Year of Saint Joseph (December 8, 2020-December 8, 2021)
Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (1474-1548)
Other saints: The Seven Martyrs of Samosata (?297 or 308); Saint Leocadia, Martyr (?304); Bd Bernard Silvestrelli (1831-1911)
Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 56 The Abbot's Table
Mass: Is 40:25-31; Resp Ps 103; Mt 11:28-30
O bless the Lord, my soul!
SAINT JOSEPH,
PRAY FOR US.
Last night, after reading the Holy Father's Apostolic Letter Patris corde With a Father's Heart, given in Rome just yesterday to mark the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as patron of the universal Church, I read through the readings for today's Mass. One of the first things that came to me was that Saint Joseph was certainly a man who hoped in the Lord, that the Lord would renew his strength. Joseph soared as with eagle's wings; he ran and did not grow weary; he walked and did not grow faint (Is 40:31). Joseph labored and he faced his struggles and burdens with a strong faith. He was ready to carry out God's will for him, and he went about it with courage and strength. Joseph turned to the Lord in prayer for help. So doing, Joseph's yokes became easier and his burdens lighter. During this Year of Saint Joseph, we ask dear Joseph to pray for us, to intercede for us, to guide us on our journey to carry out God's will for us.
Included here is a prayer to Saint Joseph, taken from a 19th century French prayer book of the Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary. You will find it in endnote 10 of Patris corde. Pope Francis writes that he has recited the prayer every day after Lauds for over 40 years. The Holy Father says this about the prayer: "It expresses devotion and trust, and even poses a certain challenge to Saint Joseph".
Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, whose power makes the impossible possible, come to my aid in these times of challenge and difficulty. Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome. My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power.
Amen.
SAINT JUAN DIEGO,
PRAY FOR US.
NB. During the year of Saint Joseph, you will see an invocation from the Litany of Saint Joseph in daily posts.
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