♔ HOLY DEATH IN A WICKED HOUSE ♔ A Prostitute's Prayers to St. Joseph are Answered

During the night of January 2, 1885, and old man presented himself to a priest asking him to come to the bedside of a dying woman and indicating the address to which he wanted to take him.

The street that the old man pointed out was one of ill repute. The old man himself was a total stranger, and night was falling. The priest feared that it might be a trap, so he hesitated; but the old man urged him on.

“We cannot delay; it involves giving the Last Rites to a poor old woman at the point of death.”

Faced with such a sacred duty, the priest no longer hesitated and followed the messenger. The night was bitterly cold, but the old man did not seem to notice. He went ahead and said to the priest:

“I will wait for you at the door.”

The door in front of which they stopped belonged to one of the most notorious houses of the area, and the priest, who was carrying the Blessed Sacrament, had another moment of apprehension. But remembering that Our Lord came to save sinners, on the instruction of his guide, he pulled hard on the bell. There was no reply.

He knocked several times, but there was still no response.

The old man was standing back at a distance, and the priest finally said to him:

“As you can see, this is hopeless. No one is coming to let us in…”

“Let me knock,” replied the mysterious person, stepping forward as the priest drew back. “As soon as the door is opened, go in quickly. Go up the stairs and open the door of the bedroom at the end of the hall; there you will find the dying woman.”

These strange words were spoken with such authority that the priest made no objection. The old man knocked on the door in a peculiar way, and it opened immediately. This time the priest did not hesitate; he entered, climbed the stairs, opened the door that had been indicated, and found a woman stretched out on a bed of pain, who, between her cries of agony, constantly repeated:

“A priest! A priest! They are going to let me die without a priest.”

The minister of God approached her:

“My daughter, a priest is here.”

But she did not believe him.

“No,” she cried out. “No one in this house would care to fetch a priest.”

“My daughter, an old man brought me to you.”

“I don’t know any old man.” replied the dying woman.

Nevertheless, the priest managed, little by little, to convince her that he was indeed the minister of God for whom she had been calling, and he offered her the sacraments.

She confessed to a long life of sin which had been weighing heavily on her conscience. She showed such lively contrition that the priest, astonished at meeting such faith in a person so completely separated from God, asked her if she had not kept up some devotional practice.

“None,” she said, “except a prayer that I used to recite each day to St. Joseph, to obtain a happy death.”

The priest prepared everything for the Last Rites and, during this time, several people entered the bedroom, then left without appearing to notice him.

He gave the repentant sinner Holy Communion as well as Extreme Unction and left her only when, very peacefully, she gave up her purified soul into the hands of Jesus Christ.

The priest was alone and did not meet anyone as he left the house and returned home.

While thinking about the events of that night and of his consoling mission, he became firmly convinced that the charitable old man was none other than the glorious and merciful St. Joseph, in disguise, patron saint of a happy death.

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♔ PRAYER FOR A HAPPY DEATH ♔

O Blessed Joseph, who didst yield thy last breath in the fond embrace of Jesus and Mary, when the seal of death shall close my career in life, come, holy Father, with Jesus and Mary, to aid me, and obtain for me this only solace which I ask for in that hour, to die encircled by their holy arms. Into your sacred hands, living and dying, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I commend my soul. Amen.

♔ THE HOLY DEATH OF ST. JOSEPH ♔

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth. Yes, says the Spirit, let them rest from their labours, for their works follow them. — Revelation 14:13

After the event of the Passover in Jerusalem, we are not given any details about the life of the Holy Family in the Bible until Christ reaches the age of thirty years. What would have gone on during these years? These years would have been simpler and quieter than the preceding ones, with Jesus and St. Joseph working side by side at their trade. After this period of time, there are only brief references made to St. Joseph:

How did this man come by this wisdom and these miracles? Is this not the carpenter’s son? — St. Matthew 13:54-55

We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did

write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth. — St. John 1:45

They said: is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph? — St. John 6:42

It is widely held that St. Joseph had passed away in Nazareth, while Jesus was still at home, before he departed and began his public ministry. Joseph is no longer mentioned, whereas Our Lady is still mentioned during and after this time in Christ’s life. The most notable examples are the Wedding Feast of Cana and the Crucifixion of Our Lord, which mention Mary but not her blessed spouse, who surely would have been at her side during these moments.

