Ite ad Joseph
Go to Joseph!
The Month of March is consecrated to Saint Joseph. His feast day is March 19th for it’s traditionally held that his death occurred on that date. Pope Blessed Pius IX ordered his feast to be raised to a Double of the First Class. This year, the great Patriarch's solemnity happens to fall on Latarae Sunday, and so, as a result, is transferred to the following day of March 20th.
The infant Church, which first consisted of the Holy Family, was lovingly protected, guided and directed by Saint Joseph. Thus, it is most fitting that the Guardian of Jesus and Mary should also be the Guardian and Protector of the Catholic Church. Heaven Speaks
“The children of the world are ignorant regarding the privileges and rights which the Most High has conferred on my holy spouse, and the power of his intercession with the Divine Majesty and with me. But I assure you, my daughter, that in Heaven he is most intimate with the Lord, and has great power to avert the punishment of Divine Justice from sinners. In all trials seek his intercession, because the Heavenly Father will grant whatever my spouse asks. On the Day of Judgment, the condemned will weep bitterly for not having realized how powerful and efficacious a means of salvation they might have had in the intercession of St. Joseph, and for not having done their utmost to gain the friendship of the Eternal Judge.” - Words of the Blessed Virgin to Venerable Mary of Agreda
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“Would that I could persuade all men to be devoted to this glorious Saint, for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain for us from God. I have never known anyone who was truly devoted to him and honored him by particular services who did not advance greatly in virtue: for he helps in a special way those souls who commend themselves to him.
It is now very many years since I began asking him for something on his feast, and I have always received it. If the petition was in any way amiss, he rectified it for my greater good . . .I ask for the love of God that he who does not believe me will make the trial for himself - then he will find out by experience the great good that results from commending oneself to this glorious Patriarch and in being devoted to him.” - Saint Teresa of Avila
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“Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death. All Christians regard him as the advocate of the dying who had honored him during their life, and they do so for three reasons:
First: Because Jesus Christ loved him not only as a friend, but as a father, and on this account his mediation is far more efficacious than that of any other Saint.
Second: Because St. Joseph has obtained special power against the evil spirits who tempt us with redoubled vigor at the hour of death.
Third: The assistance given St. Joseph at his death by Jesus and Mary obtained for him the right to secure a holy and peaceful death for his servants. Hence, if they invoke him at the hour of death he will not only help them, but he will also obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and Mary.” - Saint Alphonsus Maria de’ Liguori