JOSEPHITE SPIRITUALITY  SEEDS

Monthly publication of the International Josephite-Marellian Center. March 2023

1.   Welcoming

2. Opening Prayer

3. Theme of the Month:

Joseph, example of acceptance of God’s plans

         “Saint Joseph is an outstanding example of acceptance of God’s plans. Yet his was an active acceptance: never reluctant or resigned.” (Message from Pope Francis for the 58th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. April 25, 2021). “Joseph is certainly not passively resigned, but courageously and firmly proactive ” (Apostolic Letter Patris Corde, 4).

         “May he help everyone, especially young people who are discerning, to make God’s dreams for them come true. May he inspire in them the courage to say “yes” to the Lord who always surprises and never disappoints.”

(Message from Pope Francis for the 58th World Day of Prayer

for Vocations. April 25, 2021)

         We continue the study of the precious guidelines of Pope Francis to help us answer an important question: God calls us to “build a great human family united in love”, but how to do this in practice? Saint Joseph is an exemplary icon of welcoming God’s plans.

         Also in the Message for the 58th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis teaches us that whenever God manifested himself to Saint Joseph, he promptly accepted the guidance received, faithfully carried out the will of God, and this led him to new and challenging adventures, but which were shown by the results achieved, how God had been generous with him in guiding him, even when demanding actions that were difficult to be carried out. Listen to Pope Francis:

         “Indeed, Joseph’s dreams led him into experiences he would never have imagined. The first of these upended his betrothal, but made him the father of the Messiah; the second caused him to flee to Egypt, but saved the life of his family. After the third, which foretold his return to his native land, a fourth dream made him change plans once again, bringing him to Nazareth, the place where Jesus would begin his preaching of the Kingdom of God. Amid all these upheavals, he found the courage to follow God’s will. So too in a vocation: God’s call always urges us to take a first step, to give ourselves, to press forward. There can be no faith without risk. Only by abandoning ourselves confidently to grace, setting aside our own programmes and comforts, can we truly say “yes” to God. And every “yes” bears fruit because it becomes part of a larger design, of which we glimpse only details, but which the divine Artist knows and carries out, making of every life a masterpiece. In this regard, Saint Joseph is an outstanding example of acceptance of God’s plans. Yet his was an active acceptance: never reluctant or resigned. Joseph was “certainly not passively resigned, but courageously and firmly proactive” (Patris Corde, 4). May he help everyone, especially young people who are discerning, to make God’s dreams for them come true. May he inspire in them the courage to say “yes” to the Lord who always surprises and never disappoints.”

(Message from Pope Francis for the 58th World Day of Prayer

for Vocations. April 25, 2021)

         Let us pray to Saint Joseph to help us understand that the “yes” to the vocation causes “upheavals” in our life, because the “divine call always impels us to go out, to give ourselves, to go further”, but that the acceptance of the projects of God and the “courage to follow God’s will” lead us to victory and give meaning to our lives.

         Let us pray to Saint Joseph to help us understand that “only by trusting ourselves to grace, leaving aside our own programs and comforts, can we truly say “yes” to God. And each “yes” bears fruit, because it adheres to a greater plan, of which we only glimpse a few details, but which the divine Artist knows and develops to make each life a masterpiece”.

         Let us pray to Saint Joseph “that he help everyone, especially young people in discernment, to fulfill the dreams that God has for each one; may he inspire in them the courage to say “yes” to the Lord who always surprises and never disappoints”.

         Let us pray to Saint Joseph, invoking him frequently in the way that Saint Joseph Marello proposed to us:

         “You, O Joseph, show us the way, support us at every step, lead us to where Divine Providence wants us to go. Whether the path be long or short, whether the path be good or bad, whether or not the goal be seen with human eyes, fast or slowly, with you, O Joseph, we are certain that we will always walk well.” (Saint Joseph Marello).

4. Reflection and Sharing

         Share about the teachings of Pope Francis contained in this “Josephite Spirituality Seeds”.

5. Commitment of the Month

         Actively participate in the initiatives of the Month of Saint Joseph that we are experiencing.

6. Final Prayer.