Retablo de San Jose Obrero

Retablo de San Jose’ Obrero
“Go to Joseph...” (Genesis 41:55)
This beautiful phrase (loved by one of St Joseph’s greatest promoters, the healer and miracle worker of Montreal, St Andre’ Bessette) from the book of Genesis refers to Joseph, whose father Jacob had given Joseph a lovely coat... “Now Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.” (Genesis 37:3) Incidentally, in the genealogy of Jesus, “the second Joseph’s” father was also named Jacob... “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ.” (Matthew 1:16) I love the way there are no accidents with God, even the names of the fathers of the two Josephs who were chosen to nourish Israel both physically and spiritually.
This particular image of St Joseph was a gift to our pastor Msgr Lambert Luna, from the parish of St Joseph on the Rio Grande, for his 40th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. Joseph has two major feastdays one traditionally commemorates his death, March 19th, the other is May 1, St Joseph the Worker and patron of the Universal Church. When Pope Francis designated this year as the year of Joseph (from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021) I’m certain he was aware that Joseph is also the patron of a “peaceful, happy death.”
This is because he was attended by his wife Mary, Mother of God, and Jesus Christ. With the thousands of deaths this past year, we are all feeling the losses and are calling on St Joseph to attend to the dying.
This most ancient Novena (9 days) prayer to St Joseph has never been known to fail and tradition claims it dates back to the year 50...
Novena To St Joseph
O St Joseph....
Amen
A blessed feast of St Joseph to you all ‼️
Fr Bill McNichols 💮 19 March 2021
NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH
O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.
O Saint Joseph, 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 powerful life , I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
O Saint 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 dying breath. Amen