Fr. Clement Machado: Turn to Saint Joseph, Great Protector of Family Life

"Dear friends, the day we have forgotten St. Joseph is the day where we're deprived of the great protector of family life.  Ever since we've neglected St. Joseph, ever since our children do not have statues-images of St. Joseph, ever since the typical Catholic family has neglected seeking on a regular frequent basis recourse to St. Joseph--ever since that day has occured, our Catholic families, home life, marriages have become ever increasingly assaulted by the powers of the flesh, the world, and the devil himself.

 

"We need to turn back to St. Joseph!  Bring back devotion to St. Joseph, dearest brethren!  Turn your children and grandchildren, friends and family to this most glorious protector!  After all, if God Himself in His eternal providence had deigned to grant such a protector to His only begotten Son, and the Blessed Mother was given a defender as well as helpmate--can you not imagine in God's divine providence where St. Joseph should be in the hearts and minds and homes of His faithful? "

~ Fr. Clement Machado ~

 

 

Special Privileges of St. Joseph and His Powerful Intercession

"...I have been informed concerning certain other privileges conferred upon Saint Joseph by the Most High on account of his great holiness, which are especially important to those who ask his intercession in a proper manner. In virtue of these special privileges the intercession of Saint Joseph is most powerful: first, for attaining the virtue of purity and overcoming the sensual inclinations of the flesh; secondly, for procuring powerful help to escape sin and return to the friendship of God; thirdly, for increasing the love and devotion to most holy Mary; fourthly, for securing the grace of a happy death and protection against the demons in that hour; fifthly, for inspiring the demons with terror at the mere mention of his name by his clients; sixthly, for gaining health of body and assistance in all kinds of difficulties; seventhly, for securing issue of children in families. These and many other favors God confers upon those who properly and with good disposition seek the intercession of the spouse of our Queen, Saint Joseph. I beseech all the faithful children of the Church to be very devout to him and they will experience these favors in reality, if they dispose themselves as they should in order to receive and merit them."

~ Venerable Mary of Agreda; excerpt from The Mystical City of God ~

St. Joseph and a Nobleman's Sons: A Blessing in Disguise

A nobleman, greatly devoted to St. Joseph, was accustomed to celebrate his feast yearly, with great zeal. He had three children: one of them died on the very day of the saint's feast; the next year, on the same day, a second one died also. This double loss so disconcerted the good father, that he formed the resolution not to celebrate the feast on the following year, fearing lest his last remaining child might die in his turn. A short time before the feast, either to dispel his grief, or from the effects of fear, he undertook a journey. One day, as he walked along buried in thought, his eyes fell upon the bodies of two young men which were hanging from a tree. At the same moment an angel appeared to him and said: "Dost thou see those two young men ? Know then, that thy two sons, had they lived, would have ended like them, but, because of thy devotion to St. Joseph, he obtained from God that they should die in their infancy, in order to spare the dishonor to thy house, and to assure to themselves the happiness of heaven. Go then and celebrate the saint's feast, and fear nothing for thy remaining son; he will become a bishop and enjoy a long life." The events proved the truth of the prediction.

~  Excerpt from Devotion to Saint Joseph by Father Joseph Anthony Patrignani, S.J. ~

SAINT JOSEPH, PRAY FOR US!

Fr. Samuel Medley: The Privileges and Powerful Intercession of St. Joseph

Foster Father of Jesus,

Spouse of the Immaculate Virgin Mary,

 Terror of Demons,

Protector of Holy Church, Glorious Patriarch,

Holy Guardian of the Redeemer,

HEAR US!!!

Listen to Fr. Medley's Homily for St. Joseph's Day

Fr. Medley's inspiring homilies and links to his other sites are at Magnificat Anima Mea Domino. 

