Day 4 - Consecration to St. Joseph
God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, Have Mercy on Us.
From early on in the life of the Church, there was a great devotion to Blessed Mother thanks to a development in theological understanding of her role in Salvation history. However, an understanding of the greatness of St. Joseph did not begin to flourish in the devotional life of the Church until the mid-19th century.
At the time of St. Louis de Montfort who popularized 'Consecration to Blessed Virgin Mary' and coined the phrase "To Jesus through Mary," there was little understanding of the role of St. Joseph. Fr. Calloway conjectures that if St. Louis understood the greatness of St. Joseph then, he would have promoted, "To Jesus through Mary and Joseph."
By our baptism we were consecrated to Jesus Christ. By making a consecration to Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, we can be consecrated to each person of the Holy Family. Fr. Calloway says that Jesus and Mary desires for us to be consecrated to St. Joseph because there is no father or husband who knows more about the sacredness of marriage and the family or the self sacrificing love required of fathers and husbands than St. Joseph. He says that St. Joseph's paternal mission continues from heaven--as our guardian, loving protector, fearless defender, and the model of saintly fatherhood. After Jesus, St. Joseph is the model of heroic manhood, the defender of marriage, chastity, and life.
Fr. Calloway believes that the Consecration to St. Joseph is the key to increasing virtues and holiness in our lives. St. Josemaria Escriva wrote, "St. Joseph is the Master of the interior life, and has great power before the Lord and before the Mother of God."
Venerable Mary of Agreda was told that there are seven special privileges that St. Joseph obtains for souls who are devoted to him:
* First, for attaining the virtue of purity and overcoming the sensual inclinations of the flesh;
* Second, for procuring powerful help to escape sin and return to the friendship of God;
* Third, for increasing the love and devotion to most holy Mary;
* Fourth, for securing the grace of a happy death and protection against the demons in that hour;
* Fifth, for filling the demons with terror at the mere mention of his name by his clients;
* Sixth, for gaining health of body and assistance in all kinds of difficulties;
* Seventh, for securing issue of children in families.
Blessed Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, a mystic from Mexico, wrote the following meditation with words of Blessed Mother regarding St. Joseph:
"Love St. Joseph, my child, and make him much loved. If you seek to please me, you cannot do anything that makes me happier than to have a filial devotion to him, to give him honor in your home, and to imitate his virtues. Take him as the patron of your interior and spiritual life, and you will advance greatly towards perfection."
The role of St. Joseph is to lead us to Jesus; he was the earthly father of the Savior and he is our spiritual father. St. Joseph has been given all the graces necessary for us to deepen our relationship with his Son. Let us ask for this grace from St. Joseph.
1. Watch: the video below.
2. PRAY: The Litany of St. Joseph (below)
3. READ: Day 4 - God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, Have Mercy on Us.
4. PRAY: The Memorare to St. Joseph (below)
5. READ: “Privileges of Devotion to St. Joseph”
6. REFLECT: On the Question:
- The reading from Venerable Mary of Ágreda on the privileges of devotion to St. Joseph is very powerful. Are you experiencing an increase in your relationship to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph after this week’s readings?
*Video of Fr. Calloway: https://youtu.be/kRW0zLWs77I
Pray the Litany of St. Joseph
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Noble Offspring of David, pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-Father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Zealous Defender of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph Most Just, pray for us.
Joseph Most Chaste, pray for us.
Joseph Most Prudent, pray for us.
Joseph Most Courageous, pray for us.
Joseph Most Obedient, pray for us.
Joseph Most Faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of Patience, pray for us.
Lover of Poverty, pray for us.
Model of Workmen, pray for us.
Glory of Domestic Life, pray for us.
Guardian of Virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of Families, pray for us.
Comfort of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the Sick, pray for us.
Patron of the Dying, pray for us.
Terror of Demons, pray for us.
Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. He has made him lord of his household,
R. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray.
O God, who, in your loving providence, chose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most Holy Mother, grant us the favor of having him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector. You, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
THE MEMORARE to St. JosephRemember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never has it been known that anyone who asked for your help and sought your intercession was left unaided. Full of confidence in your power, I hasten to you, and beg your protection. Listen, O foster-father of the Redeemer, to my humble prayer, and in your goodness hear and answer me. Amen.
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You can order Fr. Donald Calloway’s book here: www.consecrationtostjoseph.org. His book is also available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle (and Barnes and Noble, Nook) eBook. The link to purchase an ebook is here: www.tinyurl.com/1lfccu9m
