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Relatively little is known about the life of St. Joseph except for what is written in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Gospels place him in the line of David. Though St. Joseph was descended from royalty, it was not a title to rank or riches. Everything known about Joseph suggests he was poor, for example, the offering of only two turtle doves at the Temple.
Joseph's family belonged to Bethlehem of Judea, but he had moved to Nazareth in Galilee to take up the occupation of a builder. There is no reason to suggest he was older than 20 or 24 years old when he wed Mary, who would have been 15 to 20 years of age. Matthew mentions to Joseph of Mary's conception, the visit of the Magi, the flight to Egypt and the return to Nazareth. Luke fills in the details of the birth of Christ, the Presentation and the temporary loss of Jesus in Jerusalem at the age of twelve. After that, Joseph disappears from the pages of the Gospel. Since he is not mentioned during the ministry of Jesus or at the Passion, it is assumed that he had already died by that point. Other stories surround the life of Joseph These stories include a first marriage where Joseph was widowed, his great age of 111 years and his protracted death where he receives comfort from Mary and Jesus. The Gospels are really the only reliable source of information on Joseph's life and though they are brief, they give a good outline of his character. St. Joseph was a faithful, patient man, obedient to the demands of God and willingly accepting of hardships. The content of prayer begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ, and through him to the Virgin Mary and the Saints of the Church. There is a deep and intimate relationship that exists between prayer and personal life. The seeking of union with Christ in prayer is not just quiet time activity, but it is a process that runs throughout the day. It is therefore no surprise then that a life of constant distractions, habitual sin, and possession overload will lead to a prayer of distractions and a strong sense of time-wasting. However, the experience of these 'failings' are the very way to open the heart to God, and so become open with the prayer to St Joseph and to seek new life. Many saints have seen the connection, and say that the journey to the the spiritual life start with humble beginnings and prayers. The total experience of God with the complete forgetfulness of self, begins at the fundamental level of going beyond oneself in compassion and self-giving and forgiveness in daily life. |
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Love, Compassion and Protection
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In 1531 a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to a poor Indian at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City. She identified herself as the Mother of the True God, instructed him to have the bishop build a temple on the site and left an image of herself imprinted miraculously on his tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth, which shows no sign of decay 471 years late. It apparently even reflects in her eyes what was in front of her in 1531. Her message is love and compassion, and her universal promise of help and protection to all mankind.
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Rose Scented, prayer Rosary, gives us protection, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Rosary prayer, the Saint Guadalupe who asks and prays to our True God for protection and forgiveness.
This beautiful real wooden bead rosary is one of our best sellers. The rose scented wood beads are 6 mm in diameter and the Crucifix, centerpiece, and chain is silver-plated. The silver-plated Crucifix is 1-1/8" long. Total Length of the Guadalupe Rosa Scented Rosary is 16-3/4". Comes with twist-top box featuring color artwork of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the front with accompanying prayer on the reverse. Fine addition for yourself and it makes a great gift, too. In 1531 a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to a poor Indian at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City. She identified herself as the Mother of the True God, instructed him to have the bishop build a temple on the site and left an image of herself imprinted miraculously on his tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth, which should have deteriorated in 20 years but shows no sign of decay 471 years later and still defies all scientific explanations of its origin. It apparently even reflects in her eyes what was in front of her in 1531. Her message is love and compassion, and her universal promise of help and protection to all mankind. An incredible list of miracles, cures and interventions are attributed to Her. Yearly, an estimated 10 million visit her Basilica, making her Mexico City home the most popular Marian shrine in the world, and the most visited Catholic church in the world next to the Vatican. Altogether 24 popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe. His Holiness John Paul II visited her Sanctuary four times. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th and during his third visit to the sanctuary, declared the date of December the 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent. During the same visit Pope John Paul II entrusted the cause of life to her loving protection, and placed under her motherly care the innocent lives of children, especially those who are in danger of not being born. |
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