St. Joseph Novena Begins Today

Today, March 11th, we begin the Novena to St. Joseph, whose feast day is March 19th. We invite you to join us in praying to Jesus’ earthly foster father, His “abba”. Do we think our Lord in heaven will listen to the requests of the one who raised Him from infancy and who loved Him into manhood? Of course, we do not know exactly how much St. Joseph actually lived to see Jesus after childhood. But we do know Joseph was especially chosen to be the FATHER of the GOD-MADE-MAN.

Jesus knew what it was like to have the love of a tender, yet strong father in His life, and, at the same time, knew the one and only perfect Father in heaven. Yet, Jesus also knew the heartbreak of losing his father as an adolescent or young adult. Jesus may have even been tempted to compare Joseph’s human imperfections and failures with the perfection of the heavenly Father, the Being whose name is “Love” (“God is love.” 1 Jn. 4:8). We know Joseph was a good father, since the scriptures testify to it (Mt. 1:19 calls him righteous, or just.). He was faithful to his duty to protect and provide for his family, and we know, also, that Jesus learned the skill of carpentry from his father, Joseph. Imagine the hours they spent together day in and day out, working in the quiet of the wood shop. Surely, there must have been true intimacy between this father and son.

Below is the prayer we will be praying for the next nine days, asking good St. Joseph to intercede for all the intentions of our hearts. If you would still like the sisters to pray for your requests, you may email us at prayer@littlerockcarmel.org. The nuns will be praying throughout the days until the 19th for your intentions.

St. Joseph, please pray for us!