Each month of the year the Catholic Church focuses on a particular devotion. In days past this custom educated the faithful when few people knew how to read, and it also helped kindle personal piety to elements of the Catholic faith. After devotion to the Holy Family in February, the Church focuses on St. Joseph for March.
“There are many saints to whom God has given the power to assist us
in the necessities of life, but the power given to St. Joseph is unlimited:
It extends to all our needs, and all those who invoke him with confidence
are sure to be heard.”
St. Thomas Aquinas
Devotion to St. Joseph Has Continued to Grow Through the Centuries
Honoring St. Joseph goes back to the Middle Ages in art and can even be traced back to early centuries after Christ in mosaics. However since the mid-1800’s, devotion to St. Joseph has continued to increase, much like a crescendo in music, culminating recently in a Year of St. Joseph for the 2020-2021 liturgical year.
Now Is the Time for St. Joseph
Why has St. Joseph continued to be more publicly loved and revered by saints, popes, and people today? Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC in his book, Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father, states on page 4 that there are many reasons, but two are especially important:
- We need the spiritual fatherhood of St. Joseph to help us protect marriage and the family.
- The entire world needs to be re-evangelized, including the vast majority of baptized Christians.
4 Ways to Meet and Become Acquainted With Your Spiritual Father
- Joseph is honored under many titles and an easy way to become acquainted with him is to pray the Litany to St. Joseph.
- If you enjoy reading, you may find Meet Your Spiritual Father: A Brief Introduction to St. Joseph to be helpful. Written by Mark Miravalle, this is similar in style to his other popular book, Meet Your Mother: A Brief Introduction to Mary.
- For those short on time or already familiar with St. Joseph, Fr. Mark Goring wrote a short booklet, Joseph the Protector: A Nine-Day Preparation for Entrustment to St. Joseph.
- An in-depth and comprehensive resource using the titles of St. Joseph which leads to consecration is Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father (mentioned above). Part II can also be used as a standalone resource.
“Devotion to St. Joseph is one of the choicest graces that God can
give to a soul, for it is tantamount to revealing the entire treasury of
Our Lord’s graces. When God wishes to raise a soul to greater heights,
he unites it to St. Joseph by giving it a strong love for the good saint.”
St. Peter Julian Eymard
Prayers to St. Joseph Can Enhance Your Spiritual Life
As the Patron of the Universal Church in all her variety, it should be no surprise that St. Joseph is the patron for many people and circumstances. Below are several prayers that may help you in your particular life situations:
- Memorare to St. Joseph
- Prayer of St. John Paul II for the Solemnity of St. Joseph (point 9. of the homily)
- Prayer for a Happy Death
- Prayer to St. Joseph, Terror of Demons
- Prayer to the Sleeping St. Joseph
- Prayer of the Holy Cloak Novena
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