Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 03-19-05, Solemnity, St. Joseph, husband

March 19, 2005
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Psalm: Saturday 14

Reading I
2 Sam 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16

The LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
"Go, tell my servant David,
‘When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
It is he who shall build a house for my name.
And I will make his royal throne firm forever.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.'"

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

R (37) The son of David will live for ever.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R The son of David will live for ever.
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations."
R The son of David will live for ever.
"He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm."
R The son of David will live for ever.

Reading II
Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22

Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
.so that it may be a gift,
and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.

Gospel
Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins."
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

or

Lk 2:41-51a

Each year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
"Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety."
And he said to them,
"Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them.

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

1 posted on 03/19/2005 7:29:40 AM PST by Salvation

To: nickcarraway; SMEDLEYBUTLER; Siobhan; Lady In Blue; attagirl; goldenstategirl; Starmaker; ...

King of Endless Glory Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the King of Endless Glory Ping List.

2 posted on 03/19/2005 7:31:00 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

3 posted on 03/19/2005 7:32:24 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

4 posted on 03/19/2005 7:33:11 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

5 posted on 03/19/2005 7:35:11 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

From: Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

The Example of Abraham (Continuation)

[13] The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should
inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the
righteousness of faith.

[16] That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may
rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants--not only to the
adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham,
for he is the father of us all, [17] as it is written, "I have made you
the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he
believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the
things that do not exist. [18] In hope he believed against hope, that
he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So
shall your descendants be." [22] (But) the words, "it was reckoned to
him," were written not for his sake alone.

Commentary:

13-14. God made this promise to Abraham about his having countless
descendants (cf. Genesis 15:5-6) centuries before the Mosaic Law was
given to the people of Israel through Moses. Therefore, the promise
made to Abraham was not linked to the Law but rather to the Patriarch's
faith. That is why the heirs of the promise are those who follow the
faith of Abraham.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

6 posted on 03/19/2005 7:42:37 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

From: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

The Ancestry of Jesus Christ (Continuation)

[16] And Jacob, (was) the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of
whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

The Virginal Conception of Jesus, and His Birth

[18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His
mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together
she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; [19] and her
husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame,
resolved to send her away quietly. [20] But as he considered this,
behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,
"Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; [21] she will bear a
son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people
from their sins." [24] When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the
angel of the Lord commanded him.

Commentary:

16. Jewish genealogies followed the male line. Joseph, being Mary's
husband, was the legal father of Jesus. The legal father is on a par
with the real father as regards rights and duties. This fact provides
a sound basis for recognizing St. Joseph as Patron of the whole Church,
since he was chosen to play a very special role in God's plan for our
salvation; with Joseph as his legal father, Jesus the Messiah has David
as his successor.

Since it was quite usual for people to marry within their clan, it can
be concluded that Mary belonged to the house of David. Several early
Fathers of the Church testify to this--for example, St. Ignatius of
Antioch, St. Irenaeus, St. Justin and Tertullian, who base their
testimony on an unbroken oral tradition.

It should also be pointed out that when St. Matthew comes to speak of
the birth of Jesus, he uses an _expression which is completely different
from that used for the other people in the genealogy. With these words
the text positively teaches that Mary conceived Jesus while still a
virgin, without the intervention of man.

18. St. Matthew relates here how Christ was conceived (cf. Luke
1:25-38): "We truly honor and venerate (Mary) as Mother of God, because
she gave birth to a person who is at the same time both God and man"
("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 4, 7).

According to the provisions of the Law of Moses, engagement took place
about one year before marriage and enjoyed almost the same legal
validity. The marriage proper consisted, among other ceremonies, in
the bride being brought solemnly and joyously to her husband's house
(cf. Deuteronomy 20:7).

From the moment of engagement onwards, a certificate of divorce was
needed in the event of a break in the relationship between the couple.

The entire account of Jesus' birth teaches, through the different
fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 (which is expressly quoted in
verses 22-23) that: 1) Jesus has David as His ancestor since Joseph is
His legal father; 2) Mary is the Virgin who gives birth according to
the prophecy; 3) the Child's conception without the intervention of man
was miraculous.

