Dear Youth and Young Adult Ministers,
Peace be with you! I pray this email reaches you well and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
As you know, we are approaching the Solemnity of Saint Joseph next Thursday, March 19th, 2015. Since Saint Joseph is the patron saint of our diocese, we have a wonderful opportunity, in the days leading up, to invoke his intercession; commending to him our deepest intentions and entrusting our youth and young adult ministries to his patronage.
Saint Thomas Aquinas says, “Some Saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.” Saint Teresa of Avila also adds, “To other Saints, Our Lord seems to have given power to succor us in some special necessity—but to this glorious Saint, I know by experience, He has given the power to help us in all. Our Lord would have us understand that as He was subject to St. Joseph on earth—for St. Joseph, bearing the title of father and being His guardian, could command Him—so now in Heaven Our Lord grants all his petitions. I have asked others to recommend themselves to St. Joseph, and they, too, know the same thing by experience.”
My friends, I encourage you to join the Office of Youth and Young Adults in entrusting this holy work to the Patron of Workers. We will begin the novena starting tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10th and ending Wednesday, March 18th. May St. Joseph, the Carpenter, pray for us as we ask the Holy Spirit to build a foundation for the young Church that cannot be shaken or stirred by the world. You can find the novena below the image.
In Jesus, through Mary,
The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Steve Do, Robbie Ocampo & Bernard Nemis
Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I come to you as an example for holiness, for you are especially close with God. Therefore, I humbly commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.
Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, pray for me to have a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:
(Mention your request)
Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers on my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.
Day 1 (March 10) – St. Joseph Most Just, Pray for us!
Day 2 ( March 11) – St. Joseph Most Prudent, Pray for us!
Day 3 (March 12) – St. Joseph Most Loving Husband, Pray for us!
Day 4 (March 13) – St. Joseph Most Strong, Pray for us!
Day 5 (March 14) – St. Joseph Most Obedient, Pray for us!
Day 6 March 15) – St. Joseph Most Faithful, Pray for us!
Day 7 (March 16) – St. Joseph Pillar of Families, Pray for us!
Day 8 (March 17) – St. Joseph Patron of the Dying, Pray for us!
Day 9 (March 18) – St. Joseph Terror of Demons, Pray for us!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.