Tuesday, March 15, 2016

NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH - SIXTH DAY


                 NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH         

                          SIXTH DAY  
    St. Joseph surpasses all the other Saints
1. He was the crown of the patriarchs and of the ancestors of the Messiah announced to the world; he inherited all their benedictions, and saw them accomplished.

2. He was the crown of the saints of the Old Testament; their prerogatives, their wishes were united and perfected in his person.

3. He is the crown of the saints of the New Testament: in his quality as head of the Holy Family, of whom a Man-God was a member, he surpasses them all in dignity; and as he was in this charge the wise and faithful servant by excellence, he must surpass them all in glory.

      Virtues to be imitated in St. Joseph
1. His faith, which was very lively and fruitful in good works.
2. His self-possession in adversity as in prosperity.
3. His zeal for the honour of God and the salvation of men.

                        Prayer

Blessed Joseph, to whom alone was reserved the happiness of inheriting all the benedictions of the other patriarchs, and of seeing them accomplished in that which raised thee to the dignity of father of the Messiah, in whom all nations were to be blessed; let all the patriarchs come now, and place on thy head a crown of glory as to their king: let all the other saints of the Old Testament come also and crown thee as their chief with as many stars as there are degrees of sanctity by which thou hast surpassed them, by uniting in thee and by perfecting all their virtues. Lastly, let all the saints of the New Testament, the apostles, the martyrs, the confessors, the virgins, come in their turn, and, with their palms mingled with lilies and roses, crown the head of the family of God, the first disciple of Jesus Christ, the first imitator of His divine examples, the first confidant of the hearts of Jesus and Mary, the first saint of the law of grace proclaimed thus by the Sacred Books. Be blessed, holy patriarch, by all the saints; but raised to the height of felicity, do not forget to let thy poor servant participate in some of the abundant benedictions which enrich thee in eternity. What I desire above all others is, that thou wouldst make the salutary fruits of the passion of my Saviour descend upon me. If I obtain these fruits of benediction upon earth, I hope to arrive at the enjoyment of the fruits of glory with which the elect are satiated in Heaven. Amen.

V. Pray for us, St. Joseph.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
            Let us Pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, Lord, that we may be assisted by the merits of the spouse of Thy most holy Virgin Mother, and that what we cannot obtain through our own weakness, may be granted to us by his prayers. Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

       Sentences relative to St. Joseph
Jacob was great by the eminence of his virtues and piety; but how much greater was that of our holy patriarch Joseph! He was greater than Noah and the other patriarchs. He is blessed among all men, for the same reason that the Blessed Virgin is blessed among all women. - Navaeus, sec. 2, in St. Joseph.

He excels all the other patriarchs and prophets by two privileges; namely, as spouse of Mary, and as father of Christ. - Tolet.

He is the first, in the law of grace, who suffered persecution for justice, so that the sword also pierced his soul. - Rupert.

Joseph was so much the more excellent as he belonged to a higher order. - St. Thom.

        Practice during the Day
1. A more rigorous fast than ordinary.
2. A work of mercy, spiritual or corporal.
3. A visit to our Lord, to ask Him to make us participate in the benedictions of St. Joseph.

Recite, for this intention, the Te Deum.


                    Te Deum
O God, we praise Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be the supreme Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the earth worships Thee.
All the Angels, the heavens and all angelic powers,
All the Cherubim and Seraphim, continuously cry to Thee:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
The wonderful company of Prophets,
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Holy Church throughout the world acknowledges Thee:
The Father of infinite Majesty;
Thy adorable, true and only Son;
Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When Thou tookest it upon Thyself to deliver man,
Thou didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
Having overcome the sting of death, Thou opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all
believers.
Thou sitest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou willst come to be our Judge.
We, therefore, beg Thee to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy
Precious Blood.
Let them be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.

V.  Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy inheritance!
R.  Govern them, and raise them up forever.

V.  Every day we thank Thee.
R.  And we praise Thy Name forever, yes, forever and ever.

V.  O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day.
R.  Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

V.  Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee.
R.  O Lord, in Thee I have put my trust; let me never be put to shame.


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