19. "St. Joseph was an ordinary sort of man on whom God relied to do
great things. He did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do, in each
and every event that went to make up his life. That is why Scripture
praises Joseph as `a just man'. In Hebrew a just man means a good and
faithful servant of God, someone who fulfills the divine will (cf.
Genesis 7:1; 18:23-32; Ezekiel 18:5ff.; Proverbs 12:10), or who is
honorable and charitable toward his neighbor (cf. Tobias 7:6; 9:6). So
a just man is someone who loves God and proves his love by keeping
God's commandments and directing his whole life towards the service of
his brothers, his fellow men" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 40).

Joseph considered his spouse to be holy despite the signs that she was
going to have a child. He was therefore faced with a situation he
could not explain. Precisely because he was trying to do God's will,
he felt obliged to put her away; but to shield her from public shame he
decided to send her away quietly.

Mary's silence is admirable. Her perfect surrender to God even leads
her to the extreme of not defending her honor or innocence. She
prefers to suffer suspicion and shame rather than reveal the work of
grace in her. Faced with a fact which was inexplicable in human terms
she abandons herself confidently to the love and providence of God.
God certainly submitted the holy souls of Joseph and Mary to a severe
trial. We ought not to be surprised if we also undergo difficult
trials in the course of our lives. We ought to trust in God during
them, and remain faithful to Him, following the example they gave us.

20. God gives His light to those who act in an upright way and who
trust in His power and wisdom when faced with situations which exceed
human understanding. By calling him the son of David, the angel
reminds Joseph that he is the providential link which joins Jesus with
the family of David, according to Nathan's messianic prophecy (cf. 2
Samuel 7:12). As St. John Chrysostom says: "At the very start he
straightaway reminds him of David, of whom the Christ was to spring,
and he does not wish him to be worried from the moment he reminds him,
through naming his most illustrious ancestor, of the promise made to
all his lineage" ("Hom. on St. Matthew", 4).

"The same Jesus Christ, our only Lord, the Son of God, when He assumed
human flesh for us in the womb of the Virgin, was not conceived like
other men, from the seed of man, but in a manner transcending the order
of nature, that is, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that the same
person, remaining God as He was from eternity, became man, which He was
not before" ("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 4, 1).

21. According to the Hebrew root, the name Jesus means "savior". After
our Lady, St. Joseph is the first person to be told by God that
salvation has begun.

"Jesus is the proper name of the God-man and signifies `Savior'--a name
given Him not accidentally, or by the judgment or will of man, but by
the counsel and command of God" [...]. All other names which prophecy
gave to the Son of God--Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace (cf. Isaiah 9:6)--are comprised in this one
name Jesus; for while they partially signified the salvation which He
was to bestow on us, this name included the force and meaning of all
human salvation" ("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 3, 5 and 6).

7 posted on 03/19/2005 7:43:46 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

Saturday, March 19, 2005
St. Joseph, Husband of the Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:

2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16
Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29
Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22
Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 or Luke 2:41-51

No man can attain to the knowledge of God but by humility. The way to mount high is to descend.

-- Blessed Giles of Assisi

8 posted on 03/19/2005 7:44:30 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

Catholic Culture

Collect:
Father, you entrusted our Savior to the care of St. 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, for ever and ever.

Recipes:

moreless

Activities:

less

Prayers:

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March 19, 2005

Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Old Calendar: St. Joseph, confessor, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

St. Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster-father of Jesus, was probably born in Bethlehem and probably died in Nazareth. His important mission in God's plan of salvation was "to legally insert Jesus Christ into the line of David from whom, according to the prophets, the Messiah would be born, and to act as his father and guardian." (Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy) Most of our information about St. Joseph comes from the opening two chapters of St. Matthew's Gospel. No words of his are recorded in the Gospels; he was the "silent" man. We find no devotion to St. Joseph in the early Church. It was the will of God that the Virgin Birth of Our Lord be first firmly impressed upon the minds of the faithful. He was later venerated by the great saints of the Middle Ages. Pius IX (1870) declared him patron and protector of the universal family of the Church.

Today's Station takes place in the Church of St. John before the Latin Gate. This ancient basilica is built near the spot where the beloved disciple was, by Domitian's order, plunged into the cauldron of boiling oil.

