DAY 9: 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 9 REFLECTION: “SAINT JOSEPH, PATRON OF A HAPPY DEATH”

Have you ever wondered how it feels like, at the end of your journey here on earth to die in the arms of Jesus and Mary? Such was the awesome and glorious case of St. Joseph – a happy death. Tradition holds that St. Joseph died before Jesus began His public ministry.  This belief is based on two points: First, he never appeared during Jesus’ public ministry while Mary did, like at the wedding feast at Cana and other occasions. Secondly, from the cross, Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to St. John the apostle (a non-blood brother), indicating that she was a widow with no other children to care for her (an affirmation of Mary’s perpetual virginity).

There are many accounts of Saint Joseph’s death, but one that is particularly touching is from the writings of Venerable Mother Mary of Agreda (also known as the bi-locating nun). She wrote about the episode in “Mystical City of God,” and it is recorded as a private revelation. it goes thus:

“Then this man of God, turning toward Christ, our Lord, in profoundest reverence, wished to kneel before Him. But the sweetest Jesus, coming near, received him in his arms, where, reclining his head upon them, Joseph said: ‘My highest Lord and God, Son of the eternal Father, Creator and Redeemer of the World, give thy blessing to thy servant and the works of thy hand; pardon, O most merciful King, the faults which I have committed in thy service and intercourse. I extol and magnify Thee and render eternal and heartfelt thanks to Thee for having, in thy ineffable condescension, chosen me to be the spouse of thy true Mother; let thy greatness and glory be my thanksgiving for all eternity.’ The Redeemer of the world gave him his benediction, saying: ‘My father, rest in peace and in the grace of my eternal Father and mine; and to the Prophets and Saints, who await thee in limbo, bring the joyful news of the approach of their redemption.’ At these words of Jesus, and reclining in his arms, the most fortunate Saint Joseph expired and the Lord himself closed his eyes.”

Owing to the way he died, the Church speaks of him as the patron of a happy death and urges us to entrust ourselves to St. Joseph so that he could pray for us at the hour of our death. To buttress this, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC #1014), states: “The Church encourages us to prepare ourselves for the hour of our death. In the ancient litany of the saints, for instance, she has us pray: ‘From sudden and unforeseen death, deliver us, O Lord’; to ask the Mother of God to intercede for us ‘at the hour of our death’ in the Hail Mary; and to entrust ourselves to St. Joseph, the patron of a happy death.”

Dear friends in Christ, there is one thing we can rely on, and it is a guaranteed holy death based on an ardent devotion to St. Joseph and making efforts to imitate his virtues – this is a sure way of dying in the arms of Jesus and Mary, like St. Joseph.

Prayer: Lord God, you rewarded St. Joseph with a holy death and everlasting life in heaven because of his ardent love and desire in following the ways of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant that we too, imitating the virtues of St. Joseph, we may be graced with the presence of Jesus and Mary at the hour of our death, and live with thee forever in heaven. Amen

👏🏼👏🏼 Great job praying Day 9! May the good Lord hear our humble prayers. Amen.👏🏼👏🏼

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?