Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

"The mystery of Mary's cooperation in God's plan."

God became "like us in all things except sin" 

at the moment of His conception in Mary's womb.

Mary, immaculately conceived, 

was the means through which God became Man, 

The Word made flesh.

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord celebrates the coming of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to announce to her the special mission from God as she had been chosen to be the "handmaid of the Lord" the mother of the Incarnation of God, His only son. The feast also marks the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Holy Trinity and who is to come for the salvation of all mankind.

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

The "angelic salutation" of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary, 'Hail, thou who art highly favored. The Lord is with thee." which became the the origin of repeated "Hail Mary" prayer of the Rosary. Mary's response to God's will, "Let it be done to me according to thy word." Her exultant hymn, the Magnificat, has been part of the Church's liturgy of the hours, at Vespers (evening prayer), and has been repeated nightly in churches, convents and monasteries for many centuries. 

The Magnificat

And Mary said:

“My soul exalts the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;

For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

And holy is His name.

“And His mercy is upon generation after generation

Toward those who fear Him.

“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble.

“He has filled the hungry with good things;

And sent away the rich empty-handed.

“He has given help to Israel His servant,

In remembrance of His mercy,

As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Article 3 of the Creed, "He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was born of the Virgin Mary" (#456-483) http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1J.HTM

Monday, April 08, 2013
The Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity)

First Reading

Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10

10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz,
11 "Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven."
12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test."
13 And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

10 Take counsel together, but it will come to nought; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.

Psalm

Psalms 40: 7 - 11

7	Then I said, "Lo, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me;
8	I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart."
9	I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; lo, I have not restrained my lips, as thou knowest, O LORD.
10	I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation.
11	Do not thou, O LORD, withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness ever preserve me!

Second Reading

Hebrews 10: 4 - 10

4	For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
5	Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body hast thou prepared for me;
6	in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure.
7	Then I said, `Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God, 'as it is written of me in the roll of the book."
8	When he said above, "Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law),
9	then he added, "Lo, I have come to do thy will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.
10	And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Gospel

Luke 1: 26 - 38

26	In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27	to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28	And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"
29	But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
30	And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31	And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32	He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33	and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34	And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"
35	And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36	And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37	For with God nothing will be impossible."
38	And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

The Process of Election for a New Pope

The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church, appointed by the Pope. The main task of the college: 

1. Advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. 

2. In the event of death or resignation of a pope, they act as a papal conclave to elect a successor. They have  no ruling power except during the sede vacante (papal vacancy) period, and have extremely limited power at this time.

With no contact with the outside world, the College of Cardinals elects a new pope in conclave at Vatican City. During the voting process, the cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace. In Latin the word "conclave"  is  cum clavis, which means "with key" which explains why the cardinals are locked.

A conclave cannot begin until 15 days have elapsed, and this delay can be extended to 20 days, after the death of a pope (or a pope steps down). St. Martha's House (130 rooms), a hospice inside the Vatican becomes the residence for the cardinals participating in conclave process. The cardinals are disallowed to be approached by with anyone from the public during transportation between St. Martha's and the Sistine Chapel.

In 1996,  Pope John Paul II in an Apostolic Constitution called Universi Dominici Gregis (UDG) describes the complex procedures that would be used to elect the next successor to the chair St. Peter.

Rules for electing a new pope in the Universi Dominici Gregis :

* The maximum number of cardinals allow to participate in the voting is 120.

* Only 120 cardinals will be selected from the total number of eligible from the College of Cardinals, the rest would be disqualified from the vote. A Cardinal who turns 80 before the day the Papacy is vacated, either by death or resignation, cannot take part in the election.

* Two thirds plus one of Cardinals majority must agree to finalize the next Pope selection.

* 2 ballots per cardinal are held in the morning and afternoon, for a total of 4 per day.

* If no majority vote is declared after 12 or 13 days of voting process, the cardinals may choose to impose a majority vote, which would allow selection of a new pope by a simple majority.

The voting begins by each cardinal writes the name of the cardinals of their choice on a special rectangular ballot where the words "Eligo in Summum Pontificem" which means "I elect as supreme pontiff" is inscribed. After writing, the cardinal folds the ballot twice, holds it up and carries it to the the Sistine Chapel altar. The cardinal then says "I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected." and then places the ballot on a plate atop the ballot receptacle. He uses the plate to drop the ballot into the receptacle and bows before returning to his seat. 

After all cardinals has voted and ballots are collected, three chosen cardinals act as "Scrutineers" count the ballots to determine if everyone has cast their vote. If the number of ballots doesn't tally with the number of electors, the ballots are immediately burned and another vote is will take place. The Scrutineers are in charge of reading out the names on the ballot, recording the the votes and physically threading all the ballots together by using needle and thread. 

If a vote of two-thirds majority is not achieved, another voting is to take place. Once a two-thirds majority of votes is received by one of the cardinal, the Dean of the College of Cardinals will ask him if he accepts the Papacy. If the cardinal say Yes, then he will be the next Pope and he will be ask to choose his Papal name. 

After each voting session the counted and threaded ballots are burned with a added chemical to produce either black or white smoke. The smoke from the burning ballots appear from a chimney over the Vatican Palace. This is how the outside world determines the status of the Papacy Election. 

Black smoke indicates no decision has been made yet.

White smoke indicates a new pope has been chosen and he accepts the Papacy. Bells will also be ring to signal the new pope has been elected. 

After the cardinals pledge their obedience to their elected leader, the new pope is introduced from the balcony of the Vatican overlooking St.Peter's Square with the words "Habemus Papam." in Latin for "We have a Pope."

Number of eligible cardinals to vote as at 28, January 2013 by continent:

Europe - 62; North America - 14; South America - 19; 

Africa - 11; Asia - 11; Oceania - 1

Cardinal Lubomyr Husar from the Ukraine, born on 26 February 1933, is not eligible to vote and this leaves 117 eligible cardinals to vote.

As of 27 February 2013, the day before the sede vacante (papal vacancy) caused by Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, there were a total of 208 Cardinals, of whom 117 were aged under 80 eligible for the papacy voting. Of this 117 cardinals, 50 were appointed by Pope John Paul II, and 67 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Only 115 cardinals will participate in the vote to elect a replacement for Pope Benedict XVI's papal vacancy as 2 of the 117 eligible cardinals will not be able attend the conclave.

~ Due to health reasons, Cardinal Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja, 78 from Indonesia will not take part.

~ The Archbishop of Edinburgh and Saint Andrews, Cardinal Keith O’Brien,  who has resigned from his Archbishop post after allegations of “improper behavior”.

Below are men of God, cardinals, senior church leaders most likely to succeed Pope Benedict XVI as pontiff.

Pope Benedict XVI’s Farewell Speech Transcript

Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and in the Priesthood!

Distinguished Authorities!

Dear brothers and sisters!

Thank you for coming in such large numbers to this last General Audience of my pontificate.

Like the Apostle Paul in the Biblical text that we have heard, I feel in my heart that I have to especially thank God who guides and builds up the Church, who plants His Word and thus nourishes the faith in His People. At this moment my heart expands and embraces the whole Church throughout the world and I thank God for the ‘news’ that, in these years of my Petrine ministry, I have received about the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and for the love that truly circulates in the Body of the Church, making it to live in the love and the hope that opens us to and guides us towards the fullness of life, towards our heavenly homeland.

I feel I ought to carry everyone in prayer, in a present that is God’s, where I recall every meeting, every voyage, every pastoral visit. I gather everyone and every thing in prayerful recollection, in order to entrust them to the Lord: in order that we might have full knowledge of His will, with every wisdom and spiritual understanding, and in order that we might comport ourselves in a manner that is worthy of Him, of His, bearing fruit in every good work (cf. Col 1:9-10).

At this moment I have great confidence because I know, we all know, that the Gospel’s Word of truth is the strength of the Church; it is her life. The Gospel purifies and renews, bearing fruit, wherever the community of believers hears it and welcomes God’s grace in truth and in love. This is my confidence, this is my joy.

When, on 19 April almost eight years ago I accepted to take on the Petrine ministry, I had the firm certainty that has always accompanied me: this certainty for the life of the Church from the Word of God. At that moment, as I have already expressed many times, the words that resounded in my heart were: Lord, what do You ask of me? It is a great weight that You are placing on my shoulders but, if You ask it of me, I will cast my nets at your command, confident that You will guide me, even with all my weaknesses. And eight years later I can say that the Lord has guided me. He has been close to me. I have felt His presence every day. It has been a stretch of the Church’s path that has had moments of joy and light, but also difficult moments. I felt like St. Peter and the Apostles in the boat on the Sea of Galilee. The Lord has given us many days of sunshine and light breezes, days when the fishing was plentiful, but also times when the water was rough and the winds against us, just as throughout the whole history of the Church, when the Lord seemed to be sleeping. But I always knew that the Lord is in that boat and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, not ours, but is His. And the Lord will not let it sink. He is the one who steers her, of course also through those He has chosen because that is how He wanted it. This was and is a certainty that nothing can tarnish. And that is why my heart today is filled with gratitude to God, because He never left—the whole Church or me—without His consolation, His light, or His love.

We are in the Year of Faith, which I desired in order to strengthen our own faith in God in a context that seems to push faith more and more toward the margins of life. I would like to invite everyone to renew firm trust in the Lord. I would like that we all, entrust ourselves as children to the arms of God, and rest assured that those arms support us and us to walk every day, even in times of struggle. I would like everyone to feel loved by the God who gave His Son for us and showed us His boundless love. I want everyone to feel the joy of being Christian. In a beautiful prayer to be recited daily in the morning says, “I adore you, my God, I love you with all my heart. I thank You for having created me, for having made me a Christian.” Yes, we are happy for the gift of faith: it is the most precious good, that no one can take from us! Let us thank God for this every day, with prayer and with a coherent Christian life. God loves us, but He also expects that we love Him!

It is not only God who I wish to thank at this time. A pope is not alone in guiding Peter’s barque, even if it is his primary responsibility. I have never felt alone in bearing the joy and the weight of the Petrine ministry. The Lord has placed at my side so many people who, with generosity and love for God and the Church, have helped me and been close to me. First of all, you, dear Brother Cardinals: your wisdom, your advice, and your friendship have been precious to me. My collaborators, starting with my secretary of state who has accompanied me faithfully over the years; the Secretariat of State and the whole of the Roman Curia, as well as all those who, in their various areas, serve the Holy See. There are many faces that are never seen, remaining in obscurity, but precisely in their silence, in their daily dedication in a spirit of faith and humility, they were a sure and reliable support to me. A special thought goes to the Church of Rome, my diocese! I cannot forget my Brothers in the episcopate and in the priesthood, consecrated persons, and the entire People of God. In my pastoral visits, meetings, audiences, and trips I always felt great care and deep affection, but I have also loved each and every one of you, without exception, with that pastoral love that is the heart of every pastor, especially the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of the Apostle Peter. Every day I held each of you in prayer, with a father’s heart.

I wish my greetings and my thanks to reach everyone: the heart of a Pope expands to embrace the whole world. I would like to express my gratitude to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, which makes present the great family of nations. Here I also think of all those who work for good communication, whom I thank for their important service.

At this point I would also like to wholeheartedly thank all of the many people around the world who, in recent weeks, have sent me touching tokens of concern, friendship, and prayer. Yes, the Pope is never alone. I feel this again now in such a great way that it touches my heart. The Pope belongs to everyone and many people feel very close to him. It’s true that I receive letters from the world’s notables—from heads of states, from religious leaders, from representatives of the world of culture, etc. But I also receive many letters from ordinary people who write to me simply from their hearts and make me feel their affection, which is born of our being together with Christ Jesus, in the Church.

In recent months, I felt that my strength had decreased, and I asked God with insistence in prayer to enlighten me with His light to make me take the right decision – not for my sake, but for the good of the Church. I have taken this step in full awareness of its severity and also its novelty, but with a deep peace of mind. Loving the Church also means having the courage to make difficult, trying choices, having ever before oneself the good of the Church and not one’s own.

Allow me here to return once again to 19 April, 2005. The gravity of the decision lay precisely in the fact that, from that moment on, I was always and for always engaged by the Lord. Always—whoever assumes the Petrine ministry no longer has any privacy. He belongs always and entirely to everyone, to the whole Church. His life, so to speak, is totally deprived of its private dimension. I experienced, and I am experiencing it precisely now, that one receives life precisely when they give it. Before I said that many people who love the Lord also love St. Peter’s Successor and are fond of him; that the Pope truly has brothers and sisters, sons and daughters all over the world and that he feels safe in the embrace of their communion; because he no longer belongs to himself but he belongs to all and all belong to him.

