St Joseph & John the Beloved: The Two Men Closest to Jesus and Mary

When he was young, Our Lord rested his head against St Joseph’s chest, hearing his heart beat with love for Him. In adulthood, St John the Beloved rested his head against Our Lord’s chest, hearing His heart beat with love for mankind, at the Last Supper.

St Joseph and St John the Beloved were the two men closest to Christ. St. John the Beloved: Place of prominence next to Our Lord, the Bread of Life, at the Last Supper. (Institution of the Eucharist). St Joseph’s hometown: Bethlehem “House of Bread”. Joseph is the first man to receive the Bread of Eternal Life into his hands at the Nativity.

God entrusted into Joseph’s care His most precious gifts to the world: Our Lord Jesus Christ – the Redeemer of men – and Our Immaculate Mother Mary. St Joseph was told by the angel to take Mary into his home, as his wife.

St. John inherited the treasure of Our Lady and was told by Jesus on the cross (since St Joseph had died by now) to take Mary as his mother and be her son, her Guardian – just as her husband Joseph had taken care of her.

Our Lady Appeared at Knock, Ireland with her Guardians at her side: Both St Joseph and St John the Beloved appeared at Knock, Ireland w/ Our Lady and Lamb of God surrounded by angels. Joseph, on Our Lady’s right hand side, inclines his head, facing toward Our Lady. He is showing her love and respect. Our Lady has hands raised as she looks Heavenward in thanksgiving for God’s graces, John the Beloved on the left hand side of the Blessed Virgin holding the scriptures. To the left of John is the Lamb of God surrounded by adoring angels. It depicts a sort of Family Portrait.

Anyway, these were just some thoughts, dot connecting I did. I think there is something special in St. Joseph and John the Beloved since they took care of Our Lady in life and honor her in Heaven. We should heed their example of devotion to the Virgin Mary and their willingness to always do God’s Will. Glory to God! Peace to us!

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POPE FRANCIS TO VISIT SHRINE OF KNOCK, IRELAND APPARITION

 

From the "IRISH INDEPENDENT":

Pope Francis hopes to begin his historic visit to Ireland in Knock, the Irish Independent understands.Organisers of the pontiff's trip are believed to be exploring the idea of having him fly directly to the west of Ireland rather than Dublin as anticipated.There has been much speculation about the type of welcome the Pope will receive - but sources say as many as 650,000 people will want to see him in the Phoenix Park on August 26. 

It has been confirmed that the first papal visit in nearly 40 years will take place to coincide with the World Meeting of Families in Dublin between August 21-26. Pope Francis (81) is scheduled to take part in a ceremony in Croke Park on August 25, before celebrating Mass in Phoenix Park the following day.

Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Knock shrine during his visit in 1979. He described his time at the site where a group of local people saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1879 as "the goal of my journey to Ireland". It is estimated 450,000 people attended an outdoor Mass that marked the centenary of that event. Pope Francis has prayed at a number of Marian shrines while on tours to other countries, including last year when he made a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal.

It is likely that if the Pope flies directly from Rome to Knock, he will then use air transport to get to Dublin in time for a ticketed event in Croke Park. His itinerary in the capital is also expected to include a visit to the Capuchin Day Centre, run by Brother Kevin Crowley. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has confirmed the Pope wants to visit a prison during his time here, most likely Mountjoy.

Some disappointment has been expressed that there is no suggestion at this point that the Pope will travel into Northern Ireland. Pope John Paul II was unable to cross the Border for safety reason in 1979. Many had hoped that the current head of the Catholic Church could make the journey, but it is not currently on the agenda. Archbishop Martin has noted that Pope Francis is 81 years old, "so the amount of things he can do is limited".

Irish Independent


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♔ VISION OF ST JOSEPH - KNOCK, IRELAND - AUG 21, 1879 ♔

"Be still and see that I am God" - Psalm 45:11 (Douay-Rheims)
 

At 8pm on August 21^st 1879, a diverse group of fifteen people (including men, women and children), beheld a silent vision of Our Lady – with hands and eyes raised toward Heaven, wearing a crown upon her head, St Joseph – robed in white with hands joined and head bowed and St John the Evangelist – wearing a Bishop’s mitre and holding a large Bible. They appeared at the south gable of the Knock Parish Church in a blaze of glorious light. Behind them, to the left of St John, was a simple altar with a Cross standing on it, with a Lamb (traditional symbol of Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world) at the foot of the Cross. Adoring at the altar was a group of angels.

