News and Events: St. Joseph Novena Day Three

Here is day three of our Novena to St. Joseph.  A novena is a nine day period of prayer to ask special favors or graces from God.  The word 'novena' is derived from the Latin word novem, meaning nine.

First visit is the Trial of St. Joseph

     Only a saintly soul like Joseph's could experience such suffering.  Mary, the light of his life, seemingly is the cause.  Again he cooperates with grace for he sought relief in prayer and God gave the answer which flooded his soul with another grace --- that of joy.  Imagine his kneeling before Mary to let her know he was aware through God's grace of the great secret that was hers --- yes he adores the unborn Incarnate word.  (Meditate for 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 is St. Joseph's Fidelity to the Interior Life

     The struggle of doubt is over. the clouds of sorrow have disappeared, but they leave an indelible print on the soul of Joseph.  His soul is now a stronger soul, for when one suffers in keeping with God's grace this is always the result in the soul. ( meditate for one minute)

     My God, I thank Thee for St. Joseph's fidelity to the interior life.  I ask though his intercession for fidelity to the interior life and for....( mention your request)

Third visit St. Joseph's love for Our Blessed Lady

     The espousal, the marriage day, these endeared Mary more and more to Joseph but there is nothing that knits two hearts together more than the crucible of suffering.  Joseph had suffered and Mary suffered because she knew he was suffering.  Joseph's love for Mary was indeed becoming enriched day by day. (meditate one minute)

     My God, I thank Thee 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

     In anticipation Joseph loved Him Who was soon to become a little Child for him and mankind that man might have Life and have it more abundantly.  Imagine the aspirations of a loving heart like Joseph's lifted up in adoration to his God Who soon would be Emmanuel - God with us.  (Meditate for 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.)

News and Events: St. Joseph Novena Day two

Here is day two of Sister Mary Antonella's Novena to St. Joseph.  Remember that you visit St. Joseph four times a day but there is not specific time for these visits.  Sister explains in her directions that it does not matter where or when the visits occur.  So you don't have to worry about trying to say a prayer at a specific time of day or that you have to try to make it to the church.  St. Joseph was a busy man so he understands our busy lives.

The first visit is St. Joseph's Fidelity to Grace
     St. Joseph was like an open vessel ever ready to receive grace.  He knew nothing of that which had happened to his Virgin Bride but the Incarnate Word hidden in the womb of Mary was pouring grace into his virginal soul to beautify it, to strengthen it and to make him a man after God's own heart.  ( Mediate for 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)

The second visit is St. Joseph's fidelity to the Interior Life
     Receiving always joyfully of God's gifts whether in joy or sorrow, the grace he was receiving now was like the morning dew falling upon an already beautiful garden of rarest gifts.  Joseph knew not why but his soul rested in a peace and joy known only to those who are ever ready to do God's will.  God was preparing His man for his future work.  (mediate for one minute)
     My 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).

The third visit is St. Joseph's love of Our Blessed Lady
     Joseph's love for Mary was enhanced day by day.  He knew not why but Mary seemed more beautiful than ever and more holy; so serene, so calm and yet so majestic.  His manly heart went out to her who was already Christ's own Mother ---his too would be the secret but not yet, O Joseph, for God is wont to give His greatest gifts after the most scorching trials.  God knew Him man would not fail Him.
     My God, I thank Thee 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.)

The fourth visit is St. Joseph's love for the Holy Child
     Recall any image of St. Joseph with the Divine Child in his arms.  Meditate on the loving look of Joseph upon that Child of Heaven.  Ask to love the Child Jesus as he loved Him and with his love.  Ask St. Joseph to let us have at least a spark of his love in our hearts for the Child Jesus.  (meditate for 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)

News and Events: St. Joseph Novena

Sister Mary Antonella wrote a beautiful novena to St. Joseph.    The prayers are very thought provoking  and wonderful for meditation.  Since yesterday was the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, and our feast day, I thought I would share with you the prayers for the first day of the Novena.

The first day of the Novena is dedicated to the meditation of St. Joseph's marriage to our Blessed Mother.  Which makes it even more appropriate to share since May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  There are four prayers to be said - so there are four times to lift your thoughts to St. Joseph and ask for his intercession.

First Visit is St. Joseph's fidelity to Grace:
     Joseph was God's man; he listened to the inspiration of grace, recognized that this was God's plan for him and entered this state holily.  The Blessed Virgin, full of grace, was another added grace for him, for this was heaven's gift to him.  ( meditate on this thought for 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 is St. Joseph's fidelity to the Interior life. 
     Joseph's chief concern in life was the purity of his soul; imagine then how he strove to use the g races given to adorn his soul wherein he knew God dwelt, for the Blessed Trinity always dwells in a soul adorned with grace.  ( meditate for one minute)
     My 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 is St. Joseph's love for our Blessed Lady.
     St. Joseph's love for Mary and Mary's love for Joseph was only excelled in their lives by their love for God and God's love for them.  No purer love among human beings ever existed than that manifested by Joseph for Mary and Mary for Joseph.  May we love Mary as he did; may we love her with his love-let this be our request.  ( meditate for one minute)
     My God, I thank Thee 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 is St. Joseph's love for the Holy Child.
     Imagine with the eyes of faith the Child Jesus on the strong arms of Joseph.  No earthly father ever loved as he loved this foster Son, for this Son was the Son of God - his God- his Messiah, for whom he had so longed and desired.  Joseph knew now why God had so planned his life---yes, he was God's man.  (meditate for 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)