♔ POPE PAUL VI & ST. JOSEPH ♔

Venerable Pope Paul VI, Homily, 27 March 1969:  St. Joseph was a "committed" man, as we might say nowadays. And what commitment! He had total commitment to Mary, the elect of all the women of the earth and of history, always his virgin spouse… and total commitment to Jesus, who was his offspring only by legal descendance, not by the flesh. His were the burdens, the responsibilities, the risks and the labors surrounding the Holy Family. His was the service, the work and the sacrifices, in the shadows of that Gospel picture in which we love to meditate on him; and we are certainly not mistaken, for we all know him now and call him blessed.

Venerable Pope Paul VI, Homily, 19 March 1969:  The Church invokes St. Joseph as her Patron and Protector through her unshakable trust that he to whom Christ willed to confide the care and protection of His own frail human childhood, will continue from heaven to perform his protective task in order to guide and defend the Mystical Body of Christ Himself, which is always weak, always under attack, always in a state of peril. We call upon St. Joseph for the world, trusting that the heart of the humble working man of Nazareth, now overflowing with immeasurable wisdom and power, still harbors and will always harbor a singular and precious fellow-feeling for the whole of mankind. So may it be.

POPE FRANCIS: SOLEMNITY OF ST JOSEPH - ENTRUSTS EDUCATORS, FATHERS AND PRIESTS TO ST JOSEPH

POPE FRANCIS 19 MARCH 2014: We look at Joseph - as the model of the educator, who safeguards and accompanies Jesus in his journey of growth "in wisdom, years and grace", as the Gospel of Luke tells us. "He was not the father of Jesus, the Father was God, but he was a father to help him grow in years, wisdom and grace.

Let's start with his age, which is the most natural dimension, physical and psychological growth. Joseph, together with Mary, took care of Jesus, first of all from this point of view, he  'raised him', worrying that he had all he needed for a healthy development . Let us not forget that the faithful care of the life of the Child also led to the flight into Egypt, the harsh experience of living as refugees to escape the threat of Herod. Then, once they returned home and settled in Nazareth, there is the long period of the hidden life of Jesus within the Holy Family. During those years, Joseph also taught Jesus his work, Jesus learned to be a carpenter.

Let's move on to the second dimension of Christ's education, that of "wisdom". Scripture says that the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord. Joseph was an example and teacher of this wisdom for Jesus, which he nourished by the Word of God.  We can imagine how Joseph taught the child Jesus to listen to the Holy Scriptures, especially accompanying him on the Sabbath to the synagogue in Nazareth. Joseph accompanied Jesus so he would listen to the word of God in the synagogue.

And finally, the dimension of "grace". Again St. Luke tells us referring to Jesus: "The grace of God was upon him". Here certainly the part reserved to St Joseph is more limited than in the areas of age and wisdom. But it would be a grave mistake to think that a father and a mother do nothing to educate their children to grow in the grace of God.

The mission of St. Joseph is certainly unique and unrepeatable, because Jesus is unique.  However, in his guarding Jesus, educating him to grow in years, wisdom and grace, he is a model for all educators, especially for parents. St. Joseph is the model educator and father, the model for dads. Therefore I entrust all parents, priests - who are fathers - and those who have an educational role in the Church and in society to his protection. ... May St. Joseph bless you and be with you. 

♔ HAPPY SOLEMNITY OF ST JOSEPH! ♔

HAPPY SOLEMNITY OF ST JOSEPH PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH!

APOSTOLATE OF ST JOSEPH

PRINCE OF THE CHURCH PRAYER

O Glorious St. Joseph, Son of David, our model, our patron, our guide: to you do we have recourse when we are afflicted with the anxieties and trials of life. Being mere mortals with insecurities and fears, we take comfort in having you as our companion, and our exemplar, who also faced the worries that confront the human condition. You know what it is to have a heavy heart and a burdened mind.