The “always” is also a “forever” – there is no returning to private life. My decision to forgo the exercise of active ministry, does not revoke this. I do not return to private life, to a life of travel, meetings, receptions, conferences and so on. I do not abandon the cross, but remain in a new way near to the Crucified Lord. I no longer wield the power of the office for the government of the Church, but in the service of prayer I remain, so to speak, within St. Peter’s bounds. St. Benedict, whose name I bear as Pope, shall be a great example in this for me. He showed us the way to a life which, active or passive, belongs wholly to the work of God.

I also thank each and every one of you for the respect and understanding with which you have received this important decision. I will continue to accompany the Church’s journey through prayer and reflection, with the dedication to the Lord and His Bride that I have tried to live every day up to now and that I want to always live. I ask you to remember me to God, and above all to pray for the Cardinals who are called to such an important task, and for the new Successor of the Apostle Peter. Many the Lord accompany him with the light and strength of His Spirit.

We call upon the maternal intercession of Mary, the Mother of God and of the Church, that she might accompany each of us and the entire ecclesial community. We entrust ourselves to her with deep confidence.

Dear friends! God guides His Church, always sustaining her even and especially in difficult times. Let us never lose this vision of faith, which is the only true vision of the path of the Church and of the world. In our hearts, in the heart of each one of you, may there always be the joyous certainty that the Lord is beside us, that He does not abandon us, that He is near and embraces us with His love. Thank you!

St. Peter the Rock of Christ Church

John 1:42

You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” 
[Cephas in Hebrew is Peter (Petros). Petros in Greek which literally converted means Rock.]

Christ confers authority onto Peter to guide and care for His Church on earth in John 21.

John 21:15-17

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Peter is told about his special authoritative role in the Church founded by Christ in  Matthew 16.

Matthew 16:18

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Peter's primacy is evident from the Ho;y Scriptures as his name is always appears first in the lists of the Apostles.

Peter became the first Supreme Vicar (Pope) of Christ early church. 

Prayer to Saint Peter

O Holy Apostle, 

because you are the Rock 

upon which Almighty God 

has built His Church, 

obtain for me I pray you: 

lively faith, firm hope, and burning love, 

complete detachment from myself, 

contempt of the world, 

patience in adversity, 

humility in prosperity, 

recollection in prayer, 

purity of heart, 

a right intention in all my works, 

diligence in fulfilling the duties 

of my state of life, 

constancy in my resolutions, 

resignation to the will of God 

and perseverance in the grace 

of God even unto death; 

that so, by means of your intercession 

and your glorious merits, 

I may be made worthy to appear 

before the Chief and Eternal 

Shepherd of Souls, Jesus Christ, 

Who with the Father 

and the Holy Spirit, 

lives and reigns forever. 

AMEN.

Prayer in Honouring the 7 Sorrows and 7 Joys of St. Joseph

Composed by Ven. Januarius Sarnelli, C.SS.R. (d. 1744)

1. Sorrow: The doubt of St. Joseph. (Matt. 1:19).

But Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wishing to expose her to reproach ,was minded to put her away privately. 

Joy: The message of the Angel. (Matt. 1:20).

But while he thought on these things,behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,"Do not be afraid, Joseph, son of David, to take to thee Mary thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. 

1. O chaste Spouse of Mary most holy, glorious St. Joseph, great was the trouble and anguish of thy heart when thou were minded to put away privately thine inviolate Spouse, yet thy joy was unspeakable when the surpassing mystery of the Incarnation was made known to thee by the Angel! 

By this sorrow and this joy, we beseech thee to comfort our souls, both now and in the sorrows of our final hour, with the joy of a good life and a holy death after the pattern of thine own, in the arms of Jesus and Mary. 

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be... 



2. Sorrow:The poverty of Jesus' birth. (Luke 2:7).

And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes ,and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

Joy: The birth of the Saviour. (Luke 2:10-11).

And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be to all people; for today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord." 

2. O most blessed Patriarch, glorious St. Joseph, who was chosen to be the foster father of the Word made flesh, thy sorrow at seeing the Child Jesus born in such poverty was suddenly changed into heavenly exultation when thou didst hear the angelic hymn and beheld the glories of that resplendent night. 

