Saint Joseph

THIS is a composite work, constructed with materials gathered from various quarters, principally from the dissertation of Don Antonio Vitali, Canon of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Damaso at Rome, entitled Vita e Glorie del Gran Patriarca S. Giuseppe, Sposo Purissimo di Maria, Padre Putativo di Gesù, e Patrono Potentissimo della Cattolica Chiesa, 1883. To him, therefore, special acknowledgments are due, not only for the valuable contributions to the present work which his volume has supplied, but for the permission to make free use of the product of his labours. The early chapters, extending to the birth of Joseph, are, indeed, almost a literal translation of his work. Subsequently, his materials have been largely used, sometimes verbally, at other times only substantially, but with frequent omissions and retrenchments. Aeterna Press

With his extraordinary figure and “so close to our human condition” (Pope Francis), Saint Joseph is very close to those of us, ordinary people, without for this reason our lives lack of importance for God and others. The Holy Patriarch teaches us much more than what may appear at first glance. It shows us paths of holiness, faith, prayer, love of family, humility, workmanship, detachment… This book offers meditations on the biblical text about “God’s man of trust”: they are designed for those who do a few days of retreat, as well as for the personal prayer and spiritual reading.

Invites readers to prayerfully reflect on Pope Francis's words from his Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde, on St. Joseph, and to apply them to our lives. Enriched with beautiful, colorful fine art illustrations.

After Pope Francis declared 2020 the year of St. Joseph, interest in the patriarch of the Holy Family and patron of the Universal Church was heightened worldwide. In Befriending St. Joseph, popular blogger Deacon Greg Kandra leads you on a journey of imaginative exploration and spiritual renewal rooted in the few Bible stories where Joseph is written about. This book offers a fresh take on the centuries-old devotion known as the Seven Sorrows of St. Joseph and provides an opportunity to ponder Joseph’s role in our salvation and to become more like him. Although the Bible doesn’t record St. Joseph saying a single word, we know he became what God wanted him to be with patience, attention, trust, and prayer. The biblical account of Jesus’s life shows us that St. Joseph had faith in times of uncertainty and courage in times of danger. Kandra shows us Joseph as a gentle man, pure of heart, trusting in God, and a role model for those who feel unworthy or unready. Through guided reflections, Kandra helps you imagine what life may have been like for Joseph, Mary, and Jesus and offers guidance to help you better navigate your own life, with particular attention to trust, purity of heart, courage, and persistence in faith. Kandra invites you to: trust the mystery of God when life seems shattered; persist in caring for those you love, guide, and protect; be courageous and compassionate in the face of suffering; find strength to comfort others; attend to those on the margins; pray for the grace of endurance; and expect to find Christ in unexpected places. Each chapter of Befriending St. Joseph includes a scriptural verse about Joseph that lies at the heart of the devotion, original prayers by Kandra, and questions for self-reflection, journaling, or faith sharing. The appendixes include additional prayers to St. Joseph and an adaption of the Seven Sorrows devotion for group prayer.