St. Joseph

St. Joseph was an ordinary manual laborer although descended from the royal house of David. In the designs of Providence he was destined to become the spouse of the Mother of God. His high privilege is expressed in a single phrase, "Foster-father of Jesus." About him Sacred Scripture has little more to say than that he was a just man-an expression which indicates how faithfully he fulfilled his high trust of protecting and guarding God's greatest treasures upon earth, Jesus and Mary.

The darkest hours of his life may well have been those when he first learned of Mary's pregnancy; but precisely in this time of trial Joseph showed himself great. His suffering, which likewise formed a part of the work of the redemption, was not without great providential import: Joseph was to be, for all times, the trustworthy witness of the Messiah's virgin birth. After this, he modestly retires into the background of holy Scripture.

Of St. Joseph's death the Bible tells us nothing. There are indications, however, that he died before the beginning of Christ's public life. His was the most beautiful death that one could have, in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Humbly and unknown, he passed his years at Nazareth, silent and almost forgotten he remained in the background through centuries of Church history. Only in more recent times has he been accorded greater honor. Liturgical veneration of St. Joseph began in the fifteenth century, fostered by Sts. Brigid of Sweden and Bernadine of Siena. St. Teresa, too, did much to further his cult.

At present there are two major feasts in his honor. On March 19 our veneration is directed to him personally and to his part in the work of redemption, while on May 1 we honor him as the patron of workmen throughout the world and as our guide in the difficult matter of establishing equitable norms regarding obligations and rights in the social order. — The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

St. Joseph is invoked as patron for many causes. He is the patron of the Universal Church. He is the patron of the dying because Jesus and Mary were at his death-bed. He is also the patron of fathers, of carpenters, and of social justice. Many religious orders and communities are placed under his patronage.

Patron: Against doubt; against hesitation; Americas; Austria; Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; California; Belgium; Bohemia; bursars; cabinetmakers; Canada; Carinthia; carpenters; China; Church; confectioners; craftsmen; Croatian people (in 1687 by decree of the Croatian parliament) dying people; emigrants; engineers; expectant mothers; families; fathers; Florence, Italy; happy death; holy death; house hunters; immigrants; interior souls; Korea; laborers; Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin; Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire; Mexico; Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee; New France; New World; Oblates of Saint Joseph; people in doubt; people who fight Communism; Peru; pioneers; pregnant women; protection of the Church; Diocese of San Jose, California; diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; social justice; Styria, Austria; travelers; Turin Italy; Tyrol Austria; unborn children Universal Church; Vatican II; Viet Nam; Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston West Virginia; wheelwrights; workers; working people.

Symbols: Bible; branch; capenter's square; carpenter's tools; chalice; cross; hand tools; infant Jesus; ladder; lamb; lily; monstrance; old man holding a lily and a carpenter's tool such as a square; old man holding the infant Jesus; plane; rod.

Things to Do:

You must have a table that is simply overflowing with good, Italian food on this day! The feast of San Giuseppe began in the Middle Ages when Sicily was suffering from a severe drought and the desperate people begged St. Joseph for rain. When they received rainy weather in response, they held a huge "feste" in Saint Joseph's honor. Even today, Sicilians go to Mass before their St. Joseph's day dinner and then process to their festive tables, decked out in flowers, breads, and all sorts of Italian foods. The priest blesses the food, and everyone shouts "Viva la tavola di San Giuse!" (which your children will readily do with great gusto). After the meal is done, everyone present is given something to take home, in the generous spirit of this day. Try some of our delicious recipes linked here. We especially recommend the traditional Minestrone. Italian sausage is always a favorite, as well. And you should have bread of all kinds — this recipe for Italian Decorative Breads can provide the traditional shape of your choice (St. Joseph's staff, his beard, etc). Also a traditional must with children is St. Joseph's Sfinge, (Cream Puffs), for which we have several recipes on this site. Plan a St. Joseph's potluck for this day with other Catholic families — invite a parish priest and ask his blessing over the food before you begin the meal. If you do not have the time or resources to do this, plan a smaller affair with your own family, complete with prayers to St. Joseph, a little procession with candles for the older children and your favorite hymns, and then the father of the family ought to say a special blessing over the food before you begin.

Check out this wonderful site that explains the St. Joseph Altar more in detail, includes recipes, history, and allows virtual offerings.

