St. Joseph, “Jesus in disguise” and Andrew

October 15, 2015 - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

I was so happy to come upon this image of St. Joseph in a unlikely location recently. It is prominently stationed at the front entrance-way of a secular cafe in downtown Northampton, Ma. I had visited this cafe in years past and had been delighted to see St. Joseph standing there, as well as other Catholic art hanging all over the walls downstairs in the restaurant part.

But this time, passing through Northampton was a quick stop to go to Mass and then the use of a rest room before heading back to Connecticut. I had forgotten about this place. As cafe after cafe was closing down for the night that Sunday, I asked a waitress where I could find a rest room. She suggested this place. My husband and I looked for a few minutes and finally found it tucked away at the end of a row of shops. Lo and behold, there was St. Joseph too! He is a saint I greatly admire and turn to often–my hero, actually. I instantly recalled my earlier visit there and how happy I was to come upon him and the other images. When exiting, I snapped a quick photo while heading back up the stairs.

If you look to the right in this photo you might be able to glimpse an image of a man who was sitting outside on the sidewalk. While I exited the building, he said “hello” to me and I said “hello” and immediately remembered that I had a couple of blessed medals in my right pocket. I reached into my pocket to take out a blessed St. Benedict medal (with a full exorcism blessing on it). I gave it to him and explained that it was a powerfully blessed medal. He was very thankful to receive it and drew it in close to his heart. I then pulled out a Blessed Miraculous Medal and gave it to him too after touching it to the one that I wear that Mother Teresa gave me. I pointed to the Blessed Mother on the medal and told him that Mother Mary would take care of him. I asked his name and told him mine. I told Andrew I’d pray for him and asked him to pray for me. He said he was so touched that he was crying. I told him that God loves him. He gently grabbed up my hand and kissed it. He then told me that he’s been living on the street for ten years and is concerned because winter is coming.

Please pray for Andrew, who is someone Mother Teresa would call “Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor.” I am praying for Andrew and hope I might see him again when passing through that area. I’ll be sure to get him a hot meal and offer him some warm clothes.

There are many people out there who are living in dire circumstances and need our prayers and any help we can offer. We are all called to take care of God’s poor.

Saint Joseph Novena Day Four

March 13, 2015 - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

Today is the fourth day of a nine day novena to the illustrious Saint Joseph which will end on his feast day, March 19th. As Foster Father of the Holy Family he certainly knows a thing or two about family life and takes an interest in our families. Don’t hesitate to call upon him. Saint Teresa of Avila said he never failed her.

O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me all spiritual blessings through thy foster Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer thee my thanksgiving and homage.

O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thine arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me.

Saint Joseph Novena Day Three

March 12, 2015 - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

Today is the third day of a nine day novena to the illustrious Saint Joseph which will end on his feast day, March 19th. As Foster Father of the Holy Family he certainly knows a thing or two about family life and takes an interest in our families. Don’t hesitate to call upon him. Saint Teresa of Avila said he never failed her.

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me.

Saint Joseph Novena Day Two

March 11, 2015 - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

Today is the second day of a nine day novena to the illustrious Saint Joseph which will end on his feast day, March 19th. As Foster Father of the Holy Family he certainly knows a thing or two about family life and takes an interest in our families. Don’t hesitate to call upon him. Saint Teresa of Avila said he never failed her.

[“Childhood of Christ,” c1620. Artist: Gerrit van Honthorst]

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me.

Saint Joseph Novena Day One

March 10, 2015 - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

I absolutely love Saint Joseph. Today begins a nine day novena to this illustrious saint which will end on his feast day, March 19th. As Foster Father of the Holy Family he certainly knows a thing or two about family life and takes an interest in our families. Don’t hesitate to call upon him. Saint Teresa of Avila said he never failed her.

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me.

Good Saint Joseph Can Turn Up Anywhere!

October 3, 2014 - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

One day about seven years ago my friend Lisa noticed something strange poking up in her yard. She bent down and took a closer look and decided she should dig it up to find out what it could be. To her surprise it was a statue of Saint Joseph the Worker who had been buried face down!

Lisa’s discovery: Saint Joseph the Worker

Yes, she was aware of the popular practice of burying a statue of the poor over-worked saint when one was trying to buy or sell a house. But, how long was this statue in the earth? She wondered because she knew she had not buried it. She was quite curious to learn the origin of this mysterious Saint Joseph statue.

