Feast Day of St. Joseph

HAPPY FEAST DAY!

Today the Catholic Church celebrates Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary and Foster-father of Jesus Christ.

In Scripture, St. Joseph utters no words. He's a man of silence. But in his silence, God is able to penetrate his heart, giving him the strength and confidence to carry out God's plan. We can also see in Scripture that St. Joseph is a very concerned and wise man. He's humble and faithful to God and His precepts. Joseph's humility and obedience make him susceptible to God's will and doing exactly what God bids. He is a role model for us all.

In the Catholic tradition, (with Scripture backing us up,) we believe that we can ask the Saints to intercede for us to the Almighty God. St. Joseph has proven throughout the ages to be a very powerful intercessor. St. Teresa of Avila once said of St. Joseph: "I am astonished at the great favours which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succour us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succours us in them all..."

AS he was the guardian and protector of Jesus on earth, St. Joseph is now considered the protector of our Holy Mother Church on earth. Please pray for the Roman Pontiff and our Holy Catholic Church this day through St. Joseph's intercession:

We come to you, O blessed Joseph, in our distress. We humbly beg that, mindful of the affection which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and of the fatherly love with which you cherished the child Jesus, you will lovingly watch over the heritage which Jesus Christ purchased with His blood, and by your powerful intercession help us in our urgent need. Prudent guardian of the Holy Family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ; drive far from us, most loving father, all error and corrupting sin. From your place in heaven, most powerful protector, graciously come to our aid in this conflict with the powers of darkness, and as of old you delivered the Child Jesus from danger of death, so now defend the holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Extend to each one of us your continual protection, that, led on by your example, and borne up by your strength, we may be able to live and die in holiness and obtain the promises of Jesus Christ. Amen.

AS he is also a powerful intercessor in things almost despaired of, remember to pray for his help with any difficulties you may be having:

O glorious St. Joseph, thou who hast power to render possible even things which are considered impossible, come to our aid in our present trouble and distress. Take this important and difficult affair under thy particular protection, that it may end happily. (Name your request.) O dear St. Joseph, all our confidence is in thee. let it not be said that we would invoke thee in vain; and since thou art so powerful with Jesus and Mary. show that thy goodness equals thy power. Amen, St. Joseph, friend of the Sacred Heart of Our Lord and Savior, pray for us to the Almighty God.

Amen.