St Joseph

In Honour of Saint Josephpage1image31843888page1image31844928

19 March 2021

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Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart)

Pope Francis

• The Holy Father wrote Patris corde against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, he says, has helped us see more clearly the importance of“ordinary” people who, though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day. In this, they resemble Saint Joseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden

presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”page3image31957328page3image31952752

Covid Medicspage4image31959200page4image31952544page4image31958992page4image31960032

Joseph’s Song – Michael Cardpage5image31730032page5image31729616page5image31729408

Matthew 2:13page6image31960240page6image31961072

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.

“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.

Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

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Matthew 2:19-20page8image31961280page8image31960448

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

and said,

“Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel,
for those who were trying
to take the child’s life are dead.”

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Reflection Pope Francispage10image31961696page10image31961904

How does Joseph respond to his calling

to be the protector of Mary, Jesus and the Church?”

Pope Francis asked.
“By being constantly attentive to God, open to the signs of God’s presence and receptive to God’s plans,
and not simply to his own.

A Working Familypage11image31962320page11image31962528page11image31962736

Joseph the Protector – Pope Francis

“Joseph is a ‘protector’
because he is able to hear God’s voice
and be guided by his will;
and for this reason
he is all the more sensitive
to the persons entrusted to his safekeeping. He can look at things realistically,
he is in touch with his surroundings,
he can make truly wise decisions,”page12image31963360page12image31963568

Saint Joseph Man of Dreamspage13image31963984page13image31964192page13image31964400

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Josephpage15image31745376page15image31744752page15image31744544

by the Centro Aletti art team, lead by Fr Marko Ivan Rupnik SJ. Chapel of the Irish College, Rome.

Joseph “confronted reality with open eyes and accepted personalresponsibility for it.” Pope Francis

Here he is shown making the offering of the poor (a pair of turtledoves) in thanksgiving to God, while presenting Jesus in the Temple [Luke 2:24].

They did not have the money to offer a lamb, but were presenting the child who was the Lamb of God.

He very tenderly presents the doves, his hands covered with a cloth, so that they can be a pure offering.

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Joseph “knew that his child was not his own but had merely been entrusted to his care.” Fatherhood “has nothing to do with possession.” (Pope Francis)

Here Joseph and Mary bow to their holy child whilst surrounding him with their care.

Joseph points to Jesus as good news for all people. He also makes a gesture almost like ‘letting go’ – knowing the heartache of every parent who longs that their child will become all they can be inGod’s eyes.

Ancient Prayer to St. Josephpage17image31736848page17image31749120

1. O, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interest and desires especially at this time of crisis in the world.

in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.page18image17264832page18image31751200page18image31750992

2. 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.page19image31750576page19image31750368

3. O, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus asleep

Press Him close in my name
and kiss His fine head for me
and ask Him to return the kiss
when I draw my dying breath. Amen.

Joseph’s Lullaby (Mercy Me)page20image31745792page20image31747248page20image31746208

Original Candle of Protection Prayer Pro-Cathedral – Dublinpage21image31746416page21image31746832

ST. JOSEPH, YOU PROTECTED JESUS FROM ALL DANGER AND HARM. WE ENTRUST TO YOUR CARE ALL OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
AND ALL WHO ARE VULNERABLE.
WATCH OVER THEM AND KEEP THEM SAFE.

HOLD THEM CLOSE TO YOU ALWAYS.
WE ASK THIS THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. AMEN.

Saint Joseph’s Prayerpage22image31736640page22image31736224

IF JOSEPH HAD NOT HAMMERED STRAIGHT NAILS INTO HONEST WOOD IF JOSEPH HAD NOT CHERISHED HIS MARY AS HE SHOULD
IF JOSEPH HAD NOT PROVED
A MAN BOTH KIND AND WISE WOULD HE HAVE DRAWN WITH FAVOUR THE CHILD’S ALL PROBING EYES?WOULD CHRIST HAVE PRAYED OUR FATHER OR CALLED THAT NAME IN DEATH UNLESS HE FIRST HONOURED JOSEPH OF NAZARETH

Prayer to Saint Joseph

• Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust;page23image31739344page23image31748288

•

with you Christ became man.

• Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.

Prayer to St. Josephpage24image31729200page24image31726704

Gracious St. Joseph, protect me

and my family from all evil
as you did the Holy Family.
Kindly keep us ever united in the love of Christ, ever fervent in imitation of the virtue of our Blessed Lady, your sinless spouse,
and always faithful in devotion to you. Amen.page24image17272384page24image17278720page24image17283520