Janette Howe and Her Apostolagte

 

In 2010, Janette Howe sensed a nudge to pray more frequently and intentionally for her pastor, Fr. Joseph R Johnson, rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota. Father’s ability to attend to numerous needs in the parish while still caring for her family and friends was edifying. In addition, Janette’s son was studying for the priesthood, and Fr. Johnson was very generous in his guidance and support of him.

During a walk one day, it occurred to Janette that the very least she might do in gratitude for Father’s ever-generous pastoral care would be to offer a Holy Hour once a week for him. Janette began to offer this additional hour in the summer of 2010, not mentioning it to Father, but delighting in simply offering the hour and trusting he was benefiting from the graces.  She chose to make the chapel visit on Thursdays, the day celebrating the institution of both the Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders, during the power-packed Hour of Divine Mercy, 3 PM.

Almost from the beginning, Janette recalls that there were distractions. Someone in desperate need of prayer would email right before she left for the Holy Hour, or on the way into the chapel someone would call with a prayer request, or she felt that a friend or family member could use the graces of “Father’s Holy Hour”. Nonetheless, she knew that this hour was set aside for a specific purpose and she knew the graces were sufficient to accomplish it. She would offer prayers on the way to the chapel, or would linger in the chapel after the hour, to cover these urgent prayer requests.  After several weeks, a steady rhythm of prayer had undeniably developed, and these became happily anticipated hours of the week.

On March 24th, 2011, while in prayer for Fr. Johnson, Janette ‘heard’ the words Seven Sisters in her heart.  Thinking that she ‘misheard’, she reached into her purse for the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows. When she leaned over to retrieve the Chaplet beads, she more clearly heard “Seven Sisters”. There was no mistake. She sat in silence, eyes closed, before the Blessed Sacrament and waited.

After some time, Janette sensed clearly that the Lord wanted to invite six others— seven in total—to offer one Holy Hour once a day for Fr. Johnson just as she was doing. It was exhilarating to consider the benefit of these multiplied graces for her pastor and also the interior benefit for his intercessors. Janette strongly sensed that in these weeks she had been a student in the school of intercession, and now others were being called to that same school of prayer and sacrifice—and joy!

That weekend, before the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Spirit impressed upon Janette two specific directives regarding the intercessor’s Holy Hour: (1) It should be only for the pastor, and (2) it should ask for the priest’s deepening devotion to our Blessed Mother.

Janette unfolded these aspects of her prayer to Fr. Johnson, who directed her to start the Apostolate with seven churches—49 women in total. By June of 2011, the first Seven Sisters groups made their one year commitments under Janette’s oversight. The Apostolate continued to grow organically, and it is seeking church approval in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Today, the Apostolate continues to grow and mature, and, God-willing, produce eternal fruit in the hearts of both the intercessors and priests for whom they pray. All glory be to God!

 

Fr. Joseph Johnson and Janette Howe.

from the "Seven Sisters Apostolate" website that you can check here.

Act of Consecration of the Family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

 This form was approved by Pope St. Pius X on May 19, 1908 and is required as such to gain the indulgences. Thus, it cannot be modified. It is recited kneeling by both the priest and the family. If a priest is not present, it is led by the head of the household.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who didst make known to St. Margaret Mary Thine ardent desire to reign over Christian families, behold us assembled here today to proclaim Thine absolute dominion over our home.

Henceforth we purpose to lead a life like unto Thine, so that amongst us may flourish the virtues for which Thou didst promise peace on earth, and for this end we will banish from our midst the spirit of the world which Thou dost abhor so much.

Thou wilt reign over our understanding by the simplicity of our faith. Thou wilt reign over our hearts by an ardent love for Thee; and may the flame of this love be ever kept burning in our hearts by the frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist.

Deign, O Divine Heart, to preside over our meetings, to bless our undertakings, both spiritual and temporal, to banish all worry and care, to sanctify our joys, and soothe our sorrows. If any of us should ever have the misfortune to grieve Thy Sacred Heart, remind him of Thy goodness and mercy towards the repentant sinner.

Lastly, when the hour of separation will sound, and death will plunge our home into mourning, then shall we all, and every one of us, be resigned to Thy eternal decrees, and seek consolation in the thought that we shall one day be reunited in Heaven, where we shall sing the praises and blessings of Thy Sacred Heart for all eternity.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, offer Thee this our Consecration, and remind us of the same all the days of our life. Glory to the Divine Heart of Jesus, our King and our Father. Amen.

