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Special Saint Novena

FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH(most chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

March 19th, 2010 

Seven days before the Feast of the Annunciation (25 March) which commemorates Gabriel's visit to Mary announcing that she is to give birth to the Messiah, we meet St. Joseph, her spouse.

St. Joseph was born in Bethlehem and worked as a carpenter (Matthew 13:55: "Is not this the carpenter's son?"), an occupation he later passed on to his Son (Mark 6:3: "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? are not also his sisters here with us?"). He became betrothed to Mary, a consecrated Virgin, in order to serve as her protector. Writings indicate that Joseph was an older man at the time, and was a widower with grown-up children, but there is no way to know for certain.

When Mary came to be with child, his confusion and resolve to "put her away privately" in order to spare her any public humiliation were done away with when an angel of the Lord visited him in a dream and explained things to him:

Matthew 1:20-24
But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife.

After Jesus was born, an angel again appeared to St. Joseph and told him to take the Holy Family away in order to escape the wrath of Herod.

Matthew 2:13-15
And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod: That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.

After time in Egypt, an angel came twice more to St. Joseph:

Matthew 2:19-23
But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child. Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee. And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene.

The next -- and last -- time we hear of St. Joseph in Sacred Scripture is when Jesus was "lost" in the Temple:

Luke 2:42-52
And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father's business? And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.

Tradition tells us that he had the great honor to have died in the presence of Our Lady and his Son, which fact makes him the patron of a holy death. Because during his life he was given the great responsibility of caring for and protecting the Virgin -- who is the Mother of all Israel -- and her Son, St. Joseph is considered the patron and protector of the entire Church.

The above excerpts are made available on www.fisheaters.com

We would like to make available, the Novena to St. Joseph, for whoever may be looking for the Will of the Father in their lives. This link will always be posted on this site.

http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/joseph.htm 

It was early in 2009 when I shared with a very dear friend, my concern for some important personal decisions I was facing.  This friend casually suggested that I pray a Novena to St. Joseph.  It was not long after that I followed that advice.  The praying of this Novena to St. Joseph began a series of answers and divine interventions that set me on a totally unexpected course.  The interventions began with a gentle leading to read the Holy Will of God. It seemed everywhere I turned a different book was in front of my eyes concerning the Holy Will.  I was led to the point where I believed I was to pray specifically to find the Holy Will of God for my life through the Saint Joseph Novena.  Actually, I was praying this novena over a period of several weeks.  What this novena produced for me is one of the greatest defining moments in my entire life.  It was during this Novena that the vision, instructions and formation of Servants to the World Mission was shown to me as well as Our Lady's fulfillment of Her words to me over 20 years ago.  I was shown that now the To the World Music would be heard and seen throughout the entire world and in the many languages of the world.  So much was shown to me, that all of my energies are now focused on accomplishing the mission They set before me. This Saint means so much more to me now than ever before.  I will always encourage anyone who is seeking serious answers for their life, especially the Will of God for their life, to pray to this saint.  I doubt St. Joseph will fail anyone who seriously seeks out God's will.  Yes, he is more powerful than just for help in getting your house sold by burying him upside down in the ground!

Peace~  Jerry Morin

 A novena is a practice where a prayer or groups of prayers are recited for nine consecutive days for special intentions and petitions. The praying of a novena draws its origin from the practice of the disciples who prayed in the upper room for the nine days between the ascension of our Lord and the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.