News and Events: St Joseph Novena Day four

This week will be the last week of classes for Saint Joseph Academy.  We are a small school so everyone is family to us.  Having the summer off is fun, but we should always be ready to learn about our faith in grow in the love of God.  Since I've been posting our St. Joseph Novena, I thought I would find out where the practice of praying a novena comes from.  The origin of the novena is hard to pin point because it is such an ancient practice. It may have come from the nine days between the Ascension of our Lord and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Here is day four of the St. Joseph Novena

First visit St. Joseph Fidelity to Grace
     Once the trail was over what must have been Joseph's cooperation with grace and what his preparation to behold the face of His God. Those days were special days of grace-retreat days when Joseph with Mary at his side prepared for his Messiah. (meditate one minute)
     My God, I thank Thee for St. Joseph's fidelity to grace.  I ask through his intercession for fidelity to grace and for....(mention your request)

Second visit St. Joseph's Fidelity to the Interior Life. 
     Joseph knew that nothing would please the Messiah more than his adorning his soul with every grace possible for His coming.  With Mary as example and model and with her help Joseph was in a position to do this as no other man has ever been.  Truly he was God's man - God's Guardian for her who was the Mother of Grace. ( Meditate for one minute)
     Mu God, I thank Thee for St. Joseph's fidelity to the interior life.  I ask through his intercession for fidelity to the interior life and for ....(mention your request)

Third visit St. Joseph's love for Our Blessed Lady
     As St. Joseph meditated on the virtue of his Spouse, the Blessed Virgin, his love grew in proportion.  To him she was indeed "Virgin most holy, Virgin most pure, Virgin most prudent," etc. (meditate for one minute)
     My God I thank Three for St. Joseph's love of Our Blessed Lady.  May I love her as St. Joseph did so that I may love her with his love.  I also ask for....(mention your request)

Fourth Visit St. Joseph's Love of the Holy Child 
     Joseph' love for the Child Jesus projected into the future too; how he longed to see the face of his God - what aspirations went up in silent adoration - what acts of love in preparation for the great event. ( meditate one minute)
     My God, I thank Thee for St. Joseph's love for the Holy Child.  May I love Him as St. Joseph did so that I may love Him with Joseph's love.  I also ask for...  (mention your request)