Dearest Saint Joseph, Vielen vielen vielen Dank für alles!

This prayer is claimed to be over 1900 years old. In 1505, it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles, when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer, or hear it, or keep it about themselves, shall never die a sudden death, or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them. Neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, nor shall be burned in any fire, nor shall be overpowered in battle. 

Say it for nine mornings for anything you may desire. It has never been known to fail. 

Prayer to St. Joseph (over 1900 years old)

O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, 

so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God,

I place in you all my interests 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 contemplating 

you and Jesus asleep in your arms.

I dare not approach while He reposes

near your heart. Press Him in my name,

and kiss His fine Head for me,

and ask Him to return the kiss

when I draw my dying breath.

O St. Joseph, Patron of Departing Souls,

pray for us. Amen.

So much to say about this blessed blessed Saint that I know not where to start! 

There are many things to think about with regards to St Joseph: 

how our dearest Lord Jesus trusted him

how worthy he was for our dearest Mother Mary

how God entrusted so worthy a man for our dearest Mother Mary

how he was guardian of Mary and oh how wondrous also, guardian of Jesus

I stopped and thought long and hard about how Saint Joseph was so worthy a man for our dearest Mother Mary. How beautiful it is!

Also, how he held the Holy Family closely together, how he took care of Jesus and Mother Mary, how lovingly he passed his time together with them, how wonderful, and how he had Mother Mary and Jesus with him during his last agony. Dearest St Joseph, patron of the dying, please pray for us and guide us!

Ite ad Joseph!

Hymn to St Joseph
by F. Kevin Condol
If I could walk, as you have walked Beside the Little Boy, Who made the world, made you and me, I'd ask no greater joy.
Oh, when you held His little Hand, I wonder did you think Of nails and thorns and lance and cross --  The chalice He would drink.
And did you watch Him as you worked And, as the shavings curled, Remember how, without a tool, His wee Hands made the world?
While in one arm you hold Him fast, Embrace me with the other, That I may never stray from Him Nor from our loving Mother.

Thoughts as we begin March 2015: Ite ad Joseph!!!

"Lord, teach me to be generous: to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek to rest; to labour and to ask for no reward save that of knowing I do your holy will. Amen."

- Saint Ignatius of Loyola

St Ignatius of Loyola

A little snippet into the life of St Ignatius of Loyola:

Ignatius keeps vigil at Montserrat, offering up his earthly sword for that of a heavenly one.
March 1522

This picture is taken from this website: The Life of St Ignatius Loyola

by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640)  1577 - 1640) 

by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640) 

And as March is the month of St Joseph!!! a little something from St Alphonsus Liguori to spur us on in our devotion to St Joseph:

Ite ad Joseph!!!

Ite ad Joseph: St Joseph's heart, is so pure, so holy. Our Lord Jesus Christ chose him as His father on earth!

Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death. All Christians regard him as the advocate of the dying who had honoured him during their life, and they do so for three reasons:

1) because Jesus Christ loved him not only as a friend, but as a father, and on this account his mediation is far more efficacious than that of any other Saint.

2) because Saint Joseph has obtained special power against evil spirits, who tempt us with redoubled vigour at the hour of death.

3) the assistance given Saint Joseph at his death by Jesus and Mary obtained for him the right to secure a holy and peaceful death for his servants. Hence, if they invoke him at the hour of death he will not only help them, but he will also obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and Mary. 

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Anne, Therese, I love You; Save Souls!

Jesu mitis et humilis Corde, fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum. (ter)

Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori.