[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]March 19 marks the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We find no devotion to St. Joseph in the early Church, but he was later venerated by the great saints of the Middle Ages. Pius IX (1870) declared him patron and protector of the universal family of the Church.
Read Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical on Devotion to St. Joseph.
Saint Joseph, patron of the universal Church, watch over the Church as carefully as you watched over Jesus, help protect it and guide it as you did with your adopted son. Amen
“There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand.
This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster father of our Lord and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasure, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him saying: Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord [cf Matthew 25:23]…
Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster-child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.”
-From a sermon by Saint Bernardine of Siena
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1552601962912{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;background-image: url(https://starofthesea.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/800px-Il_matrimonio_della_Vergine.jpg?id=8734) !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: contain !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1475066539012{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;background-color: rgba(45,45,45,0.9) !important;*background-color: rgb(45,45,45) !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}”][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”As Patron of our Fulfilling the Vision Campaign, let us also pray:” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Blessed Saint Joseph,
faithful guardian and protector of the Holy Family,
by the work of your heart and your hands you provided for the needs of the Holy Family.
Intercede for us as we try to make our parish a home for Jesus and Mary and for all God’s family.
Pray for us as we step out in faith
to complete our parish campus
and to fulfill the vision of making it truly a home
for worship, for prayer, and a place
where all God’s people are welcomed.
Obtain for us the virtues of
purity, humility, charity and courage.
Bless all those who sacrifice to make this plan a reality.
All for Jesus, all through Mary, all in imitation of you,
O Blessed St. Joseph!!
Amen.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Fulfilling the Vision” style=”outline” shape=”round” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.starofthesea.net%2Ffulfilling-the-vision%2F|||”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]