Posted on 03/19/2004 7:46:21 AM PST by Pyro7480
The Virtues of St. Joseph
"All virtues and perfections were then reflected absolutely in St. Joseph, so that it almost seemed as if he were as perfect and possessed all virtues in as high a degree as the glorious Virgin our Mistress." Conf XIX, On the Virtues of St. Joseph, p. 368
"Certainly St. Joseph is most justly said to resemble the palm (tree), always constant, persevering, strong, and valiant. There is a great difference between these four virtues. We call a man constant when he remains firm, and prepared to suffer the assaults of the enemy, without surprise or loss of coruage during the combat. Perseverance, however, has chiefly to do with a certain weariness of mind which comes upon us when we have suffered a long time, and this weariness is as powerful an enemy as we can meet with. Now, perseverance enables a man to disregard this enemy that he gains the victory over it by continual calmness and submission to the will of God. Strength makes a man vigorously resist the attacks of his enemies. And valor is a virtue which makes us not only hold ourselves in readiness to fight or to offer resistance when the occasion presents itself, but also to attack the enemy at the moment when he least expects it." Conf XIX, On the Virtues of St. Joseph, p. 378
St. Joseph's Constancy
"Now, our glorious St. Joseph was endowed with all these virtues (constancy, perseverance, strength, valor) and practiced them marvelously well. As regards his constancy, did he not display it wonderfully when seeing Our Lady with child, and not knowing how that could be, his mind was tossed with distress, perplexity, and trouble? Yet, in spite of all, he never complained, he was never harsh or ungracious towards his holy Spouse, but remained just as gentle and respectful in his demeanor as he had ever been. But what valor and strength did he not display in the victory which he gained over the two greatest enemies of man, the devil and the world? And that by the practice of a most perfect humility, as we have said, throughout the whole course of his life. The devil, who for want of humility, and because he would not accept if for his inseparable companion, was driven out of heaven and cast down into hell, is so great an enemy to the lowly virtue, that there is no sacrifice or invention he will not use to make men fall away from it - so much the more because it is a virtue which renders them infinitely pleasing to God. We may therefore well say, "Valiant and strong in humility; he will be conqueror at once of the devil and of the world, which is full of ambition, vanity, and pride." Conf XIX, On the Virtues of St. Joseph, p. 379
ping
Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph published by TAN Books and Publishers
Great Saints have assured us that St. Joseph can assist us in needs of every kind. Nevertheless, he is particularly known for help in family problems, financial needs, protection of purity, defense against dangers, matters involving work or housing, and as Patron of a Happy Death.Here are all the famous, beloved prayers to st. Joseph, including the Novena to St. Joseph, Prayer to Obtain a Special Favor, Litany to St. Joseph, 30 Days' Prayer, Memorare to St. Joseph, Ancient Prayer to St. Joseph ("found in the fiftieth year of Our Lord . . ."), Prayer for Purity, Prayer to Obtain a Conversion, Prayer for a Happy Death, Prayer in a Difficult Problem, Litany for a Dying Person, the Chaplet of St. Joseph, the Cord of St. Joseph, and much more.
This is a wonderful treasury of prayers and devotions for obtaining great favors from God through St. Joseph's powerful intercession!
ST. TERESA'S "GUARANTEE"
Words of St. Teresa of Avila
"To other Saints Our Lord seems to have given power to succor us in some special necessity - but to this glorious Saint, I know by experience, He has given the power to help us in all. Our Lord would have us understand that as He was subject to St. Joseph on earth - for St. Joseph, bearing the title of father and being His guardian, could command Him - so now in Heaven Our Lord grants all his petitions. I have asked others to recommend themselves to St. Joseph, and they, too, know the same thing by experience . . ."
-Autobiography, VI, 9ST. JOSEPH'S VIRTUES
Words of Our lady to St. Bridget of Sweden
"St. Joseph was so reserved and careful in his speech that not one word ever issued from his mouth that was not good and holy, nor did he ever indulge in unnecessary or less than charitable conversation. He was most patient and diligent in bearing fatigue; he practiced extreme poverty; he was most meek in bearing injuries; he was strong and constant against my enemies; he was the faithful witness of the wonders of Heaven, being dead to the flesh and the world, living only for God and for heavenly goods, which were the only things he desired. He was perfectly conformed to the Divine Will and so resigned to the dispositions of Heaven that he ever repeated: 'May the Will of God ever be done in me!' He rarely spoke with men, but continually with God, whose Will he desired to perform. Wherefore, he now enjoys great glory in Heaven." (page 50)
Agreed, bears repeating
So do I. I buy 5 copies at a time, since they're cheaper that way, and I'm cheap, and then I have copies to pass out.
My favorite prayers in it are the Prayer to St. Joseph the Workman (composed by Pope St. Pius X), the "October Prayer to St. Joseph," the Morning Offering to St. Joseph, and the Daily Prayer for Protection.
It's easier and cheaper to buy the booklets from TAN than to print out lots of pages on your inkjet, but for those who want to start praying to St. Joseph today on his feast day, the web page I posted above has all the prayers from the booklet, including the ones you mention.
Father,
you entrusted our Savior to the care of Saint Joseph.
By the help of his prayers
may your Church continue to serve its Lord, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
I bought mine right from TAN. But I also noticed just yesterday when Our Lady of the Rosary Library came up on another thread, that that site is selling them below cost. They say that they are reselling them from TAN, but their price is much lower than TAN's. Probably they bought a thousand from TAN and are passing on the discounted price.
The feast of St. Joseph is a major feast day, especially in Italy where it's equivalent to St. Patrick's day for the Irish. Of course that would be St. Patrick's day the way it's celebrated in Ireland, not the over-the-top American version.
When I lived on the East Coast for some 20 years, there were Italian bakeries on every street corner. Each year they would make a special pastry only on March 19th -- Zeppolis, named for San Guiseppe. There would be long lines all day of people buying zeppolis. Since moving away from the East Coast I've had to learn to make them myself. You make a puff pastry batter and fill it with a pudding or ricotta filling. The traditional ones are fried, kind of like a doughnut, but we bake ours in the oven. Then there is also "Pasta di San Guiseppe," made with an anchovie tomato sauce and crumb topping. St. Joseph's feast day without these traditional foods would be like St. Patrick's day without corned beef and cabbage.
I understnad that in Italy it is considered Father's Day, honoring St. Josehh's Day.
Have a great St. Joseph's Day!
My family never made it here in America but a friend of the family from Northern Italy is making it today for her husband. He is a carpenter and St. Joseph is the patron saint of carpenters.
The Sicilians also have a festival. According to my Mom, Sicily had a severe drought at one time. They prayed for water and invoked the intercession of their various patron saints in addition to St. Joseph as the patron saint of families. The Sicilians promised to feed the poor as thanks. Now, every year they have what they call "St. Joseph's Table" where they make and give away food to the poor.
Each region celebrates all the saints' feast days but in varying degrees according to local patrons and customs.
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