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 XVI.

WE ought to believe that the life of Joseph, spent in the presence of Jesus and Mary, was a continual prayer, abounding in acts of faith and confidence, of love, of resignation, of oblation. Since, then, the reward of the saints corresponds to their merits in this life, consider how great must be the glory of St. Joseph in heaven. St. Augustine compares the other saints, to the stars, but St. Joseph to the sun. Father Suarez says that it is very reasonable to suppose that St. Joseph, after Mary, surpasses all the other saints in merits and glory. From this the Venerable Bernardine de Bustis infers that when St. Joseph asks any grace for those that are devoted to him, his prayers have in a certain manner the force of a command with Jesus and Mary.


 * St. Joseph, obtain for us a great spirit of prayer.

XVII.

To prove the power which St. Joseph possesses in paradise, St. Bernardine of Siena expresses himself thus: " We cannot doubt that Christ not only does not refuse to St. Joseph in heaven that familiarity and reverence which, as a son towards his father, He accorded him when He lived on earth, but rather that it is now perfected." Remark the words " familiarity and reverence "; that Lord, Who on earth revered St. Joseph as His father, will certainly deny him nothing that he asks in heaven. Let us then say to him in confidence:

us from all sin.
 * St. Joseph, powerful protector of our souls, keep

XVIII.

Although on earth St. Joseph had not the authority, by nature, of a father over the humanity of Jesus Christ, he nevertheless had it, at least in a certain manner, as the spouse of