Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/342

 paradise, and  in  thy  company  praise  and  love  thy God to  all  eternity. Amen.


 * St. Joseph,  Patron  of  the  universal  Church,  protect us; protect  our  Holy  Father  the  Pope,  and  our Mother,  Holy  Church.

OD, in  the  great  love  He  bears  us,  and  in  His great desire  to  see  us  saved,  amongst  the many means  of  salvation  with  which  He  has provided us,  has  given  us  in  particular  that  of  devotion towards  the  saints. He wills  that  they,  as  His friends, should  intercede  for  us,  and  by  their  merits and prayers  obtain  graces  for  us  which  we  do  not  of ourselves  deserve. But who  is  not  aware  that,  after the divine  Mother,  St.  Joseph  is,  of  all  the  saints, the one  who  is  the  dearest  to  God;  and  that  he  has in consequence  great  power  with  Him,  and  can therefore obtain  graces  for  his  devout  clients? Let us then  frequently  say:


 * St. Joseph,  give  me  the  greatest  confidence  in thy  powerful  intercession.

E should  indeed  honor  St.  Joseph,  since  the Son of  God  Himself  was  graciously  pleased to honor  Him,  by  calling  him  his  father. "Christ," says  Origen,  "gave  to  Joseph  the  honor due  to  a  parent." He is  also  thus  spoken  of  in  the Gospel: "  And  His  father  and  mother  were  wondering at  those  things  which  were  spoken  concerning Him"  (Luke  ii.  33). The divine  mother  also  spoke  of him  under  this  name. "Thy father  and  I  have sought  Thee  sorrowing"  (Luke  ii.  48). If, then,  the King of  kings  was  pleased  to  raise  Joseph  to  so high  a  dignity,  it  is  right,  and  a  duty  on  our  part,  to endeavor  to  honor  him  as  much  as  we  can.