St Joseph appeared to be close to middle-age with hints of gray in his hair. He was clothed in white robes, standing bare-foot at the Virgin Mary’s right-hand side. His head was inclined forward and appeared to be paying his respects to his Blessed Spouse, and adoring the Lamb on the altar, his hands joined in prayer. He was the figure of humility and of a gentle disposition, in contemplation of the Holy Virgin and the Lamb of God. He is showing us to have reverence for the Mass and to honor the Mother of God. We must be like St Joseph in his humility ad prayerfulness, setting aside our trials and distractions to spend more time in contemplation of God and His works. 

♔ VISION OF ST. JOSEPH TO BLESSED CATHERINE OF ST. AUGUSTINE ♔

/Blessed Catherine de St. Augustine is honoured as one of the six founders of the Catholic Church in Canada. Upon her arrival in New France (Quebec, Canada) in 1648, Blessed Catherine ministered to the sick of both the Aboriginal and European populations.  She was known to have visions of Our Lord, the saints and of future events in Canada. 

I saw a very august procession of blessed souls... St John the Baptist was at   the head and carried a white banner, white as snow, on which was written in large red characters these words: Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi. … This procession seemed to rise in the air…

St. Joseph was the closest at the entrance of the eternal gates, and it was he, it seemed to me, who spoke first to the Most August Trinity; and addressing himself to the person of the Father, after the most sacred Humanity was put into its appointed place, said to Him in a language of the blessed:

“This talent has profited so much that not only do I return it to You doubled, but You see this multitude that it has acquired; I return all to You and offer it to You.”

The Eternal Father then not only set him over a great many people, but even said to him:

“Faithful servant! Since you were the steward of My house on earth, I want you to command here and to have all power."  

The Son Himself gave him power over Him, all King of glory that He was, and wanted him to have the honor of commanding Him. Then, hence, turning to Saint Joseph, I said to him: 

“Great saint, I am one of yours; ask of the King of glory that through all eternity I not be separated from His love. He will refuse you nothing.”

 

♔ St. Gertrude the Great ♔ Vision of St. Joseph

♔ St.Gertrude the Great ♔ had a special devotion to St. Joseph and was once granted a remarkable vision of the Saint:

I saw Heaven opened and St Joseph sitting upon a magnificent throne. I felt myself wonderfully affected when, each time his name was mentioned, all the Saints made a profound inclination toward him, showing by the serenity and sweetness of their looks that they rejoiced with him on account of his exalted dignity.

VISION OF ST JOSEPH: OCTOBER 13, 1917, FATIMA

Sister Lucia dos Santos: After Our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady; it seemed to me that it was Our Lady of Dolors. Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Carmel.

AD TE BEATE IOSEPH - TO THEE O BLESSED JOSEPH

PRAYER OF POPE LEO XIII TO ST JOSEPH 

To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. 

Through that charity which bound thee to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee to graciously regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once thou rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holy, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. + Amen.

Blessed Catherine de St Augustin - Vision of St Joseph

Blessed Catherine de St. Augustin:  I saw a very august procession of blessed souls... St John the Baptist was at the head and carried a white banner, white as snow, on which was written in large red characters these words: Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi. … This procession seemed to rise in the air, and the King of glory, in the centre of this entire troop, was taken up in an admirable way by His proper virtue. I followed as much as I could and my spirit accompanied Him… St Joseph was the closest at the entrance of the eternal gates, and it was he, it seemed to me, who spoke first to the Most August Trinity; and addressing himself to the person of the Father, after the most sacred Humanity was put into its appointed place, said to Him in a language of the blessed:

“This talent has profited so much that not only do I return it to You doubled, but You see this multitude that it has acquired; I return all to You and offer it to You.”

