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Saint Joseph Novena: Seventh Day
Compared to the powerful and important Herod, Joseph was in the eyes of his times a nobody. Yet as this faithful carpenter and saint made smooth the ways of his Lord, worked for His comfort, and knelt to adore Him, Herod plotted the destruction of this Child, whom he looked upon as a possible rival…
Novena to Saint Joseph: Sixth Day
To us Christmas is a day of uninterrupted joy. To Joseph it was a day of the brightest light and the deepest shadows: a blazing sky and a chilly cave; the presence of angels and the cold shoulder of the villagers; faith and sorrow; intensest joy in the Infant and grief that he could give…
Novena to Saint Joseph: Fifth Day
Pain and patience in the service of Christ and His Mother soon turn to joy. The visit of the angel brought an end to Joseph’s problems. The Child whom the lovely Mary carried was the Son of the Most High. He had no earthly father, for God Himself was His Father. The Holy Spirit had…
Novena to Saint Joseph: Fourth Day
Wedded to the loveliest of brides, entering marriage with strong ideals and a trust in God’s provident care, Joseph had a right to expect the love and security that come with consecrated marriage. While marriage for him was the beginning of a high honour, it was also the beginning of a new pain. While it…
Novena to Saint Joseph: Third Day
Tradition has it that Joseph had taken the vow of virginity, thus renouncing the right to marriage. At any rate he lived a life of purity. He was stainless among men and pure in the sight of God. But God in His providence had greater designs for Joseph than mere abstinence. He chose Joseph, the…
Novena to Saint Joseph: Second Day
There is always a cause for the choices God makes. Out of the long procession of men through history, God selected Joseph to be the husband of Mary and the protector of the Saviour. Joseph’s youth was one of stainless virtue. His young manhood was marked by deep religious faith and a burning desire to…
Novena to Saint Joseph: First Day
The man nearest to Christ Jesus was His foster father, Joseph the carpenter. John the Baptist saw Christ briefly near the Jordan and knew that his work as Precursor was over. The Apostles lived and worked with Christ during the brief days of His public life. But Joseph presided over the events of Christ’s Infancy,…
Living A Catholic Life: What the Ratzinger Family Can Teach Us
March 1, 2012 saw the publication in English of Msgr. Georg Ratzinger’s new book My Brother, the Pope. Media outlets have widely reported this ultimate insider’s view of Pope Ratzinger and have published excerpts from the book. Of particular interest to this writer was Msgr. Ratzinger’s recollections of his childhood with his younger brother. The…
Of Lent Past, when Fasts Meant Fast, see what we’ve lost
From time to time I think there’s merit to re-evaluate where we are today against practices of the past. To comb the deposit of faith for gems that can illumine why we do things. Now that pre-lent is nearly gone, and we enter lent proper, I’m posting some passages about lent published in 1890 for your edification….
Spaceballs, Babylon, and the Lenten Sacrifice
by Guest Author, Major Adam E. Frey Like many Catholics, you may be making a last-minute scramble to choose a Lenten sacrifice. But in the rush to make your public penance, have you considered why you make this yearly ritual? Believe it or not, you might get a better understanding of the Lenten sacrifice by…