Consecration to St. Joseph

 

O Glorious Patriarch and Patron of the Church! O Virgin Spouse of the Virgin Mother of God! O Guardian and Virginal Father of the Word Incarnate! In the presence of Jesus and Mary, I choose you this day to be my father, my guardian, and my protector.

O great St. Joseph, whom God has made the Head of the Holy Family, accept me, I beseech you, though utterly unworthy, to be a member of your “Holy House.” Present me to your Immaculate Spouse; ask her also to adopt me as her child. With her, pray that I may constantly think of Jesus, and serve Him faithfully to the end of my life. O Terror of Demons, increase in me virtue, protect me from the Evil One, and help me not to offend God in any way.

O my Spiritual Father, I hereby consecrate myself to you. In faithful imitation of Jesus and Mary, I place myself and all my concerns under your care and protection. To you, after Jesus and Mary, I consecrate my body and soul, with all their faculties, my spiritual growth, my home, and all my affairs and undertakings.

Forsake me not, but adopt me as a servant and child of the Holy Family. Watch over me at all times, but especially at the hour of my death. Console and strengthen me with the presence of Jesus and Mary so that, with you, I may praise and adore the Holy Trinity for all eternity. Amen.

Source:

https://thecatholiccrusade.com/act-of-consecration-to-st-joseph/

Sermon of Fr. Paulo Ricardo on the Solemnity of St. Joseph (translated into English)

March 19, 2020

“Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for she has conceived by the Holy Spirit.”

 

Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew (Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a)

      Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Christ. The origin of Jesus Christ was as follows: Mary, his mother, was betrothed to Joseph, and before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her secretly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

 

In a year of so many tribulations for the whole world, struck by punishments that humble human pride, while at the same time seeking the mercy of the Father as the remedy for our faults, God grants us, in His special providence, the glory of St. Joseph, proclaimed 150 years ago as the patron of the universal Church. Though the virtues, titles, and invocations under which we can delve deeper into the mystery of this singular holiness are countless, we wish to focus today on that grace, superior to all others, which is the reason for St. Joseph's being and the fundamental reason why the Church venerates him as the first of saints and her most powerful intercessor. We refer, of course, to the mission that was assigned to him from eternity and for which he received all the virtues we admire in him: piety, virginity, prudence, and fidelity. And what mission could this be, if not to be the spouse of the Mother of God and the adoptive father of the Incarnate Son? Indeed, this was the very purpose for which the Holy Trinity predestined him in her eternal counsels; it was for the head of the Holy Family that the Father of all fatherhood conceived him; it was to be the zealous custodian, in preference to all the righteous, that the Divine Word formed him, and to be the chaste guardian of the Immaculate Virgin that the Holy Spirit sanctified him. So tightly bound are St. Joseph's plans to Christ and Our Lady that we can say that, in the same decree by which God determined to regenerate humanity through the Incarnation of His Son, not only was the Blessed Virgin included, but also St. Joseph, the one to whom the Word would take flesh. Because in the same act of will by which God wished to give mankind the remedy of salvation through Christ's Blood, He also wished that the woman from whom He would be born would be united in sacred matrimony to a righteous man prepared for such a high mission: “The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph” (Luke 1:27). This is why many theologians affirm that St. Joseph belongs not only to the order of grace, where all other saints belong, but also to the order of the hypostatic union, although in an extrinsic, moral, and mediated manner, inferior to that which corresponds to the Virgin Mary. St. Joseph, in fact, did not physically cooperate in the Incarnation of the Word, and it is for this reason that his dignity and the worship due to him are inferior to that of the Mother of God. However, even though Joseph's participation in the hypostatic order is confined to the sphere of moral causes, as the guardian of Mary's honor and virginity and the custodian of the Child Jesus, his role as a father, in terms of conjugal rights and moral authority, is no less true, as the Scripture attests: “His father and mother marveled at what was said about him” (Luke 2:33), and as the Virgin herself acknowledges: “Behold, your father and I have been searching for you” (Luke 2:48). Just as Mary, the Mother of the Head who is Christ, can be said to be—and indeed is—the Mother of the Church, so too St. Joseph, the adoptive and virginal father of Christ, can be said to be—and indeed is—the spiritual father of the entire Catholic Church, triumphant, suffering, and militant. It is with our hearts focused on such a mystery, with our spirits comforted by having such a father and most provident protector, that we must invoke the help and patronage of St. Joseph, so that he may deliver us from the evils of these sorrowful times, if it be God's will, and grant us that peace and health that the world is always incapable of providing. — St. Joseph, protector of the Holy Church, pray for us!