By this sorrow and this joy, we implore thee to obtain for us the grace to pass over from life's pathway to hear the angelic songs of praise, and to rejoice in the shining splendour of celestial glory. 

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...  


3.Sorrow: The Circumcision. (Luke 2:21). 

And when eight days were fulfilled for his circumcision, his name was called Jesus, the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 

Joy:The Holy Name of Jesus. (Matt. 1:25).

And he did not know her until she brought forth her first born son. And he called his name Jesus. 

3. O glorious St. Joseph thou faithfully obeyed the law of God, and thy heart was pierced at the sight of the Precious Blood that was shed by the Infant Saviour during His Circumcision, but the Name of Jesus gave thee new life and filled thee with quiet joy. 

By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us the grace to be freed from all sin during life, and to die rejoicing, with the holy Name of Jesus in our hearts and on our lips. 

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...  



4. Sorrow: The prophecy of Simeon. (Luke 2:34). 

And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother,"Behold this child is destined for the fall and the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted. And thine own soul a sword shall pierce. 

Joy: The effects of the Redemption. (Luke 2:38). 

And coming up at that very hour, she began to give praise to the Lord, and spoke of him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. 

4. O most faithful Saint who shared the mysteries of our Redemption, glorious St. Joseph, the prophecy of Simeon regarding the sufferings of Jesus ant Mary caused thee to shudder with mortal dread, but at the same time filled thee with a blessed joy for the salvation and glorious resurrection which, he foretold, would be attained by countless souls. 

By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us that we may be among the number of those who, through the merits of Jesus and the intercession of Mary the Virgin Mother, are predestined to a glorious resurrection. 

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be... 

5. Sorrow: The flight into Egypt. (Matt. 2:14). 

So he arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and withdrew into Egypt. 

Joy: The overthrow of the idols of Egypt. (Is. 19:1). 

The burden of Egypt. Behold the Lord will ascend upon a swift cloud and will enter into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt will be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst thereof. 

5. O most watchful Guardian of the Incarnate Son of God, glorious St. Joseph, what toil was thine in supporting and waiting upon the Son of the most high God, especially in the flight into Egypt! Yet at the same time, how thou didst rejoice to have always near you God Himself, and to see the idols of the Egyptians fall prostrate to the ground before Him. 

By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us the grace of keeping ourselves in safety from the infernal tyrant, especially by flight from dangerous occasions; may every idol of earthly affection fall from our hearts; may we be wholly employed in serving Jesus and Mary, and for them alone may we live and happily die. 

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...

6. Sorrow: The return from Egypt. (Matt. 2:22). 

But hearing that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there; and being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee. 

Joy: Life with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth. (Luke 2:39). 

And when they had fulfilled all things prescribed in the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, into their own town of Nazareth. 

6.O glorious St. Joseph, an angel on earth, thou didst marvel to see the King of Heaven obedient to thy commands, but thy consolation in bringing Jesus out of the land of Egypt was troubled by thy fear of Archelaus; nevertheless, being assured by the Angel, thou dwelt in gladness at Nazareth with Jesus and Mary. 

By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us that our hearts may be delivered from harmful fears, so that we may rejoice in peace of conscience and may live in safety with Jesus and Mary and may, like thee, die in their company. 

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...



7. Sorrow: The loss of the Child Jesus. (Luke 2:45). 

And not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of him 

Joy: The finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. (Luke 2:46).

And it came to pass after three days, that they found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 

7. O glorious St. Joseph, pattern of all holiness, when thou didst lose, through no fault of thine own, the Child Jesus, thou sought Him sorrowing for the space of three days, until with great joy thou didst find Him again in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors. 

By this sorrow and this joy, we supplicate thee, with our hearts upon our lips, to keep us from ever having the misfortune to lose Jesus through mortal sin; but if this supreme misfortune should befall us, grant that we may seek Him with unceasing sorrow until we find Him again, ready to show us His great mercy, especially at the hour of death; so that we may pass over to enjoy His presence in Heaven; and there, in company with thee, may we sing the praises of His Divine mercy forever. 

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...


Antiphon. 

And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty years, being (as it was supposed) the Son of Joseph. 

V. Pray for us, O holy Joseph. 
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let Us Pray. 

O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in Heaven. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. 

AMEN.

