NEW TITLES IN THE LITANY OF ST JOSEPH 2021 (with original short reflections from this blog)     Guardian of the Redeemer THIS IS BASED ON THE TITLE OF THE APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION OF SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II WHEREIN THE POPE REFLECTED ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF SAINT JOSEPH IN THE LIFE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND OF THE CHURCH; FROM THE TIME OF THE INCARNATION OF GOD’S SON, JOSEPH WAS, ABOVE ALL, THE GUARDIAN OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD, TOGETHER WITH THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY   Servant of Christ PARADOXICALLY, ST JOSEPH, THOUGH BEING THE GUARDIAN, THE FATHER OF THE LORD JESUS ON THIS EARTH, WAS ACTUALLY HIS SERVANT, TOO. JESUS REMAINED OBEDIENT TO MARY AND JOSEPH AS A CHILD. BUT IN HIS ROLE AS FATHER, JOSEPH WAS IN FACT SERVING THE DIVINE WILL AND DIVINE PLAN. HE SERVED GOD FAITHFULLY BY DEDICATING HIMSELF TO THE SERVICE OF GOD’S SON WHO HE PREPARED TO LIVE A WHOLESOME HUMAN LIFE AND WHO HE INSTRUCTED IN THE FAITH OF HIS FATHERS.   Minister of Salvation AS MINISTER OF SALVATION, ST JOSEPH WAS AN INSTRUMENT WHO BROUGHT PEOPLE CLOSER TO THE LORD. LIKE MARY, THERE IS NO SALVATION IN JOSEPH. RATHER, TOGETHER WITH MARY, JOSEPH LEADS PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THE MYSTERY OF JESUS AND SO FIND IN HIM THE FULFILLMENT OF ALL HUMAN DESIRES AND LONGINGS.  HE CONTINUES TO POINT TO THOSE DEVOTED TO HIM THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE BY LEADING THEM TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.   Support in Difficulties ST JOSEPH WAS NO ALIEN TO DIFFICULTIES IN LIFE. THERE WERE NORMAL DIFFICULTIES LIKE EARNING A LIVING AND PROVIDING FOR A FAMILY, LIVING WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CARES OF DAILY LIFE. BUT HE ALSO KNEW GREAT DIFFICULTIES LIKE ESCAPE FROM A TYRANT, LIVING IN EXILE, AND BEWILDERMENT REGARDING GOD’S PLANS. ST JOSEPH CAN HELP US PUT OUR TRUST IN GOD THROUGH ALL OF LIFE’S TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. HE HAS BEEN THERE BEFORE US.   Patron of Refugees ONE OF THE MAJOR DIFFICULTIES OF ST JOSEPH AND THE HOLY FAMILY WAS FINDING THEMSELVES LIVING AWAY FROM HOME AND FAMILY, STAYING IN A FOREIGN LAND CUT OFF FROM PREVIOUS CONNECTIONS IN LIFE. IN EGYPT, IN SILENCE AND ANONYMITY, JOSEPH MADE A HOME FOR JESUS AND MARY, EXPERIENCING ALL THAT REFUGEES HAVE TO GO THROUGH – UNCERTAINTY, REJECTION, DISCRIMINATION, POWERLESSNESS, POVERTY. HE SURELY HAS A HEART FOR THE REFUGEES OF TODAY   Patron of the Afflicted THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ENJOYS THE TITLE “COMFORT OF THE AFFLICTED.” ST JOSEPH IS THE “”PATRON OF THE AFFLICTED” BECAUSE ALL THOSE WHO SUFFER CAN COME TO HIM FOR HIS PRAYERS AND PROTECTION. HE KNEW THE SORROWS OF THE HEART. HE SHARED IN THE SACRIFICIES OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHRIST CHILD. THOSE WHO SUFFER PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, MORAL, AND RELATIONAL PROBLEMS CAN COME TO ST. JOSEPH AND FIND A SYMPATHETIC FRIEND AND COMPANION.   Patron of the Poor ST JOSEPH CAME FROM A NOBLE LINEAGE WHICH HAS LOST ITS INFLUENCE BY THE TIME OF HIS BIRTH. HE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MISERABLE IN LIFE. AS A CARPENTER, HE WAS A SKILLED WORKER. BUT HE WAS NOT RICH EITHER. HE LIVED AS A COMMON MAN IN A NORMAL SETTING AND WITH ORDINARY PEOPLE. ST JOSEPH LIVED THAT STATE OF POVERTY THAT RECOGNIZES RICHES NOT IN MAN OR MATERIAL THINGS BUT IN GOD ALONE.   PLS SHARE WITH DEVOTEES OF ST JOSEPH! Share on FacebookTweet Total Views: 573