For further reading:

Viva San Giuseppe: A guide for Saint Joseph Altars. This wonderful booklet is available for $5.00 plus $1.50 postage. All proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to assist the Sisters of St. Joseph in their ministries. Make your check payable to St. Joseph Guild, 1200 Mirabeau Ave., New Orleans, LA 70122.
The St. Joseph Altar Traditions of South Louisiana (Louisiana Life Series; No. 4) by Ethelyn Gay Orso, small booklet with photographs, available for purchase at online bookstores, such as Amazon.
Brand new beautifully illustrated hardcover book, Saint Joseph Altars by Kerri McCaffety (Photographer), also available at bookstores.

Read the section of Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy on St. Joseph.

Read Pope Leo XIII's encyclical on Devotion to St. Joseph.

Interested in history? Read this article on the history of devotions to St. Joseph, Finding St. Joseph, by Sandra Miesel.

Pray this prayer and litany in honor of St. Joseph with your family rosary tonight.

Here is a link to several meditations on St. Joseph — choose the one that is perfect for you and your family!

Here are some ideas for teaching children about St. Joseph.

Young girls ought to pray to St. Joseph for their future spouse.

9 posted on 03/19/2005 8:00:48 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

10 posted on 03/19/2005 8:03:55 AM PST by anonymoussierra (Lux Mea Christus!!!"Totus tuus" Quo Vadis Domine?Thank you)

11 posted on 03/19/2005 9:12:50 AM PST by Smartass (BUSH & CHENEY to 2008 Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió)

To: anonymoussierra; Smartass

You're both welcome!

12 posted on 03/19/2005 9:34:42 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

Always lovely to re-read a passage of the Christmas story.

13 posted on 03/19/2005 10:12:52 AM PST by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)

"Catholic Culture" bump.

14 posted on 03/19/2005 10:15:30 AM PST by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)

To hear the music follow this link:

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/MIDI/JOSEPH_LEIBER_JOSEPH_MEIN.mid

1. "Joseph, Dearest Joseph mine,
Help me cradle the Child divine.
God reward thee and all that’s thine,
In paradise," so prays the mother Mary.

Chorus
He came among us at Christmas time
At Christmas time in Bethlehem
Men shall bring him from far and wide,
Love’s diadem
Jesus, Jesus;
Lo, he comes and loves and saves and frees us. [1]

2. "Gladly dear one, Lady mine
Help I cradle this Child of thine."
"God’s own light on us both shall shine,
In paradise," as prays the mother Mary. Chorus

3. Servant 1:
Peace to all that have goodwill!
God, who heaven and earth doth fill,
Comes to turn us away from ill,
As all may see In Jesus, Son of Mary. [2] Chorus

4. Servant 2:
All shall come and bow the knee,
Wise and happy their souls shall be.
Loving such a divinity as all may see
In Jesus Son of Mary. Chorus

5. Servant 3:
Now is born Emmanual,
Prophesied once by Ezekiel,
Promised Mary by Gabriel, Ah, who can tell
Thy praises, Son of Mary. Chorus

6. Servant 4:
Thou my lazy heart hast stirred,
Thou, The Father's eternal Word,
Greater than aught that ear hath heard,
Thou tiny bird of love, Thou Son of Mary. Chorus

7. Servant 1:
Sweet and lovely little one,
Thou princely, beautiful, God's own Son,
Without Thee all of us were undone;
Our love is won by Thine, O Son of Mary. Chorus

8. Servant 2:
Little man, and God indeed,
Little and poor, Thou art all we need;
We will follow where Thou dost lead,
And we will head our brother, born of Mary. Chorus

More on the history of this delightful carol here:
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/joseph_dearest_joseph_mine.htm

15 posted on 03/19/2005 10:59:07 AM PST by lightman (The Office of the Keys should be exercised as some ministry needs to be exorcised.)

thank you for that music.

16 posted on 03/19/2005 1:31:09 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

17 posted on 03/19/2005 2:17:27 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

18 posted on 03/19/2005 2:19:42 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)

What a lovely hymn! Thanks for posting.

19 posted on 03/19/2005 4:47:58 PM PST by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)

Lovely picture of St. Joseph holding the boy Jesus.

20 posted on 03/19/2005 4:55:30 PM PST by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)

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