 

References:

Cf. Pius IX, Decree “Quemadmodum Deus,” Dec. 8, 1870.

The text of this homily is inspired by some ideas from Fr. R. Garrigou-Lagrange, “De præstantia sancti Ioseph inter omnes sanctos,” in: Angelicum (V/2), April-June 1928, pp. 205-208.

 

 Sorce:

https://padrepauloricardo.org/episodios/solenidade-de-sao-jose-mmxx

19th March - Solemnity of St. Joseph Husband of Mary

 

The Solemnity of St. Joseph Husband of Mary is celebrated on March 19 in the Roman Catholic Church, but if March 19 falls on a Sunday during Lent, it is transferred to the next available day.

Saint Joseph was the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus. He is one of the most important saints in the Catholic Church. The Bible tells us little about him, but what we know shows his great faith and obedience to God. He played a special role in God’s plan for our salvation.

Joseph is called the “just man” in the Gospel of Matthew. This means he lived a holy and righteous life. He listened to God and trusted Him completely. When an angel told Joseph in a dream to take Mary as his wife, he obeyed. When God told him to protect Jesus and Mary by fleeing to Egypt, he did not hesitate.

The Church honors Saint Joseph with two feast days. The main feast day is on March 19. On this day, we remember him as the husband of Mary and head of the Holy Family. The second feast day is May 1, Saint Joseph the Worker, which celebrates his role as a humble carpenter and an example for workers.

Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the universal Church. He is also the patron of fathers, workers, and a happy death. Many Catholics pray to Saint Joseph for help and protection. His life shows us the importance of faith, family, and hard work.

 

A Man of Dreams and Action

Saint Joseph appears in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. These Gospels give us the main details about his life. They show us a man of faith who trusted God and followed His plan. Although Joseph does not speak in the Bible, his actions show his obedience and courage.

The Gospel of Matthew tells us about Joseph’s dreams. In one dream, an angel told him to take Mary as his wife because her child was from the Holy Spirit. Joseph trusted the message and obeyed, becoming the husband of Mary. Later, another dream warned him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape King Herod. Joseph acted quickly to protect his family.

The Gospel of Luke shows us Joseph’s role in Jesus’ early life. He traveled with Mary to Bethlehem for the census. While there, Jesus was born in a humble stable. Joseph also brought Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to be presented to God. These stories show how he cared for Jesus and followed Jewish customs.

Joseph came from the family line of King David. This is important because the Old Testament promised that the Messiah would come from David’s descendants. Both Matthew and Luke include genealogies that show Joseph’s connection to David. This means Jesus, as Joseph’s legal son, fulfilled God’s promise.

Joseph’s dreams and actions teach us to trust God, even when we don’t fully understand His plan. He shows us how to listen to God and act with courage. The Bible gives us only a few details about Joseph, but they are enough to see his faith and love for his family.

Through the Gospels, we see Joseph the husband of Mary as a quiet but strong leader. He did not seek attention or praise. He simply did what God asked him to do. His life shows us how to live with faith and trust in God’s plan.

 

A Father Like No Other

Saint Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus, but as the husband of Mary he was His foster father. God chose Joseph to raise and protect His Son. This was a great responsibility. Joseph cared for Jesus, teaching Him and guiding Him as He grew. He provided a home for Jesus and Mary and worked hard to meet their needs.

Joseph protected Jesus from harm. When King Herod wanted to kill Jesus, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt. He did not wait or question the danger. He acted quickly as the husband of Mary to keep his family safe. Later, when it was safe to return, Joseph brought them back to Nazareth. He always listened to God and did what was needed to protect his family.

Joseph is a model of fatherhood. He showed strength and love through his actions. He was patient, kind, and hardworking. He led by example, teaching Jesus about faith, work, and life. Although he was not rich or powerful, he provided what his family needed most—love and security.

Joseph the husband of Mary also shows what true masculinity looks like. He was strong but gentle. He was a protector, a provider, and a leader. He respected Mary and honored her special role as the mother of Jesus. He put his family first and trusted God in everything.

Joseph’s faith, humility, and obedience are examples for all of us. He did not seek his own way but followed God’s plan. He accepted challenges without complaint. His humility reminds us to serve others and trust in God’s care.

