Virgo Potens

❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀ All Things are to be Referred to God as to our Last End Imitation of Christ ~ Book III, Chapter 9 CHRIST MY son, I must be thy chief and last end if thou desirest to be truly happy. By this intention shall thine affection be purified, which too often is irregularly bent upon thyself and things created. For if in anything thou seek thyself thou presently faintest away within thyself and growest dry. Refer, therefore, all things principally to Me, for it is I that have given thee all. Consider everything as flowing from the Sovereign Good, and therefore they must all be returned to Me as to their origin. 2. Out of Me, both little and great, rich and poor, as out of a living fountain, draw living water. (Is. 12:3). And they who freely and willingly serve Me shall receive grace for grace. (John 10:6). But he that would glory in anything else be­sides Me, or delight in any good as his own (not referred to Me), shall not be established in true joy, nor enlarged in his heart, but in many kinds shall meet with perplexities and anguish. Therefore thou must not ascribe anything of good to thyself, nor attribute virtue to any man, but give all to God, without whom man is nothing. (Ps. 113:1). I have given all, I will have all returned to Me again and I very strictly require thanks for all that I give. (Matt. 25:28). 3. This is that truth by which all vainglory is put to flight. And if heavenly grace and true charity come in there shall be no envy or narrowness of heart, nor shall self-love keep its hold. For divine charity overcomes all and dilates all the powers of the soul. If thou art truly wise thou wilt rejoice in Me alone; thou wilt hope in Me alone, for none is good but God alone, who is to be praised above all and to be blessed in all. (Dan. 3:56). ~ Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ. Translated by the Right Rev. Richard Challoner, D.D. ❀•°❀°•❀•°❀°•❀

2 of 2 Month of St. Joseph ~ March 7th Secondly, our lives, like St. Joseph’s, must be lives of labour with God, by keeping ourselves in the presence of God, by uniting prayer with our work, and above all by keeping our souls in the state of grace, without which there can be no merit or reward in Heaven. Thirdly, we must work for God, by doing our work with a pure intention. Affections and Resolutions.— Examine yourself on these three heads, and see if your work has hitherto been profitable for eternity. Ask St. Joseph to obtain for you a great spirit of work. Colloquy with St. Joseph. Spiritual Reading.— “Imitation of Christ” Book III., Chapter 9. ~ Rev. Joseph McDonnell, S.J., St. Joseph, A Novena of Meditations and Prayers (1926)

O Joseph, présentez à Jésus toutes mes intentions. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ O Joseph, present to Jesus all my intentions. Month of the St. Joseph ~ March 7th Application.— In all this St. Joseph is our model. For, firstly, our lives, like his, must be lives of work. (a) Work was the condition of human existence before the Fall, much more so after the Fall, when it became a Divinely imposed penance: “Thou shalt eat thy bread in the sweat of thy brow." b) It is the necessary condition of success in life. It is, ordinarily speaking, the diligent workers who succeed best in the world, (c) It is the purchase-money of our future glory. On the work we do for God will largely depend our reward in Heaven, (d) It creates content and peace of mind. Are not our happiest days those in which our hands are full of work ? (e) It saves the soul from many spiritual dangers, according to the proverb: “The idle man's mind is the devil’s workshop.” (continued below)

PRAYER ANT. A faithful man will be much praised and he who is guardian of his Lord will be glorified. ℣. Pray for us, O Blessed Joseph. ℟. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us Pray O GOD, Who hast predestined St. Joseph from all eternity for the service of Thine eternal Son and His Blessed Mother, and made him worthy to be the spouse of the Blessed Virgin and the foster-father of Thy Son, we beseech Thee, through all the services he has rendered to Jesus and Mary on earth, that Thou wouldst make us worthy of his intercession and grant us to enjoy the happiness of his company in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ Fr. Charles Callan O.P. and Fr. John McHugh, O.P., Blessed Be God (1925)

2 of 2 Month of St. Joseph ~ March 6th Secondly, he worked with God, in the sense that he worked in the actual presence of the Man-God, and also in the sense that he seasoned his work with prayer. Laborare est orare, to work (with the proper dispositions) is to pray. Further, he worked with God in the sense that his work was done in the state of grace. Thirdly, he worked for God, that is to say, with purity of intention, to promote the honour and glory of God. ~ Rev. Joseph McDonnell, S.J., St. Joseph, A Novena of Meditations and Prayers (1926)

