St Joseph, father of Jesus, was known in the Bible by his profession-carpenter. Because of him Jesus was called a carpenter as well (Mark 6, 3). He must have been popular for this trade that requires much strength and action. Hence, he was a man of few words but identified with strength and action…
1. He was known only to “hear the voice of God’s Angel” in his dreams and then he acts! How he was able to know it was God speaking and not some imaginations or some fever, leaves me to wonder! He must have learnt over time to hear the voice of God and seperate it from his imaginations: hence four times (according to the gospel of Matthew 1:20, 2:13, 20 & 22) he followed the message and instructions from his dreams. (DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT DREAMS AND ITS INTERPRETATION? CLICK HERE)
2. To hear clearly and understand well the voice of God one must be deeply spiritual- a man of discernment and of faith. People like that are usually men of few words but with great action! No wonder the bible didn’t record his speech but only his actions, but called him a ‘a just man’ (Matt 1, 19). In St Joseph the words of James 2, 14-19 is personified: “faith without good works is dead”-
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
TASK: Can your work or profession define you to the extent deeper knowledge about your personality will be revealed? Can people see your personality and character through your profession? Do you work just for the profit? Our impacts cannot be felt positively in others and by others if we work for the money except we work with hearts.
PRAY NOW: Intercede for me your child St Joseph, before Jesus my Lord and God, so that I may learn great discernment and grow in faith and be popular for little things the way your popularity was projected to your son Jesus. Help me to protect the interests of women and love them sincerely without sentiments the way you loved Mary and protected her. Help me to work from my heart and do all for the interests of Jesus. Amen.
PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH
(Say this prayer to obtain Plenary indulgence given by Pope Francis for the year of St. Joseph)
𝑶 𝑺𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝑱𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒉, 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕, 𝒔𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈, 𝒔𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒅, 𝑰 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔.
The Blessed Virgin Mary helped Saint Joseph become the great leader and protector of his family that he was. He needed her prayers, love and support.
So today, let’s pray for all mothers, wives, and future wives — that they will love, respect, support and pray for their husbands or future spouses.
Let’s pray one more time for all families to grow in holiness. And, for all families or single people who may be hurting or struggling right now. Let’s ask St. Joseph to pray for their healing and comfort.
𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐀 PRAYER 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓. 𝐉𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐇
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I come to you as an example for holiness, for you are especially close with God. Therefore, I humbly commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.
Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, pray for me to have a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:
(𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕)
Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers on my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.
St. Joseph Most Strong, 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒖𝒔!
𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍.