As the foster father of Jesus, Joseph played a unique role in salvation history. He reminds us that fatherhood is about love, sacrifice, and faithfulness. His life shows us how to live as faithful servants of God and loving caregivers for those entrusted to us.

 

The Faithful Husband of Mary

Saint Joseph was the faithful and loving husband of Mary. He supported her and cared for her as they carried out God’s plan together. Even when things were not easy, Joseph stayed by Mary’s side. He trusted her and believed in the special role God gave her as the mother of Jesus.

Joseph showed great respect as the husband of Mary. When he learned she was expecting a child, he did not want to expose her to shame. He planned to quietly end the engagement. But after the angel explained that the child was from the Holy Spirit, Joseph obeyed God. He took Mary as his wife and protected her.

Purity was a key part of Joseph and Mary’s relationship. Their marriage was unique because they remained celibate. Joseph respected Mary’s special role as the Mother of God. He put God’s plan first and honored Mary’s place in that plan. This shows his selflessness and strong faith.

Joseph and Mary shared a mission. Together, they raised Jesus and prepared Him for His work of salvation. They worked as a team, trusting God and helping each other. Joseph provided for their daily needs, while Mary cared for Jesus at home. Their shared faith and love for God helped them fulfill their roles.

Their relationship shows us the beauty of a marriage centered on God. Joseph and Mary trusted God, supported each other, and lived with humility. They remind us that true love is about serving each other and putting God first.

Saint Joseph teaches us what it means to be a faithful husband. He cared for Mary and stayed with her through every challenge. His life shows that love is not about words, but about actions and trust in God’s plan.

 

Protector of the Church

In 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church. The Church recognized Joseph’s special role in protecting and caring for Jesus and Mary. Just as he cared for the Holy Family as the husband of Mary, he now watches over the Church, which is the family of God.

Saint Joseph’s role as protector makes him a powerful intercessor. Catholics turn to him in prayer for help and guidance. Many ask for his protection over their families, just as he protected Jesus and Mary. They trust that Joseph will bring their needs to God with a father’s care.

Catholics also pray to Saint Joseph for help in their work. As a carpenter, he knew the struggles of earning a living and providing for a family. Workers look to him as an example of hard work and faith. The feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, on May 1, reminds us of his connection to the dignity of labor.

Families also ask Saint Joseph to pray for peace in their homes. He is often called the “Terror of Demons” because his prayers are powerful against evil. Many Catholics keep statues or images of Saint Joseph in their homes as a reminder of his protection.

Over the years, the Church has encouraged devotion to Saint Joseph the husband of Mary. Popes, saints, and theologians have written about his faith and care for the Church. Pope Francis declared a “Year of Saint Joseph” in 2021 to help Catholics grow closer to him.

Saint Joseph reminds us that God uses simple, humble people to do great things. His life inspires us to trust God and to care for the Church and our families. When we pray to Saint Joseph, we know we have a strong protector who always brings our needs to God.

 

A Beloved Protector in Prayer

Catholics have many prayers and devotions to Saint Joseph the husband of Mary. One of the most popular is the Litany of Saint Joseph. This prayer honors his titles, such as “Foster father of our Lord” and “Defender of families.” It asks for his prayers and guidance in different areas of life.

Saint Joseph is known for his spiritual protection. Catholics turn to him in times of trouble, asking for his help in fighting sin and resisting temptation. He is called the “Terror of Demons” because his prayers are powerful against evil. Families, workers, and those seeking peace often pray to him for his intercession.

Consecration to Saint Joseph has become a special devotion. This means entrusting yourself and your family to his care. By consecrating themselves to Saint Joseph, Catholics ask him to guide them closer to Jesus and Mary. This devotion reminds people to live like Saint Joseph, with faith, humility, and trust in God.

Many Catholics honor Saint Joseph in their daily lives. Some keep statues or images of him in their homes. Others carry prayer cards or wear medals with his image. These reminders encourage people to turn to Saint Joseph in prayer and to follow his example of love and service.

The Church has always encouraged devotion to Saint Joseph. Popes, including Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis, have written about his role as a protector and guide. The Year of Saint Joseph in 2021 brought renewed focus on his importance in the life of the Church.

Through prayer and devotion, Saint Joseph helps Catholics grow closer to God. He is a model of faith and a strong intercessor. When we ask for his prayers, we trust that he will lead us on the path to holiness.

 

Source:

https://young-catholics.com/2453/st-joseph-husband-of-mary/