March - Month of Joseph

By Tom Dennehy

During the month of March, one of the most important feast days we celebrate in the Church calender is the feast of Saint Joseph, one of our greatest saints. St. Joseph was given a most important mission when God entrusted the care of Jesus, the saviour of the world, to him. He would protect Jesus during his earthly life. St. Joseph was a very holy and upright man, a model in humility and obedience. St. Joseph said Yes to God on many occasions throughout the earthly life of Jesus.

God asked him to flee into Egypt so that Herod could not kill the Child Jesus,”Behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, saying, Arise; and take the child and his mother, and fly to Egypt and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy Him.” Matt 2.13.

He was present at The Presentation of the child Jesus in the temple to support Our Lady when Simeon told her in his prophesies that this child “is set for the fall and resurrection of many in Israel”, and he warned her that “thy own soul a sword shall pierce”. Luke 2.34-35.

He was present when Jesus was lost for three days and after much searching and distress, was found in the Temple in Jerusalem where the doctors were astounded by His intelligence and the replies to their questions.

Jesus went home with Joseph and Mary to Nazareth and lived under their authority and Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature and in favour with God and man. Luke 2.46-52.

St. Joseph watched like a father over the only begotten son of God,

Our Lord Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit and protected Mary His Mother. He was of the line of David, but while having this royal ancestry, he lived in very modest conditions.

Joseph was a righteous man, poor, silent, humble, gentle, patient and full of gentleness. He was faithful to the will of God.

Devotion of Great Saints

Saint Faustina in her diary entry in 1203 tells us, “ St. Joseph urged me to have a constant devotion to him…He promised me special help and protection”.

St. Teresa of Avila wrote “Knowing by experience St. Joseph’s astonishing influence with God, I would wish to persuade everyone to honour him with particular devotion.”

Pope Francis

Pope Francis declared 2021 as The Year of St. Joseph. Many people consecrated themselves to St. Joseph as their spiritual father and deepened their knowledge of him and prayed for blessings from God through his intercession.

On March 19th, 2021, Pope Francis elevated Ireland’s Marian Shrine of Knock to international status and decreed it to be a Eucharistic Shrine. On Aug. 21, 1879, St. Joseph was present with Our Lady, St. John and the Lamb of God on the altar with the angels hovering overhead. He also appeared in the final apparition at Fatima with the child Jesus in his arms and he blessed the world.

St. Joseph as Patron Saint. St. Joseph is patron saint of The Universal Church. His protection is very much needed in these times when our Church is under attack by media and so many do not practise their faith with many Christians being massacred daily.

He is also patron saint of families, fathers, migrants and on May 1st, we celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. He is also patron saint of the dying and for a happy death.

St. Joseph offers protection to all who come to him in prayer, whoever you are or whatever your needs or worries. He continues to intercede for us in Heaven acting as a living witness to our living God.

Consecration prayer to St. Joseph

O dearest St Joseph. I consecrate myself to your honour and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life.

After your example may I do all of my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O blessed St Joseph pray for me , that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death.

Amen

Memorare to St. Joseph

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession was left unassisted. Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not, O Guardian of the Redeemer, my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me.