Thursday, May 1, 2008

Joseph the Worker

Happy Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. (Matthew 1:20-24)


The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. (Matthew 2:13-14)
When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazorean." (Matthew 2:19-23)

Prayer to St. Joseph
St. Joseph, most loving and chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, humbly we ask you to pray for us, that we learn from your selfless example. May we come to accept without question what God puts before us so that we come to realize that our responsibilities are gifts from heaven. Help us to offer our labors for the exultation of our Heavenly Father so that we might further His kingdom on earth. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who lovingly called you daddy. Amen.




1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful tribute to such an incredible Holy Man...our foster father, St. Joseph.

We went to the Bishop's Mass and guess what? Joe was on TV. I think its just a little sign from St. Joe that he is watching over my Joes.

Love this man!!!

Gina