Lisa decided to ask the previous owner of the property who happened to be a member of her family. It was her mother-in-law, who, by the way, was not Catholic. Her mother-in-law explained that she had certainly not buried the statue in all the thirty years that she lived in the house.

The plot thickened! How did it get there? How long had it been in the ground? But, Lisa wasn’t able to find out any more information about the origin of the uninvited guest.

Lisa, a practicing Catholic scrubbed the layers of dirt off of the newly discovered statue and upon seeing his attractive colors and design decided to give him a proper place of rest and honor on her night table where he would keep watch over her and her husband throughout the years to come.

Every day and night the small peculiar figure stood guarding from his new post on the night table. Lisa was reminded of Saint Joseph each time she observed the statue on her nightstand—that mysterious gift she never once asked for nor did she ever expect to suddenly come into her life the day she spotted a bit of it poking up through her front yard. But, there he was in all his splendor, inside her home now—a constant reminder to Lisa to offer her heart up in prayer.

Lisa one day decided to pray to Saint Joseph and ask for his help in the family, especially during particular trying times. She recalled, “I often looked at the statue of Saint Joseph there on my nightstand and I often thought about his prompt intercession in answer to my prayers.” She continued to beseech him in prayer.

Many seasons passed in that busy household. Along with them came the strains, joys, and challenges of raising a family and navigating life. Life was very busy. Yet, through it all, Lisa was developing a quiet yet steady relationship with this humble yet powerful saint—even if she didn’t fully recognize that it was happening at the time.

It would be years later that Lisa realized that the illustrious saint had truly been watching over her and her family. Perhaps the one thing that Lisa deeply yearned for, but could not totally articulate or even ask for since it didn’t seem to be a possibility, was for her husband to share the beautiful Catholic faith that she possessed.

Lisa explained, “I thought it would be impossible. With his strong United Methodist roots and strong family ties—that conversion to Catholicism would be near to impossible.” She didn’t expect it to happen. She certainly didn’t want to coerce him, nag him, or push her husband into something he didn’t desire for himself. Lisa simply went about her days setting a humble example in remaining faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church—going to Mass, praying, and partaking in the sacraments. She hoped that someday her innermost wish could come to fruition—please God! Then, she’d push it from her mind and simply pray for what was best for them, their marriage and their family. Lisa would leave everything to God to ultimately decide.

Lisa began a novena to Saint Joseph which she has since kept up almost perpetually. Thanks be to God, Lisa’s prayers were heard and her husband came into the Church! Lisa feels quite sure that Saint Joseph has been responsible for many other wonderful helps to her family and most especially for her husband’s conversion to the Catholic faith!

I love Saint Joseph and consider him to be a hero. I have written about him in some of my books and have often recommended that people ask for his untiring intercession. He is a powerful saint—a wonderful friend to have. I heartily encourage you to call upon him often. Saint Teresa of Avila expressed that Saint Joseph has never failed her.

Don’t be afraid to call upon dear Saint Joseph for help in your family.

And you never know…Saint Joseph might possibly decide to just show up unexpectedly in your life as he did for Lisa!

Prayer to Saint Joseph from my book Catholic Saints Prayer Book

Dear St. Joseph, you were an ordinary man, a humble carpenter. But you were a prayerful, holy soul, the foster father of Jesus, a model for us all. Please guide me in my own journey through life, and help me be aware of God’s specific call to me. Help me to see that in my own life God is calling me to greater things for His glory. Please pray to the Blessed Trinity for me to be granted the graces I need most. I pray that I can be faithful to my state in life, totally trusting in God’s divine providence for me. St. Joseph, pray for all who invoke your aid. If it is God’s holy will, please grant me (here mention your request). Amen.

Prayer composed by Pope Saint John XXIII (1958-63)

O glorious Joseph! Who concealed your incomparable and regal dignity of custodian of Jesus and of the Virgin Mary under the humble appearance of a craftsman and provided for them with your work, protect with loving power your sons, especially entrusted to you. You know their anxieties and sufferings, because you yourself experienced them at the side of Jesus and of His Mother. Do not allow them, oppressed by so many worries, to forget the purpose for which they were created by God. Do not allow the seeds of distrust to take hold of their immortal souls. Remind all the workers that in the fields, in factories, in mines, and in scientific laboratories, they are not working, rejoicing, or suffering alone, but at their side is Jesus, with Mary, His Mother and ours, to sustain them, to dry the sweat of their brow, giving value to their toil. Teach them to turn work into a very high instrument of sanctification as you did. Amen.

You can see this article here at ICL too.