A Powerful Prayer

Prayer to Saint Joseph

O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your Devine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving Fathers. O Saint Joseph, I never grow tired contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His dear head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath, AMEN. O Saint Joseph, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. O Saint Joseph, pray for me.

This prayer was found in the fiftieth year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it or keep it about themselves, shall never die a sudden death or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy, or shall be burned in any fire or shall be overpowered in battle.

Say for nine mornings for anything you may desire. It has never been known to fail, so be sure you really want what you ask.

Feast day: March 19

Vision and Mission

VISION:

“A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, UNITED IN THE SAME BELIEF, FULLY DEVELOPED, GOD-LOVING AND RESPONSIBLE THAT PRAYS, TEACHES, AND SERVES IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE CHURCH AND EFFECTIVE IN SPREADING THE WORD OF GOD.”

MISSION:

WE THE FAITHFUL OF ST. JOSEPH PARISH, INSPIRED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH COMMIT OURSELVES TO HELP ONE ANOTHER:
1. TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE PARISHIONERS THAT WITH MOTHER MARY AND ST. JOSEPH LOVE AND WORSHIP GOD, UNITED WITH HIM IN HOLY EUCHARIST;

2. TO BECOME INFORMED, FORMED, TRANSFORMED PARISHIONERS WITH DEEP CHRISTIAN VALUES, WHO ARE EVANGELIZED AND EVANGELIZING, CATECHIZED AND CATECHIZING, LIBERATED AND LIBERATING; AND

3. TO LIVE IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE AND SERVICE FOR OTHERS AS WE GROW IN FAITH AND UNDERTAKE THE EVANGELICAL TASK OF TOTAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

ST. JOSEPH, Our Patron Saint

(Note: The following story, excerpts from an unknown source considering a rotten scratch paper picked-up by the unknown writer, which seemed to be a paper wrapper thrown out along Magsaysay St., of Barangay Lungsoda-an in which, some parts of it were no longer readable having been terribly wet and tear-off.)

Joseph is a Jewish working man. He comes from the tribe of Judah, the family of David. The Bible calls Joseph a just man, for he spends his life in conformity with the will of God.

His great faith in God is shown when he accepts without question the role that God gives him. God assigns him to be the head of the family, for whom Jesus is a member. As head of the family, he becomes the protector and provider for Jesus and his mother.

The humble, obedient faith of God’s great servants like Moses and Abraham, is found also in Joseph. Because of his concern for others, he heeds the call of God to be of service to the people.

Today, as Patron of the Universal Church (Pope Pius IX proclaimed him in 1870), St. Joseph still continues his role as guardian of Christ in the Church. He continues his mission of service to the people. According to Matthew (13:55), Joseph was a carpenter. It is almost certain that he died before Jesus’ public ministry began. He is never named during this period when other relatives are mentioned. Moreover, when Jesus was dying on Calvary, he entrusted Mary to the care of St. John, indicating that she was then a widow…(this was the portion no longer readable having been wet and tear-off).

Husband of Mary.

Joseph and Mary, being truly married, possessed full marriage over each other like any other husband and wife, although by common consent they abstained from use of those rights. The ultimate theological reason why Jesus was to be born of a virgin mother was that, as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, He had been generated from all eternity by God the Father. However, God wanted Jesus to be born within human family. Joseph though not his father the physical senses, was linked to Jesus by spiritual bonds of fatherly love, authority and service. Jesus belonged to Joseph’s family and the relationship is expressed by describing Joseph as the foster father, the virginal father or the legal father of Jesus.

After the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph is our most powerful intercessor before God. St. Joseph faithfully cared for his family, Jesus and Mary. No sacrifice was too great for him. Now Jesus shows him His gratitude by granting our requests through St. Joseph’s intercession.

The Great Silent One.

Joseph is called the man of deep silence. He came and went did his work, and gave orders in his home in a kindly way, with a purpose which had matured in him after he had learned the divine will, after he had tried to study what the Lord wanted. His way of giving orders was to make a slight sign, to give a slight hint of what seemed to him to be the will of God. This man of deep silence occupies as first among the saints, and what an amount of wisdom his mind contained!

In an inexpressible manner, St. Joseph was and is a faithful cooperator in the redemption of the world. He is the foster father of Jesus and His provider, the defender of the Virgin Mother of God, the rescuer of the threatened life of the Savior, the protector of the Universal Church, the confident and hope of innumerable souls who have recourse to him.