Learning from St Joseph

​Happy Feast of St. Joseph to all, especially to all fathers! (Maybe it is a bit late, but better late than never!)

Saint Joseph is known as the providential father and patron saint of the Holy Church, since he was the one who took care of the Holy Family of Nazareth. So, what should we learn from him? Here are some small inspirations that I have.

1. Giving more than what you don't need

Saint Joseph gave everything to his family, even though he didn't understand at all how Our Lady’s pregnancy came about. And I have to be sincere, it happened to me at the beginning in my Catholic life that I only gave my extra money or extra time to people in need.​

The Holy Family image at Stella Maris.

By living in Finland, I’m surprised that the Catholic Church here doesn't receive tax from the population. And many times we are in lack of resources, for example, in our Youth Weekends, we need more priests for confession, people who can cook, etc. We usually need more people to help and more economic support for our Diocese. It sounds strange, in such a wealthy and developed country, that the Church is in need.
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Therefore, I have learnt to give every single thing that I can. I can’t help that much in economic terms, but I can give my glory, my time. I can’t give food, but I can offer my prayers. And miracles often happen, because now the Church is part of my life. It’s similar to not giving the surplus you have to your family, but you give whatever you can. Of course, we pray, pray for Providence of God through St. Joseph.

2. Look for Jesus, always

Imagine how he took care of Jesus, he used to teach him and talk to him. I think the worst days of the life of the Virgin Mary must have been the day that she lost their Son. We mark this during three days, 72 hours without Jesus on Good Friday and the Saturday, a world without Jesus. But never give up, as Jesus said: Seek, and you shall find!
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Thus, we should pray for the presence of God! Ask: Lord, please be with me even when I’m sleeping!

The image above, shared on a Polish Facebook page, has the caption:
Do you love St Joseph too?

3. Chastity

Last Youth Weekend we had “Sexuality Redeemed” as the theme for our gathering. Indeed, we learnt a lot. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that’s why we should take care of it. That is what St Joseph did: he was chaste. Chastity leaves us free from sin. Being chaste through prayers is the best solution in the world.

Many people say it’s impossible to be chaste, but it’s what “PEOPLE SAY”. As Catholics, we should follow what “JESUS SAYS” and through the power of God (prayer power), it will be possible! No, not possible, it will be done :) !

4. Serve others

Saint Joseph was in continuous service of Mary and Jesus. I think he is still on standby for the whole Church and us. This is what we should learn from him, to serve others always.

Fr. Peter once he said: When you serve others, you should never ask for holidays (or something similar). It’s true! Holiness is 24/7, nonstop. I always complain that I have lots to do and to study. But, Jesus was like this, He even didn't eat to do that. Many priests and religious also do this, they serve to the Kingdom of God, and this is 24/7. So, why can’t we? As lay people and young people in the Church?
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Give and to fill the gap in your heart. It’s a contradiction, but love is not material: the more you share and give, the more you get!
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Prayer to St Joseph

Finally, I want to share you the prayer to Saint Joseph for Stella Maris composed by Fr. Gianni. You can recite it daily! Thanks, and we really need your prayers!

In Finnish:

In English:

Pyhä Joosef, tosi Neitsyt Marian puoliso, Jeesuksen kasvatusisä, ja yleismaailmallisen Kirkon suojeilja, jonka Jumala valitsi olemaan Pyhän Nasaretin perheen isä ja elättäjä, pyhien esimerkin ja todistuksen innoittamina, heidän jotka aina kääntyivät puoleesi kuuliaisina Jeesuksen käskylle: ”Etsikää ennen kaikkea Jumalan valtakuntaa ja hänen vanhurskasta tahtoaan, niin teille annetaan kaikki tämäkin” (Matt 6:33), pyydämme puoltorukoustasi ja apuasi.

Me annamme haltuusi Suomen Katolisen Kirkon, kaikki sen hengelliset ja aineelliset tarpeet Evankeliumin julistamiseen Suomen kansalle.

Me annamme isällisiin käsiisi Stella Mariksen katolisen keskuksen, sen hengelliset ihanteet, sen palvelun hiippakunnalle ja sen aineelliset tarpeet.

Stella Mariksessa kunnioitamme puolisoasi, Pyhää Neitsyt Mariaa, sananjulistamisen tähteä. Oi Jumalan synnyttäjän uskollinen ylkä, uskomme haltuusi tämän mariaanisen keskuksen, jotta uskollisina Evankeliumin ihanteille ja omistautuneina Jumalan valtakunnan tulemisen julistamiseen, voisimme riemuita isällisestä avustasi ja nähdä, sinun puoltorukouksesi kautta, jumalallisen kaitselmuksen ihmeitä.
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Pyhä Joosef, huolehdi Stella Mariksesta, jotta kiitollisina sinun puoltorukouksesi tuloksista, yhdessä Neitsyt Marian kanssa, voimme kiittää ja ylistää Isää, Pyhässä Hengessä, ja Kristuksessa Jeesuksessa meidän Herrassamme. Amen.

7 kertaa: Kunnia Isälle ja Pojalle ja Pyhälle Hengelle. Niin kuin oli alussa, nyt on ja aina, iankaikkisesta iankaikkiseen. Amen
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Pyhä Joosef, rukoile puolestamme.

St. Joseph, true spouse of Mary Most Holy, foster father of Jesus, and patron of the Universal Church, whom God chose to be the providential father of the Holy Family of Nazareth, in the example and personal testimony of the saints, who always turn to you to obey the command of Jesus: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given unto you besides” (Matthew 6:33), we beg for your intercession and assistance.

We present to you the Catholic Church of Finland, its spiritual and material necessities in view of the evangelization of the people of Finland.

We put the Catholic Center of Stella Maris into your paternal hands: its spiritual ideals, its diocesan service, and its material necessities.

At Stella Maris, we venerate your Spouse, Mary, the star of evangelization. As the dutiful spouse of the Virgin Mother of God, we entrust this Marian center to you, so that faithful to evangelical ideals and dedicated to the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, we can enjoy your paternal assistance and see, through your intercession, the miracles of Divine Providence.
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St. Joseph, provide for Stella Maris, so that grateful for the effects of your intercession, with Mary, we can thank and glorify the Father, in the Holy Spirit, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

​(7 times:) Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

​ St. Joseph, pray for us!