MARCH 2010: THE SEASON OF LENT and Month of SAINT JOSEPH
Most statues of St. Joseph portray him holding a flower, the white lily, which is the flower that most symbolizes him. Traditionally the lily is regarded as an emblem which represents purity. That purity was held by Joseph from the beginning of our salvation when Jesus was born of Mary and entered into the world. God placed them both under the protection and watchful care of Saint Joseph.
‘Holy Joseph, guardian of Mary and the infant Jesus on that long dark journey into Egypt, guard and guide us safely in the journey across this earthly life; and when our steps falter at the journey’s end and the lengthening shadows fall; when life’s fitful fever is over and the angel of death comes to close our eyes, Ah! then take us by the hand and lead us across the frontier of eternity into that heavenly Nazareth, where with you we shall see the smiling face of Mary, and feel the embrace of Jesus, the Eternal King. Amen ’
On the 19th of this month we celebrate the feast day of one of the greatest of all the saints of God, Saint Joseph. Alone, from among the sons of men, he was singled out by our all powerful Father in Heaven, who reads the hearts of men like an open book, to be the spouse of Mary and the foster - father of Jesus. How pure and holy in the sight of Almighty God must Joseph have been to be deemed worthy of so great an honour! I am glad to say that I was brought up in a very ordinary happy family. St. Joseph is presented in the Gospel as the head of a truly human family, experiencing in his time what so many of us experience in ours. It was in the ordinary obscure life of Nazareth that Jesus, the Son of God, prepared for His public ministry. Saint Joseph we know was a craftsman. Mary must have cooked meals, woven garments, taught her son to read the Scriptures, and met with friends and neighbours. God’s plan was fulfilled through the everyday events in the life of Jesus’ family. It was in the ordinary realm of family life that Jesus and his parents grew in holiness and in the knowledge of God’s Will.
To-day in our own families we fulfil God’s Will as we go about our everyday tasks. Through all the changes of modern living the family has remained important because it is in the family that we learn about relationships. It is by facing life’s joys and problems together that we grow in understanding and in love. We become more holy – and more human – as we treat each other day by day with courtesy and respect, and as we carry that caring with us into the wider family of the world about us.
Great love can change small things into great ones, and it is only love that gives value to our actions. The purer our love becomes, the less there will be inside us for the flames of suffering to feed upon, and the suffering will cease to be a suffering for us: it will be a delight!
Saint Pio suffered moral and physical sufferings, and in one of his letters dated as early as 1915 when he was only 28 years old, he wrote: “The anger of the Most High weighs down upon me and all the waves...... are breaking over me......everyone holds me in abomination. I find myself alone and crying day and night.” The agonies of the spirit which he suffered due to giving himself to God unconditionally, are described by theological explanation stating that there are visible stigmata only in consequence of an interior, more painful, stigmatization of the soul which is evermore burning of love. Besides the stigmata, other sufferings included the crowning of thorns, the flagellation, the transverberation, as well as his continuous fasts, his lengthy vigils and the prolonged hours of prayer. During many of his illnesses, his body temperature would rise so high that the thermometers would break in his armpit.
If I asked you to tell me about the humiliation and suffering that Jesus endured in His lifetime you would probably say: His agony in the garden, His arrest, His flogging, His trial and finally His death on the Cross. You would, of course, be right, but there was a period in the life of Jesus when He and His family suffered at the hands of society – when they were refugees in Egypt. We all know the story of how Joseph, in a dream, was warned to take his family away because Herod was set on killing the baby. Can you imagine the speed with which Joseph had to gather his family together with all their possessions that made up their home, his tools, and anything they could pack on a donkey and start a long journey to Egypt. Anxious, in hostile country, always on the lookout for the authorities. They would not have been welcomed into Egypt as they would have been labelled as money-making migrants looking to better themselves in the cities of the great nation of Egypt. Imagine the humiliation and embarrassment, the rejection they must have felt, perhaps even being reduced to begging.