1 of 2 Month of the St. Joseph ~ March 6th 3rd Point — “Is not this the carpenter's Son.” Matt. xiii. 55. Consideration.— St. Joseph earned his bread by practising his trade as a carpenter, for Jesus was called “the carpenter’s Son.” Hence we may infer that St. Joseph’s life was—1st, a life of labour ; 2nd, a life of labour with God ; 3rd, a life of labour for God. Firstly, it was a life of labour. He was very poor, and but poorly paid for his work, seeing that those he worked for were probably almost as poor as himself and could not afford to pay him much. Nevertheless he had to support the Holy Family, and this could only be done by hard and unremitting toil. (continued below)

TO THEE, O BLESSED JOSEPH TO thee, O blessed Joseph, do we have recourse in our tribulation, and, having implored the help of thy thrice-holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. By that charity wherewith thou wast united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly affection with which thou didst embrace the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray, that thou wouldst look graciously upon the inheritance which Jesus Christ hath purchased by His Blood, and assist us in our needs by thy power and strength. Most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ; keep far from us, most loving father, all blight of error and corruption: mercifully assist us from heaven, most mighty defender, in this our conflict with the powers of darkness; and, even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the supreme peril of His life, so now defend God’s holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; keep us one and all under thy continual protection, that we may be supported by thine example and thine assistance, may be enabled to lead a holy life, die a happy death and come at last to the possession of everlasting blessedness in heaven. Amen. An indulgence of 3 years. An indulgence of 7 years during the month of October, when said after the recitation of the Rosary. A plenary indulgence once a month, on the usual conditions, for the daily recitation of this prayer (Leo XIII, Encyclical Aug. 15, 1889; S. C. Ind., Sept. 21, 1889; S. P. Ap., May 17, 1927 and Dec. 13, 1935). (The Raccolta, 1943)

AD TE, O BEATE IOSEPH (Written by Pope Leo XIII) AD te beáte Ioseph, in tribulatióne nostra confúgimus, atque, imploráto Sponsæ tuæ sanctíssimæ auxílio, patrocínium quoque tuum fidénter expóscimus. Per eam, quǽsumus, quæ te cum immaculáta Vírgine Dei Genetríce coniúnxit, caritátem, perque patérnum, quo Púerum Iesum ampléxus es, amórem, súpplices deprecámur, ut ad hereditátem, quam Iesus Christus acquisívit Sánguine suo, benígnus respícias, ac necessitátibus nostris tua virtúte et ope succúrras. Tuére, o Custos providentíssime divínae Famíliae, Iesu Christi sóbolem eléctam; próhibe a nobis, amantíssime Pater, omnem errórum ac corruptelárum luem; propítius nobis, sospitátor fortíssime, in hoc cum potestáte tenebrárum certámine e cælo adésto; et sicut olim Púerum Iesum e summo eripuísti vitæ discrímine, ita nunc Ecclésiam sanctam Dei ab hostílibus insídiis atque ab omni adversitáte defénde: nosque síngulos perpétuo tege patrocínio, ut ad tui exémplar et ope tua suffúlti, sancte vivere, pie émori, sempiternámque in cælis beatitúdinem ássequi possímus. Amen. An indulgence of 3 years. An indulgence of 7 years during the month of October, when said after the recitation of the Rosary. A plenary indulgence once a month, on the usual conditions, for the daily recitation of this prayer (Leo XIII, Encyclical Aug. 15, 1889; S. C. Ind., Sept. 21, 1889; S. P. Ap., May 17, 1927 and Dec. 13, 1935). (The Raccolta, 1943)

Sancte Ioseph, terror daemonum, ora pro nobis. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Saint Joseph, terror of demons, pray for us.

Month of the St. Joseph ~ March 5th Application — Our Blessed Lord is said to have taught St. Catherine of Sienna three things regarding conformity to the Will of God. 1st. That nothing whatsoever happens except by God’s Will (operating permissivelv or actively). 2nd. That God always does what is best according to the laws of His Divine Wisdom. 3rd. That God does what is most useful for us in accordance with His goodness and love in our regard. Our conformity must show itself actively and passively: actively with respect to what depends on our free will, by practising obedience; passively with respect to what depends on God’s Will (operating, as we have said, permissively or actively) by resignation and submission. Do we exercise conformity to God’s Will in these ways ? Affections and Resolutions.—To beg of St. Joseph to obtain for you in all things conformity to the Will of God. ~ Rev. Joseph McDonnell, S.J., St. Joseph, A Novena of Meditations and Prayers (1926)

MEMORARE TO ST. JOSEPH REMEMBER, O most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, my sweet protector, St. Joseph! that no one ever had recourse to thy protection or implored thy aid without obtaining relief. Confiding therefore in thy goodness, I come before thee, and humbly supplicate thee. O despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen. (Ind. of 300 days, once a day.—Pius IX. June 26, 1863.) ~ Fr. Charles Callan O.P. and Fr. John McHugh, O.P., Blessed Be God (1925)

