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Day by Day -- Saints for All, Saint John Joseph of the Cross, 03-05-17
FranciscanMedia.org ^ | 03-05-17 | Fr. Don Miller, OFM

Posted on 03/05/2017 4:28:23 PM PST by Salvation

Fr. Don Miller, OFM

Saint John Joseph of the Cross | Engraving by Alessandri after P.A. NovelliImage: Saint John Joseph of the Cross | Engraving by Alessandri after P.A. Novelli

Saint John Joseph of the Cross

Saint of the Day for March 5

(August 15, 1654 – March 5, 1734)

 

Saint John Joseph of the Cross’ Story

Self-denial is never an end in itself but is only a help toward greater charity—as the life of Saint John Joseph shows.

John Joseph was very ascetic even as a young man. At 16, he joined the Franciscans in Naples; he was the first Italian to follow the reform movement of Saint Peter Alcantara. John Joseph’s reputation for holiness prompted his superiors to put him in charge of establishing a new friary even before he was ordained.

Obedience moved John Joseph to accept appointments as novice master, guardian and, finally, provincial. His years of mortification enabled him to offer these services to the friars with great charity. As guardian he was not above working in the kitchen or carrying the wood and water needed by the friars.

When his term as provincial expired, John Joseph dedicated himself to hearing confessions and practicing mortification, two concerns contrary to the spirit of the dawning Age of Enlightenment. John Joseph of the Cross was canonized in 1839.


Reflection

John Joseph’s mortification allowed him to be the kind of forgiving superior intended by Saint Francis. Self-denial should lead us to charity—not to bitterness; it should help us clarify our priorities and make us more loving. John Joseph is living proof of Chesterton’s observation: “It is always easy to let the age have its head; the difficult thing is to keep one’s own” (G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, page 101).




TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; lentenseries; saints
Please feel free to post any other information about other saints whose feast day is today.
1 posted on 03/05/2017 4:28:24 PM PST by Salvation
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To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...

Saint of the Day Lenten Series Ping!


2 posted on 03/05/2017 4:29:24 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Information: St. John Joseph of the Cross

Feast Day: March 5

Born: August 15, 1654, Ischia

Died: March 5, 1739

Canonized: 1839, Rome by Pope Gregory XVI

Patron of: Ischiaa

3 posted on 03/05/2017 4:30:34 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Day by Day -- Saints for All, Saint John Joseph of the Cross, 03-05-17
Day by Day -- Saints for All, Saint Casimir, 03-04-17
Day by Day -- Saints for All, Saint Katharine Drexel, 03-03-17
Day by Day -- Saints for All, St. Agnes of Bohemia, 03-02-17
Day by Day -- Saints for All, St. David of Wales, 03-01-17
4 posted on 03/05/2017 4:32:15 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

St Piran’s Day. Tinfoil optional


5 posted on 03/05/2017 5:07:26 PM PST by soycd
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To: All

BTTT for March 3rd. St. John Joseph of the Cross.


6 posted on 03/05/2018 4:25:23 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Feel free to post additional Catholic information about this saint or any other Catholic saint who might share this feast day.

Religion Moderator's Guidelines to Caucus/Prayer/Ecumenical threads

7 posted on 03/05/2019 7:41:46 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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