The Eternal Father then not only set him over a great many people, but even said to him:  “Faithful servant! Since you were the steward of My house on earth, I want you to command here and to have all power."  The Son Himself gave him power over Him, all King of glory that He was, and wanted him to have the honor of commanding Him. 

Then, hence, turning to Saint Joseph, I said to him: “Great saint, I am one of yours; ask of the King of glory that through all eternity I not be separated from His love. He will refuse you nothing on His ascension.”

ST JOSEPH APPARITION: COTIGNAC, FRANCE 1660

“To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely.” – Revelation 21:6

On June 7th of 1660, a shepherd of 22 years of age named Gaspard Ricard, was herding his sheep to the east side of Mount Bessillon. At roughly 1pm the heat grew stronger and harder to bear. Very tired and thirsty, he decided to lay upon the rocky ground for a rest when suddenly a tall man stood next to him and pointed to a nearby rock saying: “I am Joseph, lift the rock and you will drink.” The startled young man saw that the large rock looked heavy, stating that it would take about eight men to move it. He asked how he would be able to do this alone s there were no other men around besides him. St Joseph reiterated his instruction to lift the rock. Gaspard obeyed and, moving the rock, found fresh water flowing from underneath. He began to drink excitedly and looking up he found that St Joseph had disappeared. With haste he ran into town exclaiming this news to the villagers and within three hours the small spring of water had now become a fountain of overabundant water.

It is interesting to note that St Joseph had nothing else to say besides his simple instruction to lift the rock and drink. But in the absence of words, he has told us much. Water is the sign of healing and new life in the Roman Catholic Church and here we are shown that Joseph pointed to this source of water. He is given to us as an intercessor, leading us to drink of the fountain of life in Jesus.

As a result of these occurrences, King Louis XIV (1638-1715) decreed that day to be a holiday and, after making his own pilgrimage to this place, he consecrated France - as well as himself – to St Joseph. These waters which sprang forth in Cotignac, France, would become a sign of hope for many people as these waters have curative properties for both the body and the soul. There now stands at that place a sanctuary dedicated to the honor of St Joseph. One of the documented miracles that took place was recorded in 1662 by a priest who had gone there the previous year.  “The waters of St Joseph bring miracles. Since I returned, a man whom we know from Avignon, born lame, went to the spring and came back cured, having left his crutches there. Everyone drinks and carries away the water.”  – Father Allard of the Oratory, 1662

Our Lady of Pontmain

The Evening of January 17, 1871

The sky opened… In the barn, the only sound was the conversation between César Barbedette and Jeanne Détais, who had brought some news of the soldiers gleaned at Saint-Ellier where Jeanne had been preparing a corpse for burial. César's son Eugène (12 years old) went out “to check the weather.” It was then that he suddenly noticed up in the sky, above and behind Augustin Guidecoq’s house, a beautiful Lady.

First phase of the apparition

“She has a blue dress with golden stars, gold-ribboned slippers, a golden crown widening towards the top with a red band around it, and a black veil.” The beautiful Lady smiled at him as she did at his brother Joseph (10), who joined him a few moments later, followed by Marie Lebosse (9) and Francoise Richer (11). “Maybe it’s the Virgin Mary” said Victoire, their mother. While the events of the first phase were taking place, other things were happening. Victoire went to fetch Sister Vitaline, who in turn went to fetch Françoise Richer and Jeanne-Marie, two young boarders and Sister Marie-Edouard who went to fetch the parish priest. The villagers ran to the barn and started to pray with Sister Vitaline.

Second phase

The parish priest arrived amongst his parishioners. The crowd was talking, discussing, moving about. “Let us pray” said the parish priest. Sister Marie-Edouard started to say the Rosary. The crowd began the Magnificat.

Then Joseph Babin, a carter by trade, came back from the market at Ernée. You’re right to pray,” he shouted to the crowd, “the Prussians have arrived at Laval.” At the parish priest’s invitation the villagers sang the litanies of the Virgin Mary. They sang ‘Inviolata’. At the invocation ‘O Mater Alma Christi Carissima’, the crowd ended ‘Inviolata’ and sang ‘Salve Regina’. The crowd prayed fervently, in silence. 