2 of 2 Month of St. Joseph ~ March 4th 2nd. St. Joseph manifested his justice by being subject to the Will of God in all things. Later on we shall contemplate him in his seven sorrows, and we shall see how, especially in those times of bitter anguish and adversity, he resigned himself in all things to the Will of God. He suffered, too, from poverty, not so much upon his own account, but because he was often forced to see the Divine Child and His Blessed Mother, both of whom he loved so dearly, deprived of even the necessaries of life, suffering, perhaps, for want of food, or from exposure to the inclemency of the elements. Amid these trials and privations, with unalterable patience and submission to the Will of God, he ever uttered in his heart the prayer, “Thy Will be done." ~ Rev. Joseph McDonnell, S.J., St. Joseph, A Novena of Meditations and Prayers (1926)

1 of 2 Month of the St. Joseph ~ March 4th 2nd Point — “Joseph, her husband, being a just man." Matt. i. 19. Consideration.— St. Peter Chrysologus tells us that “St. Joseph is called a just man because he possessed every virtue in an eminent degree." In the course of the following meditations we shall see how true this statement is. Meanwhile, we may consider how St. Joseph manifested his justice. 1st. By doing the Will of God in all things. At a word from an angel, addressed to him in sleep, without a moment’s hesitation, he embarked on a long and painful journey to Egypt. There he dwelt, not seeking to forestall the time of his return, but waiting patientfy and humbly till God should please to further make known to him His Will. He spent the long silent years at Nazareth in the most entire abandonment of himself to the decrees of Providence. (continued below)

Prayer to St. Joseph O JOSEPH, virgin father of Jesus, most pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray for us daily to the Son of God, that, armed with the weapons of His grace, we may fight as we ought in life, and be crowned by Him in death. (Ind. of 100 days, twice a day. —Pius X. Nov.26, 1906.) ~ Fr. Charles Callan O.P. and Fr. John McHugh, O.P., Blessed Be God (1925)

2 of 2 Month of St. Joseph ~ March 3rd 2nd, St. Joseph is also God's steward in Heaven. St. Bernard says of him: “To some of the saints the power is given to help us in particular circumstances, but St. Joseph can assist us in every need—he can protect all who have recourse to him." “ What power," adds the same saint, “must God not have given to the foster-father of His Son, as he was so distinguished by his virtues, and led a life of such eminent sanctity. Affections and Resolutions.— “Go to Joseph" in all temporal and spiritual necessities. Take him as your patron. Have great confidence in him, for he is God's steward in Heaven, as he was on earth. ~ Rev. Joseph McDonnell, S.J., St. Joseph, A Novena of Meditations and Prayers (1926)

1 of 2 Month of St. Joseph ~ March 3rd Application — It is not hard to see in the patriarch Joseph the type and forerunner of his great successor and namesake, St. Joseph. For, 1st, St. Joseph was God's chief steward on earth. He was the foster-father of Jesus Christ. As such he was the head of the Holy Family. Jesus and Mary obeyed him as their superior. Hence Gerson exclaims: “O wonderful elevation! O incomparable miracle ! The Mother of God—the Queen of Heaven—calls thee (St. Joseph) her lord, and the Incarnate Son of God calls thee father, and obeys thee." He was, moreover, a co-operator in the work of Redemption, seeing that he took so large and necessary a part in the life and actions of the Redeemer and His Blessed Mother. (continued below)

✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ SATURDAY, SECOND WEEK of LENT GRANT salutary effect to our fasts, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the chastening of our bodies which we have undertaken may be transformed into the growth of our souls. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ DA, QUÆSUMUS, Dómine, nostris efféctum jejúniis salutárem: ut castigátio carnis assúmpta, ad nostrárum vegetatiónem tránseat animárum. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesus Christum fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen. Collect, Saturday, Second Week of Lent ~ The New Roman Missal, 1937 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧

Most holy Virgin and our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of thine Immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns which ungrateful men place therein at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Moved by the ardent desire of loving thee as our Mother and of promoting a true devotion to thine Immaculate Heart, we prostrate ourselves at thy feet to prove the sorrow we feel for the grievances that men cause thee, and to atone, by means of our prayers and sacrifices, for the offenses with which men return thy tender love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. A word from thee will obtain grace and amendment for us all. Hasten, O Lady, the conversion of sinners, that they may love Jesus and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended, and will not fall into hell. Turn thine eyes of mercy towards us, that henceforth we may love God with all our hearts while on earth and enjoy Him forever in heaven. Amen.