Visit to St. Joseph
Eighteenth Day
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 Mary, who, as the real Mother of the Saviour, had authority over Him: he to whom the tree belongs has also a right to its fruits. This caused Jesus, when on earth, to respect and obey St. Joseph as His superior. This also causes Jesus, now in heaven, to consider the prayers of St. Joseph in the light of commands. For when a father prays his son, says Gerson, his prayer has the force of a command.
St. Joseph, be our help in temptation and our strength in adversity.
Prayer
My holy Patriarch, I rejoice at thy happiness and greatness in being made worthy to have power to command, with the authority of a father, Him Whom heaven and earth obey, and to make Him obey thee. My holy Patron, since a God has served thee, I too wish to enroll myself in thy service; I choose thee, after Mary, for my principal advocate and protector. I promise to honor thee every day by some special devotion, and each day I will place myself under thy protection. Through the sweet company of Jesus and Mary, which thou didst enjoy during life, protect me during my whole life, that I may never be separated from God by losing His grace. And through the assistance which Jesus and Mary gave thee at death, protect me at the hour of my death, that, dying in the company of thee, of Jesus and Mary, I may one day go to thank thee in paradise, and in thy company praise and love thy God to all eternity. Amen.
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