Blessed Virgin Mary Asks for Loving Devotion To St. Joseph

"My daughter, although thou hast described my spouse, Saint Joseph, as the most noble among the princes and saints of the heavenly Jerusalem; yet neither canst thou properly manifest his eminent sanctity, nor can any of the mortals know it fully before they arrive at the vision of the Divinity. Then all of them will be filled with wonder and praise as the Lord will make them capable of understanding this sacrament. On the last day, when all men shall be judged, the damned will bitterly bewail their sins, which prevented them from appreciating this powerful means of their salvation, and availing themselves, as they easily could have, of this intercessor to gain the friendship of the just Judge. The whole human race has much undervalued the privileges and prerogatives conceded to my blessed spouse and they know not what his intercession with God is able to do. I assure thee, my dearest, that he is one of the greatly favored personages in the divine presence and has immense power to stay the arms of divine vengeance.

"I desire that thou be very thankful to the divine condescension for vouchsafing thee so much light and knowledge regarding this mystery, and also for the favor which I am doing thee therein. From now on, during the rest of thy mortal life, see that thou advance in devotion and in hearty love toward my spouse, and that thou bless the Lord for thus having favored him with such high privileges and for having rejoiced me so much in the knowledge of all his excellences. In all thy necessities thou must avail thyself of his intercession. Thou shouldst induce many to venerate him and see that thy own religious distinguish themselves in their devotion. That which my spouse asks of the Lord in heaven is granted upon the earth and on his intercession depend many and extraordinary favors for men, if they do not make themselves unworthy of receiving them. All these privileges were to be a reward for the amiable perfection of this wonderful saint and for his great virtues; for divine clemency is favorably drawn forth by them and looks upon saint Joseph with generous liberality, ready to shower down its marvelous mercies upon all those who avail themselves of his intercession."

~ Blessed Virgin Mary to Venerable Mary of Agreda, excerpt from Mystical City of God ~

The Miracle Staircase of Santa Fe, New Mexico

True stories regarding the intercession of St. Joseph abound. One that has become known to the general public is "the miracle staircase".

In 1872 the bishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico commissioned the building of a convent chapel, Our Lady of Light Chapel in the care of the Sisters of Loretto. During the course of its construction the architect died suddenly and only afterwards did the builders discover an error in the plans. There was no staircase to the choir loft. But worse, at that point of construction, any stairwell would take up much needed space and disfigure the design.

The nuns began nine days of prayer in honor of St. Joseph, for he was a carpenter. On the day after their novena ended, a shabbily dressed man appeared at the door. The Sisters showed him their choir loft and the limited space available to erect a staircase. He assured them he would be able to build one, and so they let him undertake the task. With him was a burro carrying the toolbox. He offered to begin at once, if they would allow him total privacy while he worked. They hired him and he locked himself in. For three months he permitted no visitors, then he opened the doors.

When the Mother Superior entered, she stared in amazement, there in the corner was a beautiful freestanding staircase rising in a double spiral to the choir loft that may be seen today by visitors to Santa Fe. Each section is perfectly fitted in a groove--not a nail being used in its construction. There is no central pole, no wall attachment, no sign of a nail or screw--just a few wooden pegs. Moreover, the wood he used was unlike any the Mother had ever seen. Yet the carpenter had brought no wood with him. Architects from all sections of the country go to inspect this unique and marvelous piece of craftsmanship. When the work was completed and the Mother Superior of the convent wished to pay the man for his service, he was nowhere to be found. No one had seen him come or go. A reward was offered; no one ever claimed it. It is thought that the unknown carpenter was none other than St. Joseph, in whose honor the Sisters had received Communion every Wednesday that he might assist them in building a staircase. There is no doubt that the prayers of those nuns were answered in a most remarkable way. (Source)

St. Joseph: Patron and Protector of the Little Sisters of the Poor

On the feast day of their congregation's patron, St. Joseph, the Little Sisters of the Poor who serve at Sacred Heart Home for the Aged in Oregon, Ohio, shared stories about their devotion to the saint.