. . . A marriage feast took place at Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. — St. John 2:1

Now there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary wife of Cleophas . . .  — St. John 19:25

Surely, if Mary had been invited to the wedding feast, Joseph would have been with her as well, after all, a wedding feast is a gathering of family and friends, but he wasn’t. At the crucifixion scene, the mother of Christ stands at the foot of the cross with her sister and with John, the beloved apostle, to whom Jesus entrusts his mother. Had Joseph been alive, there would have been no need to place Mary into the care of his best friend.

One question that some people ask is, since Jesus had the power to resurrect the dead, such as he did for his friend Lazarus, why did he not do the same for his father on earth? Jesus did not do this for Joseph because Joseph had fulfilled his mission on earth – to guard, nurture and raise the Son of God into manhood. Joseph had indeed accomplished what the Lord had asked of him and fulfilled it with the utmost of love, honour, and humility. We are told by tradition that Joseph died out of his overwhelming love for Jesus.

Joseph is invoked as the Patron of a Happy Death, since we believe that he had the privilege of dying in the arms of Jesus, his Lord and Son, and Mary, his most blessed spouse. According to the Venerable Maria de Agreda, he died in this way:

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St. Joseph’s noble soul had been purified more and more each day in the crucible of affliction and of divine love. As the time passed his bodily strength gradually diminished and he approached the unavoidable end...

… For nine days and nights before the death of Saint Joseph he uninterruptedly enjoyed the company and attendance of Mary and her divine Son. By command of the Lord the holy angels, three times on each of the nine days, furnished celestial music, mixing their hymns of praise with the benedictions of the sick man. Moreover, their humble but most precious dwelling was filled with the sweetest fragrance and odors so wonderful that they comforted not only Saint Joseph, but invigorated all the numerous persons who happened to come near the house.

On the day before he died, being wholly inflamed with divine love on account of these blessings, he was wrapped in an ecstasy which lasted twenty–four hours. The Lord himself supplied Joseph the strength he needed for this miracle. In this ecstasy he saw clearly the divine Essence, and, manifested therein, all that he had believed by faith the incomprehensible Divinity, the mystery of the Incarnation and Redemption, the militant Church with all its Sacraments and mysteries. The blessed Trinity commissioned and assigned him as the messenger of our Savior to the holy Patriarchs and Prophets of limbo; and commanded him to prepare them for their issuing forth from this bosom of Abraham to eternal rest and happiness. 

When Saint Joseph issued from this ecstasy his face shone with wonderful splendor and his soul was transformed by his vision of the essence of God. … The most humble Joseph, sealing his life with an act of self–abasement, asked pardon of his heavenly Spouse for all his deficiencies in her service and love … The last words which Saint Joseph spoke to his Spouse were: 

“Blessed art Thou among all women and elect of all the creatures. Let angels and men praise Thee; let all the generations know, praise and exalt thy dignity; and may in Thee be known, adored and exalted the name of the Most High through all the coming ages; may He be eternally praised for having created Thee so pleasing in His eyes and in the sight of all the blessed spirits. I hope to enjoy thy sight in the heavenly fatherland.”

Then this man of God, turning toward Christ, our Lord, in profoundest reverence, wished to kneel before Him. But the sweetest Jesus, coming near, received him in his arms, where, reclining his head upon them, Joseph said:

“My highest Lord and God, Son of the eternal Father, Creator and Redeemer of the World, give thy blessing to thy servant and the works of thy hand; pardon, O most merciful King, the faults which I have committed in thy service and interactions. I extol and magnify Thee and render eternal and heartfelt thanks to Thee for having … chosen me to be the spouse of thy true Mother; let thy greatness and glory be my thanksgiving for all eternity.” 

The Redeemer of the world gave him his benediction, saying: “My father, rest in peace and in the grace of my eternal Father and mine; and to the Prophets and Saints, who await thee in limbo, bring the joyful news of the approach of their redemption.” At these words of Jesus, and reclining in his arms, the most fortunate Saint Joseph expired and the Lord himself closed his eyes. At the same time the multitude of the angels, who attended upon their King and Queen, intoned hymns of praise in loud and harmonious voices. By command of the Lord they carried his most holy soul to the gathering–place of the Patriarchs and Prophets, where it was immediately recognized by all as clothed in the splendors of incomparable grace, as the putative father and the intimate friend of the Redeemer, worthy of highest veneration. … His arrival spread joy in this countless gathering of the saints by the announcement of their speedy rescue.  – Venerable Maria de Agreda
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St. Joseph, having completed the mission entrusted to him on earth, was now ready for the next stage in his service to God. He was to be a herald and comfort to the Patriarchs of Limbo – announcing their coming redemption. After the Ascension of Christ, he would then be brought to Heaven where he would take on another role in God’s plan – that of the intercessor. 