Feast of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On 19 March annually, Catholic honours Saint Joseph as the husband of Mary in a feast celebration. This feast is formally known as the Solemnity of Saint Joseph Spouse of The Blessed Virgin Mary. It is celebrated with Holy Mass and  also prayerful devotion to him as an intercessor with Almighty God.

Saint Joseph the model of humility and holiness, and also patron for fathers everywhere. He cared for the Son of God, despite Jesus not being his own Son. His devotion towards Mary, despite his suspicions of her infidelity, and his willingness to listen to the angel of God, demonstrate his humility. He was chosen by God the Father before time, as the husband for Mary and foster father for Jesus.

Joseph was carpenter, simple and just man, he was open to all that God wanted to do for him as well as wholeheartedly obedient to God when he took Mary as his spouse, heeding Gods message to him even knowing she was pregnant. After the child was born he also obeyed Gods message again in naming Jesus, in shepherding the precious pair mother and son to Egypt, and in bringing them to Nazareth.

St. Joseph Prayer 

"O Blessed St. Joseph, tenderhearted father, faithful

guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God,

we pray and bessech thee to offer to God the Father

His divinve Son, bathed in blood of the Cross for

sinners, and through the thrice-holy Name of Jesus,

obtain for us from the Eternal Father the favor we

implore. 

(mention request)

Appease the Divine anger so justly inflamed by our

crimes, beg of Jesus mercy for thy children. Amid the

splendors of eternity, forget not the sorrows of those

who suffer, those who pray, those who weep; stay the

Almighty arm which smites us, that by thy prayers and

those of thy most Holy Spouse, the Heart of Jesus may

be moved to pity and pardon. Amen. St. Joseph, pray

for us. "

PRAISES OF ST. JOSEPH 

(These praises may be prayed 

in thanksgiving for favours received.) 

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

O holy Patriarch Joseph, ever blessed be thy soul, which was adorned with all the virtues and gifts of the Holy Ghost. 

Glory be to the Father... 

O holy Patriarch Joseph, ever blessed be thine intellect, which was full of the most sublime knowledge of God and was enlightened with revelations. 

Glory be to the Father...

O holy Patriarch Joseph, ever blessed be thy will, which was all inflamed with love for Jesus and Mary and always perfectly conformable to the Divine will. 

Glory be to the Father...

O holy Patriarch Joseph, ever blessed be thine eyes, to which it was granted to look continually upon Jesus and Mary. 

Glory be to the Father... 

O holy Patriarch Joseph, ever blessed be thine ears, which merited to hear the sweet words of Jesus and Mary. 

Glory be to the Father... 

O dear St. Joseph, ever blessed be thy tongue, which continually praised God and with profound humility and reverence conversed with Jesus and Mary. 

Glory be to the Father...

O chaste St. Joseph, ever blessed be thy most pure and loving heart, with which thou didst ardently love Jesus and Mary. 

Glory be to the Father... 

O holy Joseph, ever blessed be thy thoughts, words and actions, each and all of which ever tended to the service of Jesus and Mary. 

Glory be to the Father... 

O holy Patriarch Joseph, ever blessed be all the moments of thy life, which thou didst spend in the service of Jesus and Mary. 

Glory be to the Father... 

O my Protector St. Joseph, ever blessed be that moment of thy life in which thou didst most sweetly die in the arms of Jesus and Mary. 

Glory be to the Father... 

O glorious St. Joseph, ever blessed be that moment in which thou didst enter into the eternal joys of Heaven. 

Glory be to the Father... 

O happy St. Joseph, ever blessed in eternity be every moment in which, until now, in union with all the Saints of Heaven, thou hast enjoyed the incomprehensible bliss of union with God, with Jesus and Mary. 

Glory be to the Father... 

O my dear Protector! Be ever blessed by me and by all creatures, for all eternity, with all the blessings which the Most Holy Trinity bestowed upon thee and with all the benedictions given thee by Jesus and Mary and by the whole Church. 

Glory be to the Father... 

O thrice holy Joseph, blessed in soul and body, in life and death, on earth and in Heaven. Obtain also for me, a poor sinner but nevertheless thy true and faithful client, a share in thy blessings, the grace to imitate thee ardently, and to love and faithfully serve Jesus, Mary and thyself, and especially the happiness to die in thy holy arms. 

Amen.