02/05/2022
Hey everyone, this last Sunday yesterday was an important day in the life of the Church. First and foremost, it was the Blessed Feast of St Joseph the Worker, further to this it was also the Day of the Lord in Eastertide known as âGood Shepherd Sundayâ, and finally as it was the 1st of May, it was the first day of the month dedicated to Mary as Mother of God and of the Church. This Blessed trifecta of celebrations are nothing short of a divine miracle gift from Holy Mother Church, and in a very special way, a recommendation of hers that we honour especially the Holy Family of Nazareth. The âBark of Peterâ is leaking souls daily due to its own infidelity to God, may we plug those holes and win souls for Christ, Our Lady, and St Joseph!
Firstly, the Feast of St Joseph the Worker; we commemorate St Joseph as patron of all workers. Work was given to us by God as a result of the Fall, âIn the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the earth, out of which thou wast taken: for dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return.â â Genesis 3:19. A relatively modern Feast introduced by Venerable Pope Pius XII in 1955, as an affront to the raging communists and their 1st of May, âMay Day celebrationsâ for international workers. We are reminded of the inherent dignity of human work and the law of labour, and we have in St Joseph the Worker, our model. Now and always; âIte ad Josephâ (Go to Joseph). We are also recommended to consecrate ourselves to St Joseph, Fr Donald Callowayâs Consecration to St Joseph is a mighty blessing for this and we recommend it to you all! St Joseph has an infinite power of intercession, as St Thomas Aquinas tells us. He provides everything we ask of him, as St Teresa of Avila tells us. We are called to be other Josephs, ambassadors of his, and we shouldnât put it off, we ought to do it now, quickly, and without delay.
The Prayer to St Joseph the Worker, by Pope St Pius X;
O Glorious, St. Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations, to work with gratitude and joy, in a spirit of penance for the remission of my sins, considering it an honour to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God, to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties, to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self, having always death before my eyes and the account that I must render of time lost, of talents wasted, of good omitted, of vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, after your example, O Patriarch, St. Joseph. Such shall be my watchword in life and in death. Amen.
Secondly, âGood Shepherd Sundayâ we also commemorated the Good Shepherd St John told us about in the Gospel reading; âI am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep.â â Gospel of St John Chapter 10, Verse 14-15. Like every good shepherd, He herds his flock to His paddock and tends to their needs, and ensures their survival. Like lambs not to the slaughter but to the sunny hills we go.
Finally, our 1st of May, the month dedicated to Our Lady Mother of God and of the Church. We are exhorted by our Holy Father Pope Francis, to pray daily the Holy Rosary for peace. May our statues of Mary be adorned with flowers now and always, may our families pray the Rosary together daily, may our Miraculous Medals (Medals of the Immaculate Conception) and our Brown Scapulars of Our Lady of Mt Carmel be worn, and if we havenât been invested into either one or both of them, may we be so. And if we have not consecrated ourselves to Our Lady, might we do that also. This is the month of Mary, and may we give it to her wholeheartedly!
Jesus the Good Shepherd, have mercy on us!
Mary the Mother of God and of the Church, pray for us!
St Joseph the Worker, pray for us!
Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us!
St Louis De Montfort, pray for us!
God Bless and yours in BPGF, from the Frassati - Chapter of Sydney lads!