DAY 6: SEVEN (7) SORROWS AND JOYS OF SAINT JOSEPH // REFLECTION ON SAINT JOSEPH

1. Leader: Chaste Lover of Mary, how overwhelmed you were when you thought that you would have to end your betrothal to her. But when the angel of God came to you in a dream, you were filled with awe to realize that Mary would be your wife, and you would be the guardian of the Messiah.

All: Help us, St. Joseph, help our families and all our loved ones to overcome all sadness of heart and develop an absolute trust in God’s goodness.

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. Amen. 

All: Through your example and prayers, help us St. Joseph and all we love to become like sinless mangers where the Savior of the world may be received with absolute love and respect.

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. Amen. 

All: Pray for us St. Joseph, that the sacred blood of Christ, poured out for our salvation, may guard our families, so the Divine Name of Jesus may be written in our hearts forever.

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. Amen. 

All: Help us, St. Joseph, to see with eyes of faith that even the sorrows and pains of those we deeply love can become the pathway to salvation and eternal life.

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. Amen. 

All: Teach us by your example, St. Joseph, to keep far from the false idols of earthly attractions, so that like you, we may be entirely devoted to the service of Jesus and Mary.

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. Amen. 

All: Show us, St. Joseph, how to be free from all useless fear and worry, so we may enjoy the peace of a tranquil conscience, living safely with Jesus and Mary in our hearts.

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. Amen. 

All: Help us, St. Joseph, never to lose Jesus through the fault of our own sins. But if we should lose Him, lead us back with unwearied sorrow, until we find Him again; so that we, like you, may finally pass from this life, dying safely in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

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. Amen. 

Leader: Pray for us, o holy Joseph.

All: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Leader: Let us pray.

All: O blessed St. Joseph, tenderhearted father, faithful guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God, I pray and beseech you to offer to God the Father my praise to Him through his divine Son, who died on the cross and rose again to give us sinners new life. Through the holy name of Jesus, pray with us that we may obtain from the eternal Father, the favour we ask . . . (make your request) . . . We have been unfaithful to the unfailing love of God the Father; beg of Jesus mercy for us. Amid the splendours of God’s loving presence, do not forget the sorrows of those who suffer, those who pray, those who weep. By your prayers and those of your most holy spouse, our Blessed Lady, may the love of Jesus answer our call of confident hope. Amen.

DAY 6 REFLECTION: “JOSEPH’S ROLE IN THE EDUCATION OF JESUS: AN EXAMPLE TO MODERN-DAY PARENTS”

In Jesus’ time, the father was responsible for the basic education of his children, which included reading, at least, the Scriptures, and inculcation of moral values. This is because, in Hebrew, family means “father’s house” (Bêt’Āb). This leads us to understand the importance of Saint Joseph in the family context. Probably, the sagacious and awesome parables narrated by Christ in the gospels must have been presented by Joseph, during His childhood and adolescence, as a way of explaining Mosaic traditions and laws. Identifying Jesus as a Carpenter in Mark 6:3 is a clear example of Joseph who educated and handed over the carpentry trade to his Son. These (among other examples) are clear cases of a loving and responsible father (together with his supportive spouse, the Blessed Virgin Mary) who trained their child in the ways of the Lord in becoming a responsible citizen of the Jewish society.

Unfortunately, modernism has led to a relentlessness of the collapse of parenting. In an era of modern parenting, raising children has become significantly more time-consuming and expensive for parents. It is a truism that the average parent today spends more time with their smartphones and other gadgets than with their children. To worsen the matter, they purchase a smartphone and give their children at such an early stage, creating an avenue for individualism in the family. As a result, parents find it difficult to give their children the basic domestic education, instilment of good behaviour, and other moral values; they believe it can be learned at schools, Church, etc. They seem to have forgotten that “Charity begins at home”. This exposes the children to the danger of learning the wrong thing on their own or via peer pressure, not to mention the danger of stumbling across pornography and the likes in the virtual world.

Dear parents, we can learn from St. Joseph by giving ample attention and basic education to our children in our modern epoch. Charity will always begin at home.

Prayer: Lord God, may our devotion to St. Joseph enable us to imitate his outstanding virtue of parental education in order to build our families in raising God-fearing children for the good of the Church and society. Amen.

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Shalom!
© By Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Paroquia Nossa Senhora da Immaculada Conceição, Paulo Ramos, Maranhão, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
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PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?