Even though St. Joseph never spoke a word in scripture, his silent example of obedient faithfulness and diligent care for the Holy Family during Jesus’ formative years has made him one of the most beloved saints of Christianity.
Here is the prayer, which some claim “has never been known to fail, provided that the request is for one’s spiritual benefit or for those whom we are praying for.”
O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interest and desires. O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
O St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him close in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me. Amen.
Remember, God always answers our prayers. We may not always expect the response we receive.
Philip Kosloski Feb 28, 2018 , Aleteia.
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Benedict XVI’s key to a fruitful Lent
Lent is a perfect time of the year to evaluate our own faith life and to consider various ways to improve it. Pope Benedict XVI, during his final message for Lent in 2013, gave his thoughts on what is the key to a fruitful Lent.
Benedict writes, “The celebration of Lent … offers us a valuable opportunity to meditate on the relationship between faith and charity: between believing in God – the God of Jesus Christ – and love, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and which guides us on the path of devotion to God and others.”
He then explains how faith leads to charity, which is a response to God’s love for us.
The entire Christian life is a response to God’s love. The first response is precisely faith as the acceptance, filled with wonder and gratitude, of the unprecedented divine initiative that precedes us and sum-mons us. And the “yes” of faith marks the beginning of a radiant story of friendship with the Lord, which fills and gives full meaning to our whole life. But it is not enough for God that we simply accept his gratuitous love. Not only does he love us, but he wants to draw us to himself, to transform us in such a profound way as to bring us to say with Saint Paul: “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (cf. Gal 2:20).
In other words, “Faith is knowing the truth and adhering to it (cf. 1 Tim 2:4); charity is ‘walking’ in the truth (cf. Eph 4:15).” Its easy to remain laser-focused during Lent on bolstering up our prayer life, which is a good and praiseworthy goal. How-ever, Pope Benedict XVI asks us to take the next step and to use that renewed faith by being charitable towards others.
As St. Paul famously put it, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).
Charity should always be on our radar, and we can not trade it in for a better prayer life. We must allow our prayer life to drive our charity, seeking to outdo others in generosity. That is the Christian life and the key to a fruitful Lent
Philip Kosloski Mar 12, 2019 Aleteia.
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