March, month dedicated to San Giuseppe

Pater noster - Saint Joseph, pray for us!

St. Joseph's mission was to safeguard the honor of the Virgin, to be of help in need and to guard the Son of God, until the time when he would manifest himself to the world. Explained his mission, he could leave the earth and go to Heaven to receive the prize. Death is for everyone and it was also for our Patriarch.

The death of the Saints is precious in the sight of the Lord; that of San Giuseppe was very precious.

When did your transit happen? It appears some time before Jesus began public life.

The sunset of a splendid day is beautiful; more beautiful was the end of the life of the Guardian of Jesus.

In the history of many Saints we read that they were foretold on the day of their death. It is to be assumed that this foretaste was also given to St. Joseph.

Let's transport ourselves to the moments of his death.

St. Joseph lay on a roof; Jesus stood on one side and the Madonna on the other; invisible hosts of Angels were ready to welcome his soul.

The Patriarch was serene. Knowing what treasures he left on earth, Jesus and Mary addressed the last words of love to them, asking for forgiveness if he had missed something. Both Jesus and Our Lady were moved, because they were very delicate in heart. Jesus comforted him, assuring him that he was the favorite among men, that he had accomplished the divine will on earth and that a great reward was prepared for him in Heaven.

As soon as the blessed soul expired, what happened in every family took place in the house of Nazareth when the Angel of death descended: weeping and mourning.

Jesus cried when he was at the tomb of his friend Lazarus, so much so that the onlookers said: Look how he loved him!

Being God and also perfect Man, his heart felt the pain of separation and he certainly wept more than for Lazarus, the love he brought to the Putative Father being greater. The Virgin also shed her tears, as she later shed them on Calvary after the death of her Son.

The corpse of San Giuseppe was laid on the bed and was later wrapped in the sheet.

It was certainly Jesus and Mary who carried out this merciful act towards the one who had loved them so much.

The funeral was modest in the eyes of the world; but in the eyes of faith they were exceptional; none of the emperors had the honor of St. Joseph at the funeral; his funeral procession was honored by the presence of the Son of God and the Queen of Angels.

San Girolamo and San Beda affirm that the body of the saint was buried in a place between the mountain of Sion and the Giarlino degli Ulivi, in the same place where the body of Mary Most Holy was then deposited.

Example
Tell a priest

I was a young student and I was with my family for the autumn holidays. One evening my father experienced a malaise; in the night he was attacked by strong colic pains.

The doctor came and found the case very serious. For eight days several treatments were done, but instead of improving, things got worse. The case seemed hopeless. One night a complication occurred and it was feared that my father would die. I said to my mother and sisters: You will see that Saint Joseph will keep the father for us!

The next morning I took a small bottle of oil to the altar of San Giuseppe in the church and turned on the lamp. I prayed with faith to the Saint.

For nine days, every morning, I brought oil and the lamp showed my confidence in San Giuseppe.

Before the nine days ended, my father was out of danger; soon he was able to leave the bed and resume his occupations.

In town, the fact was known and when people saw my father healed, he said: If she ran away this time! - The merit was of San Giuseppe.

Fioretto - Going to bed, think: A day will come when this body of mine will be lying on the bed!

Giaculatoria - Jesus, Joseph and Mary, breathe my soul in peace with you!

 

Taken from San Giuseppe by Don Giuseppe Tomaselli

On January 26, 1918, at the age of sixteen, I went to the Parish Church. The temple was deserted. I entered the baptistery and there I knelt at the baptismal font.

I prayed and meditated: In this place, sixteen years ago, I was baptized and regenerated to the grace of God. I was then placed under the protection of St. Joseph. On that day, I was written in the book of the living; another day I will be written in that of the dead. -

Many years have passed since that day. Youth and virility are spent in the direct exercise of the Priestly Ministry. I have destined this last period of my life to the press apostolate. I was able to put a fair number of religious booklets into circulation, but I noticed a shortcoming: I did not dedicate any writing to St. Joseph, whose name I bear. It is right to write something in his honor, to thank him for the assistance given to me from birth and to obtain his assistance at the hour of death.

I do not intend to narrate the life of St. Joseph, but to make pious reflections to sanctify the month preceding his feast.