
(M1925) Make the Sign of the Cross and read all
§1: Saint Joseph was My educator
§2: He was the head of the family and we respected him as such
§3: My earthly father was a true example for Me to follow
§4: Prayer and Consecration to St. Joseph
§1
“My beloved Children, along with My Most Holy Mother Mary, Saint Joseph was My educator; My educator who was always frank, reasonable and inventive. He was never boring or repetitive; he used all sorts of means to teach Me and make Me adaptable to every situation.
I loved him as a son loves his father, and everything he said to me was full of kindness, love and respect, but he was nonetheless an unquestionable authority.
My Most Holy Mother loved him sincerely, She told him everything, and he was happy with this closeness. And I, in their midst, was learning, improving and developing.
At first, I was curious about everything, then I settled down and learned, and when I was old enough to be of service, I helped out both at home and with My father Joseph.
§2
He was simple, he did not complicate anything, everything was always clear and the customers who came for merchandise were always treated as trusting and desired friends. He worked hard and often came home from work tired, but happy with his day under any circumstances. Either he had done a job well, or made a customer happy, or done a good deed or charity by not demanding immediate payment, which was often forgotten later or interpreted as such; at home, these largessees had consequences to be endured with patience and good humor.
He was the head of the family and we respected him as such, but he never abused this position. He spoke before deciding, Mother was a wise advisor and their mutual trust was evident.
As I grew older, I helped him more and more, and My instruction was with him, watching and questioning. He was also very knowledgeable about religion. He had had good contact with his own parents and had learned a lot from them. This is how education used to be. There were masters who had disciples, but most teaching took place at home, and good, educated parents passed on their knowledge to their children and even their nephews. My Mother, who was very well educated in religious matters, would gather the children in Her neighborhood around Her and talk to them about everything Her piety had taught Her. I was thus in contact with many other children of My age, and we were not isolated.
When I became an adult and My father weakened, I took more and more initiative in our work, and I was happy with My father’s flexibility, who never showed sadness at the loss of his performance.
Neither did I, and we continued to work together, each according to his own skills. We got on so well, and yet he could have been disillusioned to see himself overtaken and even replaced. Then he fell ill, and his end approached. He took each day as it came, never complaining, but worrying about us rather than himself.
§3
And then God allowed him to breathe his last while Mother and I prayed at his bedside. Our sorrow was real, but at the same time consoling, because we had witnessed his life, and nothing had ever tarnished his practice of the virtues.
He had been humble, obedient, grateful, patient, gentle, mortified and chaste. He had been prudent, just, strong and temperate. He had been deliberately poor, though not excessively so, and he left behind him nothing but admirers. No one had ever been wronged, on the contrary, he had often accepted to be wronged himself and his immediate family in union with him; no one was negative about him and all celebrated him as a righteous among the righteous.
His strong personality was imbued with many qualities, and – a rare thing indeed – not a single flaw could be imputed to him. My Mother loved him as a wife can love a husband who is kind and tender, yet strong and compassionate.
On this feast of Saint Joseph, I want to tell you that My earthly father was a true example for Me to follow, and all My earthly life was stamped with his seal.
Be blessed, My children, you who have for him a sincere veneration because of all the saints, he is certainly the greatest
In the Name (+) of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So be it.
Your Lord and your God.”
§4
Prayer to St. Joseph (Pius IX)
Remember, O most pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, O my sweet protector St. Joseph, that never was anyone heard to have invoked your protection and asked for your help without being consoled. With this confidence I come before you and to you fervently I commend myself. Do not hold my prayer in disfavor, O putative father of the Redeemer, but receive it mercifully and grant it. Amen.
Consecration to St. Joseph
To Thee, to Thy most chaste and paternal Heart we consecrate ourselves, O glorious St. Joseph, and we intend to honor Thee as the most pure spouse of Mary, Head of the most Holy Family and putative Father of Jesus Christ. Filled with respect and love at the sight of your greatness and holiness, we offer and consecrate our hearts to you. Henceforth we will have you as our father and protector; deign to regard us as your children, let us feel the effects of your power with God and of your charity toward us. Obtain for us all the graces we implore from the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Take under your protection the fathers of families, that they may educate their children in the holy fear of God and instill in their hearts love for the Church of Jesus Christ entrusted particularly to your powerful patronage. Finally obtain for us, O great saint, a death similar to yours in the arms of Jesus and Mary, so that, after having venerated you down here on earth, we may be made worthy to bless you again up there in Heaven. Amen
Source:srbeghe.blog