My mother had this special devotion to St. Joseph which I believe rubbed in on me as I was growing up and somehow inspired me to likewise have a special devotion to him. Looking back, I realize that St. Joseph had been playing a major role (or more aptly, a quiet and subtle presence and has been an unassuming and low-key background) in my life.
Take these as examples: I was baptized at St. Joseph Church, Pacdal, Baguio City; I grew up and spent most of my childhood and adolescent life at San Jose Parish, Poblacion, La Trinidad, Benguet; as a single lady, my mother used to tell me to pray for St. Joseph's intercession for me to have a worthy husband and so I am very grateful that I am now married to my husband, Ruy; when we were building our home, I prayed to St. Joseph, the carpenter that he be the patron of this important construction project... and guess what?... our foreman's name was Engr. Joseph. And so when our home was nearly done, we consecrated and entrusted our home on May 24, 2006 to Mary Help of Christians as Queen of our home and to St. Joseph, no less, to be the Protector of our home. In gratitude, I share with you this prayer which we recite everyday to St. Joseph during our evening family rosary:
Prayer to St. Joseph, Protector of Homes
"St. Joseph, protect our home. Pour forth from heaven blessings on our family. Remain in our midst. Help us to live in love and harmony, peace and joy. May the wholesome fear of God strengthen us. May your virtues adorn what we do and may our way lead to heaven."
"To you this day, we give the key to our dwelling place. Lock out all things that could do us harm. Lock our home and loved ones with us in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. This we beg of you, that our days may be like your days in the holy home in Nazareth. Amen."
In tribute and thanksgiving to St. Joseph on his Feastday, March 15, 2008 (but which is normally celebrated on March 19), I offer my prayers and intentions and ask for his intercession for the protection and guidance of the men in my life: my husband, Ruy; my 3 children (all boys!); the souls of my deceased father, Ernesto, grandfather Francisco, father-in-law Elias; my new stepdad, Renato who makes my mother happy in her growing old years, my brothers and brothers-in-law; my seminarian and priest-friends; my colleageus and friends... I also pray that St. Joseph look kindly on us and be present to intercede for us at the hour of our death, that we may be given the grace of a happy, peaceful and holy death.
As my special gift/treat to you my dear readers, I am sharing with you this photo I took at the SVD Seminary in Tagaytay City, Philippines, on March 19, 2006 (take note of the date!) when the priests, seminarians and lay mission partners had a Lenten procession in their grounds... You may have to zoom in the photo so you can see the unmistakable hovering presence of St. Joseph..
St. Joseph, pray for us!
