Glorious St. Joseph, Patron of Miles Jesu
by Stephen R., MJ

Of all the glorious patrons of the Church, is there any one of them, other than the Blessed Mother herself, more glorious than St. Joseph? Outside of the Blessed Virgin, no earthly saint has more titles. He has been called on by countless billions in nearly every tongue from the earliest days of the founding of the Church. He is called on every single night by Miles Jesu communities around the world for his help in obtaining all of our spiritual, physical and material needs. Among his many titles, Saint Joseph is known as:

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Foster-father of Jesus
Patron of the Universal Church
Patron of a happy death
Model of righteousness
Model of single men and married men
Safeguard of families
Model of Christian workers
Guardian of virgins
Patron of Spiritual Life

Especially important to us as members of Miles Jesu is his closeness to Our Blessed Lord Jesus as His foster-father. And to the Blessed Virgin Mary as her husband and protector. Who can doubt that these two would not heed the prayers of St. Joseph and grant through his powerful intercession whatever he asked? St. Teresa of Avila, a co-patroness of Miles Jesu, says of the power of St. Joseph, to whom she had tremendous devotion:

'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...' –Autobiography, Chpt. 6

As baptized Catholics, we are all members of the Universal Church, members of the living Body of Christ. A Miles Jesu should have a powerful love of the Church and as such should call often on St. Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church.

For Vinculum members, both husbands and wives, there is a great need to call upon St. Joseph daily for the many needs and trials that come their way. Husbands can invoke him, and reflect on his life to imitate St. Joseph in his manly virtues, especially in the great love and respect he had for his wife and child, in the unexpected adversities, and in his gentle humility. Wives can call upon him to guide, protect and form their husbands as good Catholic spouses, fathers of their children, providers of the household, and protectors of the family.

As model for single men and protector of virgins, the domus members of Miles Jesu have many a good reason to turn to St. Joseph fervently and often. With all of the attacks against the consecrated vocation, and against the married vocation for that matter, we most certainly need this glorious Saint's intercession and protection now, perhaps more than ever. As was mentioned before, every community prays an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be in honor of St. Joseph, for all our temporal needs, for our Miles Jesu benefactors living and deceased, and for our Miles Jesu members living and deceased.

In a spirit of great confidence, backed up by many stories of St. Joseph's interventions, favors and protections over the years, we can say quite readily with St. Teresa of Avila: 'I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of him (Saint Joseph) which he has failed to grant.' –Autobiography, Chpt. 6.

There is a novena prayer to St. Joseph that has been know to obtain great miracles and favors for those who pray it. If you doubt the power of his intercession, give him a try. His novena starts on the 10th of March, and we are asking all Miles Jesu members to offer this powerful novena for the graces all men need today, as fathers and husbands, as protectors and providers, for all the graces they stand most in need of as Catholic men in the world today:

'Oh, 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. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your Divine 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 of Fathers. Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary 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 fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my last breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls ' Pray for me. Amen.'

Through the years, both popes and saints have encouraged devotion to St. Joseph. On August 15, 1889, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical letter on devotion to St. Joseph entitled Quamquam Pluries. One hundred years later, John Paul II issued an Apostolic Exhortation entitled Redemptoris Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer).

As a final note, we quote author Donald Thorman. In real life, the way to know someone is through those who already know the person. As aptly said by Thorman in the book Saints for All Seasons:

'Isn't it very human for us to want to know and become friends with those who know the Hero, especially if they have had first contact with him or her? Don't we often relate to the friend of someone from whom we wish a favor or about whom we wish to know more in order to get more of a feel for what kind of person the Hero is? Of course we do this all the time and I see no reason why we shouldn't do the same in the case of those whom we call saints because of their unique relationship to the supreme transcendental source of our faith.'

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