A blue oval with four unlit candles appeared around the beautiful Lady. Also, a small red cross was to be seen on her dress at the place where her heart was. The beautiful Lady became sad. A few minutes later, she smiled again and as the prayers became more fervent, she grew slowly in size. The oval also grew and the stars multiplied.

A big white banner unrolled under the feet of the beautiful Lady and then a word appeared letter by letter ‘BUT’.

At that moment the word ‘PRAY’ was written on the banner and then two other words ‘MY CHILDREN.’ Other words appeared, forming a phrase: ‘GOD WILL ANSWER YOU VERY SOON' More followed: ‘MY SON ALLOWS HIS HEART TO BE MOVED WITH COMPASSION’ Our Lady, for they were all sure that it was her, continued smiling gently.

Third phase

The villagers sang the hymn, “Mother of Hope Whose Name is So Sweet Protect Our Land of France Pray, Pray for Us.”
“Oh, how lovely she is”, the children said again and again. “It’s as if a roller, the same colour as the sky has passed over the words” said the children. Then they sang another hymn, the one they had sung at school that afternoon. The Virgin Mary lifted her hands to the level of her shoulders and moved her fingers in time to the hymn as if to accompany an invisible instrument. Mary was still smiling. The banner and the message disappeared. Then, Our Lady’s face showed great sadness. She seemed to speak but her voice was not heard.

Fourth phase

Seeing the sadness in the Virgin Mary’s face, the people then prayed for forgiveness from Our Lord Jesus “My gentle Jesus At hast the time has come to pardon our penitent hearts. We will never again offend Thy supreme goodness, O gentle Jesus.” The Parce Domine (Spare us, O Lord) served as the response. After this, Our Lady seemed to look sadder. “Look, she’s becoming sad again” said the children. The silent crowd prayed intensely to comfort Our Lady and to gain the favor of her smile once more. A red cross with ‘Jesus Christ’ written in white appeared in front of her. It bore a corpus of the same colour. The Virgin took the cross in both hands and tilted it towards the children. A small star came to light the four candles inside the oval, just as the priest did at church on the Holy Virgin’s altar. The star then took up a position above the Virgin’s head.

Fifth phase

Sister Marie-Edouard started the hymn “Ave Maris Stella.” “My dear friends, said the parish priest, we will all say the evening prayer together.” Everyone kneeled down where they were. When they reached the examination of their conscience, something new happened.

The red crucifix disappeared. A small white cross appeared on each shoulder of the Virgin and she smiled again. A large white veil appeared at the feet of the Virgin. It rose slowly in front of Her, making her disappear from view little by little. It reached the face, then the crown. No more was to be seen.

“Do you still see her?” asked Father Guérin. “No Father, it’s all over.” It was almost nine o’clock in the evening. Everyone went home. Minds were at rest and all fear was gone.

THE PRUSSIAN ARMY RETREATS

The Prussian soldiers, who were steadily advancing, halt their advance across France when the Prussian commander encounters a "Celestial Lady barring the way."

May 10, 1871 – Peace Treaty signed between France and Prussia.

February 2, 1872 – Mgr. Casimir Wicart, bishop of Laval, declares: “We judge that the Immaculate Mary, Mother of God, has truly appeared on January 17, 1871, in the hamlet of Pontmain.”

Pope Pius IX later confirmed the decision of the Episcopal court and granted a Mass and Office proper to Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain.


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Prayer to Our Lady of Pontmain

Most gracious Virgin Mary, by your apparition at Pontmain, you remind us of the importance of prayer, you fortified in our hearts the hope and trust in God, and you gave us peace. Listen now with favour to our fervent prayers, so that peace may be restored in our hearts, in our families, in our country and in all nations: Peace, the fruit of justice, truth and charity. Inflame in our souls the wish to live fully our Christian faith, without any compromise, in all circumstances of our life. Help us to understand our brethren and to love them in God from the depth of our hearts. Amen.  

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The 4 Visionaries: Eugene, Joseph, Marie & Francoise