Joseph if you are having trouble living the Church teachings. I pray people have the humility and courage to admit that.

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