This month of May and month of the Virgin Mary always begins with the memorial of St. Joseph the worker. By that fact May offers rich spiritual inspiration, especially for the family. St Joseph the worker, played the father's role for the holy family.
We can safely assume that he, with his carpentry profession, provided for the family which God gave to him. That is what all good fathers, do by working hard and selflessly. The memorial of St. Joseph the Worker highlights and honors the dignity of labor and the role of fathers in their family. Good fathers also provide protection for their families.
Teaching us where family priorities ought to be, Joseph abandoned his livelihood to rush Jesus and Mary to safety in Egypt when Herod threatened the child? (Matt. 2) God did not abandon him. Joseph is surely a good patron saint and spiritual companion even for families who have no father to play these roles for them. God always cares for his poor as he did for St Joseph through the angel. His attitude of openness to God's inspiration at all times would be a good virtue to seek and pray for during this month of May.
If God made Joseph the worker head of the holy family, just as naturally did he make Mary the heart of the same. A good mother complements the work and responsibilities of the father, caring even for those things that the father, in his struggle to provide food and protection, might miss or ignore. According to Scripture, "Mary pondered these things in her heart" (Lk 2:51).
We provoke no spiritual damage to conclude that mothers are somewhat more gifted in introspection than fathers are. During this month of May mothers would do well to open up their hearts more and nudge their families a more Godly and prayerful life like Mary did.
All said and done, father and mother roles are complementary. It was the father that brought his boy possessed by the demon to Jesus for healing (Lk.9:37-43). It was the same with the centurion (Matt. 8:5-13). The mother took over the role in the case of the sons of Zebedee (Mt. 20:20ff). The two parents of Jesus brought him to the temple (Lk. 2:22) So, in this year of the family, pray more and work together for the edification of your family and God will bless you.
I have been thinking a great deal about my experience at Reconciliation this past Saturday. I felt an intense and unexplainable urge to go and confess my sins when I woke up that morning. I try to go every six weeks or so, but this was no routine visit to the priest for me. I needed to unburden myself of the numerous venial sins I had committed since I last participated in this Sacrament.
Purest Gold: God's Refining Fire in our Lives »
After salvation, many young Christians wonder if there's anything more to their newfound faith than just the security blanket of "being a Christian." Time and time again, God shows himself as a "refiner," and our lives are as gold. God started leading me in this study to understand what He was doing in my life, as well as in the lives of others.
Picking up my pen to write this column, I couldn’t imagine how time flies. Since the last publication of this column I have gone through a lot, especially the loss of my dear mother to whom I dedicate this article. Not only her, but seems I lost a whole generation of my close family.
How to Achieve Business Excellence »
“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before Kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” Proverbs 22:29
Spiritual Development for our Youth »
Most of us youth in today's fast moving world are easily thrown off by difficulties and worries.
The theme of conversion is a thread that runs all through Lent, but conversion takes on different aspects throughout the phases of Lent. The first two and a half weeks focused on the interior turning of hearts; the liturgy urges the faithful to reflect and examine consciences thoroughly.
Saint Josephine Bakhita »
Feast Day: February 8
Patron Saint Of: Sudan
Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering.
Catholics Must Fast More Intensely This Lent»
The Norbertine Canons of St. Michael's Abbey have created this digital Lenten retreat so that you can journey through this holy season alongside them. If you want to have one of your best Lenten seasons yet, join us in our Lenten Program "The Great Fast" - https://theabbotscircle.com/the-great-fast-join
When Your Faith Is Put to the Test - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon»
Friends, we come now to the Second Sunday of Lent, and we’re on both dangerous and very holy ground with the first reading from the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. The ancient Israelites referred to it as the “Akedah,” which means the “binding”: Abraham binds and is ready to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command.
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