Saint Joseph and the plight of his family is reflected today by the suffering of so many legal and illegal immigrants from abroad here in this country. Prejudices, anxiety and fears fill people so perhaps we, as Christians, should be mindful of the Holy Family and show compassion, love and understanding to these immigrants who have become the marginalized and the new poor of Europe. Let us pray for all who are displaced and lost in foreign lands, may they be welcomed as people in need and helped to find a secure place in our community. May the Good Lord always keep you secure, loved and protected under the guidance of Saint Joseph and his Holy Family.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
The Lord is showing us that we can’t wait for deliverance to drop from the skies but rather that deliverance will come through the people of God….you and me! He tells us that He has clothed us in a garment of grace so that we can change our world! We are just beginning to see the first signs of Spring and the dark, cold days of Winter are on retreat at last. Spring lifts our hearts because it is a sign of hope; hope that the death and dreariness of Winter is giving way to a new life and fresh beginnings. We all need hope if we are to continue being a positive, creative Christian. Although we know that our faith gives us hope and confidence, at times we can get disheartened and despairing. At this time of year especially, we can run out of steam and begin to wonder what life is all about.
If we control our negative thinking and open our hearts to Christ, Who is the hope of the world, He will be our strength and our joy. We can’t be hopeful when we are willingly entangled in evil. So let us pray for deliverance from the bonds of sin. “ Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers of the rulers of the world of darkness.” ( Ephesians 6:12 )
On receiving the sacraments of our Church, there are special graces in each one, particularly in the Eucharist where the Risen Lord nourishes us and teaches us wisdom, Who shows us our purpose, as it is vital for us to have a clear idea about our mission in life. Each day in the Eucharist by the power of His Spirit, He transforms bread and wine into His body and blood to be our daily food and drink. The Holy Spirit gives us a variety of gifts that we are to use for the mission of the Church. The greatest gift from God is love. We are a people not only of faith and hope but especially of love. Love is the greatest gift that the Spirit of Christ gives to the members His Church. This gift is also given to those outside the Church and for this we should thank God. Love breaks down human barriers and divisions. Love will bring about Christian unity and greater Christian witness if we are open to the Spirit.
God made each one of us for a reason and we have a job to do that nobody else can do. This is the meaning of our existence. We should all find ways to love our neighbour. We are individuals, it’s true, but we are also part of the larger community of God’s people, making our pilgrimage through life; persevering in our good intentions and loving one another with all our beings. Being devoted to a life of prayer is crying out Abba, Father, a great privilege and joy for us to be able to greet God in this familiar and loving way. Jesus urges us to go to the Father with our needs, requests and petitions. Jesus calls us to pray that God’s Will should prevail over the earth as it prevails in heaven. God wills only that which is good, loving and perfect - He wills peace, love and an end to war, hatred, poverty and discrimination. We need to ask each day for our daily bread; to nourish our spirits by reading His Word and celebrating the Eucharist. Unless our hearts forgive, we will not know the joy of forgiveness, as forgiveness and prayer go together. Each day we face a threat from the evil one who seeks to lead us into confusion and away from the Lord - each day we need to pray: ‘ Lord, deliver me from all evil.’ Prayer is a simple look turned towards heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.’
We are called by Christ to follow Him. We become one spirit with Him when we offer Him our lives to His cause of becoming parts of His Church. In every situation we find ourselves we say: “Here I am Lord, since You called me.” Everybody is looking for Christ as He is the One who gives meaning to our lives. Without Him our lives would be no more than hard work, but with His Spirit in us, all our service of others is done for love of Him. It is a service that brings us perfect freedom. The world needs Christ and it is our duty to bring Him to everyone.
PRAYER:
A Prayer for Priests:
‘Lord Jesus, You have chosen Your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim Your Word and to act in Your name. For so great a gift to Your Church, we give You praise and thanksgiving. We ask You to fill them with the fire of Your love, that their ministry may reveal Your presence in the Church. Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that Your power shines out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never to be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned. Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of Your dying and rising. In times of weakness, send them Your Spirit, and help them to praise Your Heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners. By the same Holy Spirit put Your Words on their lips and Your love in their hearts, to bring good news to the poor and healing to the broken-hearted. And may the gift of Mary Your Mother, to the disciple whom You loved, be Your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed You in her human image, may form them in Your Divine Image, by the power of Your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. AMEN.’
“We thank You, Jesus, our Saviour and friend, for suffering Your passion to the bitterest end; for the scourging with whips and the blood that You shed. For the crowning with thorns on Your innocent head; for the nails that were driven in Your hands and Your feet, for suffering in agony our sins to defeat; for dying for all upon the Cross; and for rising again to make up our loss. Thank You Lord. AMEN.”
Prayer is the foundation on which we build our GROUPS of PRAYER.
Love and Prayers, Josephine. www.padrepio.org.uk/