ST. JOSEPH APPARITION ☩ FATIMA PORTUGAL ☩ OCTOBER 13, 1917

FATIMA, PORTUGAL – 1917 Witnesses: St. Jacinta Marto, St. Francisco Marto and Servant of God Lucia dos Santos

From May to October 1917 three shepherd children beheld apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary atop a small holm-oak tree. During the course of these visions, the seers were given secrets, were instructed to pray the Rosary and to offer penance for the conversion of sinners. In the September apparition, Our Lady told them:

“Continue to pray the Rosary in order to obtain the end of the war. In October St. Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus in order to bless the world. God is satisfied with your sacrifices . . .”

On October 13th over 70,000 people gathered around the site of the apparitions. All night it had rained non-stop and up till the moment of the Virgin’s arrival, the people had stood in the water and mud. After Our Lady appeared to the three children the rain suddenly stopped and the dark clouds parted. Thousands of people from different walks of life (including atheists who had gone to mock the children) witnessed what is now famously known as “The Miracle of the Sun.” During the Miracle of the Sun, the three shepherd children were witnessing what the Virgin had promised them in September. Servant of God Lucia dos Santos recounts what they saw: 

“Our Lady having disappeared in the immensity of the firmament, we saw, beside the sun, St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady clothed in white with a blue mantle. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands.”

Here is St. Joseph, no words are spoken by him, but his actions speak. St. Joseph, holding his Son Jesus, blesses the world by tracing the Sign of the Cross with his hand. This is a powerful statement regarding his place as head of the Holy Family as well as his position in the Church. He holds Christ in his arms, making a statement about true fatherhood: “Fathers, love your children, take your place at the head of the family and protect those entrusted to your care.”

The act of St. Joseph blessing the crowds shows his power in the Church, as intercessor and Patron of the Universal Church, as proclaimed in 1870 by Pope Pius IX.

 

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!

www.BookOfJoseph2017.wixsite.com/SaintJoseph

♔ ST. JOSEPH APPARITION OCTOBER 13, 1917 ♔ FATIMA, PORTUGAL ♔

At Fatima, Portugal, from May to October 1917, three shepherd children (Blesseds Francisco & Jacinta Marto, and Servant of God Lucia dos Santos) beheld apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary atop a small holm-oak tree. During the course of these visions, the seers were given secrets, were instructed to pray the Rosary and to offer penance for the conversion of sinners. In the September apparition, Our Lady told them:

“Continue to pray the Rosary in order to obtain the end of the war. In October St. Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus in order to bless the world.”

On October 13th over 70,000 people gathered around the site of the apparitions. People from different walks of life (including atheists who had gone to mock the children) witnessed what is now famously known as “The Miracle of the Sun.” During the Miracle of the Sun, the three shepherd children were witnessing what the Virgin had promised them in September. Lucia recounts what they saw:

Our Lady having disappeared in the immensity of the firmament, we saw, beside the sun, St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady clothed in white with a blue mantle. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands.

Here we have St. Joseph, no words are spoken by him, but rather we have his actions. St. Joseph, holding his son Jesus, blesses the world by tracing the Sign of the Cross with his hand. By giving his special blessing to the world, St. Joseph shows us that he is still vigilant in his role as Patron of the Catholic Church (as proclaimed in 1870 by Bl. Pius IX) and still keeps watch over the faithful entrusted to his care.

Prayer of Pope Leo XIII "TO THEE O BLESSED JOSEPH" to be recited at the end of the Rosary - especially during the month of October:

To thee, O Blessed Joseph, we come in our trials, and having asked the help of your most Holy Spouse, we confidently ask your patronage also. Through  that sacred bond of charity which united you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the fatherly love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you to look graciously upon the beloved inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by his blood, and to aid us in our necessities with your power and strength. O most provident guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ. Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin. Our most mighty protector, graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness. And just as you once saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your help, we may be able to live a virtuous life, to die a holy death, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. + Amen.

 

 

♔ APPARITION OF ST JOSEPH - 1660 COTIGNAC, FRANCE ♔

“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 as 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