Turn then, mighty Joseph, your paternal eyes toward us, and stand firm with us, so that we may conquer the demons which hound us, seeking the ruin of our souls. Assist us with thy special Patronage so that we may learn not only to avoid the occasions of sin, but, should we stumble, to waste no time in confessing our sins and receiving the absolution necessary to once again take courage against the powers of darkness.

Good St. Joseph, Prince of the Church, please guide and protect our Pontiff, the Holy Father, from the hatred of men and the forces of Hell. Just as you shielded Our Infant Lord with your Holy Cloak, so too, defend His Mystical Body the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. + Amen. 

FALSE JACAREI APPARITIONS

In addition to receiving visions and messages from “Jesus” and “Mary”, the so-called visionary of Jacarei, Marcos Thaddeus, also receives messages from “St Joseph”. “St Joseph’s” messages, along with those of “Jesus” and “Mary” contain heresy, therefore these apparitions are deemed FALSE.  Whether the “visionary” is suffering from mental illness, given to hallucinations or just plain making up stories, has not been determined.  Bishop of S. Andre, Sao Paulo, Brazil declares: Jacarei "Apparitions" of Jesus, Mary and Joseph are NOT OF SUPERNATURAL ORIGIN!”

Below are excerpts from the Statement of Bishop Dom Jose' Nelson Westrupp of S. Andre, Sao Paulo, Brazil, REGARDING THE ALLEGED APPARITIONS AT JACAREI, BRAZIL, dated February 11, 2011.

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The purpose of this is to provide information about the activities of young Marcos Tadeu Teixeira (Marquinho). After serious and careful discernment of his writings (visions, inner locutions) our current position is as follows:

Although it is evident that Marcos Tadeu has a deep devotion to the Heart of Jesus and Our Lady, the messages which he claims to have received from Jesus and Mary are NOT OF A SUPERNATURAL NATURE. There are several expressions that flatly contradict this possibility by showing that these messages / locutions come from the author's own thoughts and feelings. Theology does not teach: through Jesus to Mary (as taught in the messages of Jacarei), but rather: to Jesus through Mary. These “apparitions” also lack a common plan between Jesus and Mary – the messages are erratic.

Some expressions used by these so-called “apparitions” are not theologically sound. In short, the messages of Marcos Tadeu Teixeira seem to spring from his own heart. 

Private revelations may be accepted if they have been recognized by the Church, through Her legitimate representatives, our Holy Father the Pope and the Bishops. In the present case of the alleged apparitions at Jacarei, Brazil, NO SUCH RECOGNITION is granted and the messages of Marcos Tadeu Teixeira SHOULD NOT BE considered as legitimate and worthy of faith on the part of the faithful. The apparitions are NOT part of Catholic dogma and creed. 

With a special blessing,

Bishop Dom Nelson Westrupp, SCJ
President of the Regional Episcopal Conference South 1 - CNBB
Diocese de S. Andre, Fevereiro 11, 2011 

After the Bishop released his statement regarding the alleged apparitions at Jacarei in which he claimed the investigated apparitions were not supernatural, the "visionary" lashed out with crude remarks about the Bishop and the clergy. This is not the action of a true seer, as a true seer would be humble. Also, the "visionary" has stated that those who do not believe in the apparitions will not enter the gates of Heaven, but will be sent to Hell. The Catholic Church has always stated that belief in apparitions was not binding on the faithful. The "visionary" threatens those with damnation who do not believe in his visions.

Also, the "visionary" has become a commercial success in exploiting his alleged visions, marketing t-shirts, an assortment of non-church-approved sacramentals, DVDs, CD's, etc...

It has also been proven that the so-called "miracle photos" have been indeed photo-shopped.

PERSONAL NOTE: When I first found out about this group I was intrigued and I wanted to believe. But after research, reading the official Bishop's notice, observing the "visionary" acting and wanting attention for himself, and observing the rude behavior of the followers, I have come to keep my distance from it. Also, I have personally received nasty messages from followers of this cult of Jacarei in which I was threatened with the pains of Hell for advising people not to follow this movement. Please do not be fooled. There is nothing pious about the Jacarei apparitions.

St. Joseph, pray for us!
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