Joseph her husband since he was a righteous man
I was unaware that today at one time in the Church was a Holy Day of Obligation. One of the priests at Church, Father Vince, who was ordained in 2018 had a blog on Facebook. It was interesting and enlightening to see how important Saint Joseph life is as a model to everyone but especially to boys and men who need to follow the path of a righteous man. Society needs more men that are righteous.
Last week, I went celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Part of my penance was to pray for a young couple at my Church who have a relationship where they fight a great deal. I don’t know their names but I did know that they had children.
After I said my prayers before the alter, I felt moved to do more for this couple. It is always good to do something extra that only you and Jesus know about. As luck would have it, I always carry a Prayer of St Joseph in my wallet. So I decided to make the Novena to Saint Joseph for 9 days. Sunday the Novena will be complete. Somehow, the life of Saint Joseph would be an example today or any day of the way a Christian man should act. Your fiance’ turns up pregnant and you are not the father. This would cause descension even in the best of family relationships. Still Saint Joseph with the help of the Holy Spirit, not only overcame these obstacles, but excelled as the model for all men. My wife, Anna, and I pray that my granddaughters find such a man in their lives.
It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world through the righteousness that comes from faith. Joseph’s faith saved Jesus and Mary from Herod’s soldier’s by going to a foreign country and coming to Nazareth and living his faith by teaching his son the skills of a carpenter. Faith is a gift but it has to be worked on and lived. It has to be nurtured to grow.
If you want to say the Novena for yourself or someone else here is the prayer:
“Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires….. Oh, St Joseph do assist me by you powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessing, through Jesus Christ Our Lord, so that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers. Oh St Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St Joseph Patron of departing souls Pray for me ”
Pray for 9 mornings.
God Bless You Always
Bob Burford