♔ THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM ♔
  
In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us that no one has entered Heaven except for himself, and that no one will enter it until he has returned to the Father. Jesus is the gateway to the Eternal Paradise of Heaven since it was He who conquered the corruption of death, but doesn’t the Old Testament tell us that Elias was carried up to Heaven in a chariot of fire?

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elias into heaven by a whirlwind . . . behold a fiery chariot and fiery horses parted them both asunder: and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven. — 4 Kings 2:1, 11

The prophets of the Old Testament were taken to Limbo, which is a type of waiting room to get into Heaven. Those who have not known Jesus Christ but who have led righteous lives go to this place. This would be the place of the dead, of those who had died before Jesus Himself was crucified and died, only to rise up from His tomb. As mentioned above in the extract from Venerable Maria de Agreda, Joseph is sent to Limbo in order to bring the good news that those souls would soon see the Messiah and enter into Heaven with Him.

The word “Limbo” refers to the edge of a hem on a garment, so the word is telling us that it is the border of two different places, and that is why this term is used to describe this place of waiting. The Bible itself does not use this word, but the place has been referred to as the Bosom of Abraham. This place was separated by a chasm with the righteous on one side and the wicked on the other. Jesus Himself refers to this place in the Parable of the Unjust Steward:

And it came to pass that the poor man died and was borne away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; but the rich man also died and was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus (the poor man) in his bosom. — St. Luke 16:22-24

St. Augustine (354-430) and St. Hippolytus of Rome (ca.170-236) both refer to Abraham’s Bosom as the place in the afterlife where the spirits await their entry into Heaven, and we cannot doubt that Joseph went to this place of Limbo. His mission on earth had just ended, but an even greater one was about to begin. We picture Joseph in the arms of his beloved Son as he sighs his last breath, with the peace of leaving this world behind to enter into his reward. His years of hard work and dutiful service to his family have paid off and have delivered him into eternal glory – in which we all hope to share.

Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, in peace . . . — St. Luke 2:29

St. Alphonsus Liguori: Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death. All Christians regard him as the advocate of the dying who had honored him during their life, and they do so for three reasons: First, because Jesus Christ loved him not only as a friend, but as a father, and on this account his mediation is far more efficacious than that of any other Saint. Second, because St. Joseph has obtained special power against the evil spirits, who tempt us with redoubled vigor at the hour of death. Third, the assistance given St. Joseph at his death by Jesus and Mary obtained for him the right to secure a holy and peaceful death for his servants. Hence, if they invoke him at the hour of death he will not only help them, but he will also obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and Mary.

The Death of St. Joseph is celebrated by the Coptic Church on Abib 26 (July 20 – Julian Calendar, August 2 – Gregorian Calendar)

 

♔ DEATH OF ST. JOSEPH'S PARENTS ♔ Revelations of Mother Cecilia Baij

For any accounting of the deaths of Joseph’s parents, we rely completely on the Imprimature & Nihil Obstat granted revelations of Mother Cecilia Baij, as no other venerable or saint has appeared to come forward with such revelations, as with much of St. Joseph’s childhood mentioned in earlier posts.

We are told that St. Joseph was 18 years of age when the time came for his parents to depart from this earth. His mother was first to die, due to illness. It was Joseph, who would one day become the Patron of a Happy Death, who ministered to her in her last days. Such happiness and consolation she experienced in her final moments in the presence of her holy son:

 

He rendered to his mother Rachel a most commendable assistance and service, strengthening and comforting her in her pain, constantly begging God to give her patience in her agonizing illness.

The holy youth spent many a night watching and assisting at his mother’s bedside, or praying for her. Just as he had previously shown his gratitude for her goodness to him, so now in these last moments of her life, his behavior was exemplary. He did not wish to leave her, and never tired of serving her or comforting her with his truly childlike, yet holy love. 

... Joseph remained with her until she expired. He was a great help not only to her, but also to his father, who was sorely grieved over the loss of so virtuous a companion in life.

St. Joseph, suffering and weakened by the loss of his mother, had little time to grieve, as it was soon after her departure that his father had become ill. He would continue in his role as devoted son to his father, just as he had done for his mother, ministering to him in his final moments:

It was not long afterwards that Joseph’s father Jacob became deathly sick. Joseph himself had been weakened considerably during the period of his mother’s painful illness, to which was now added this serious affliction. He fervently implored God for the help of His grace, and for the energy and strength needed to be able to assist his father during his final illness.

Joseph tended and served his father affectionately, both day and night, and encouraged him in the patient endurance of his sufferings and anxieties. As his father’s last hours arrived, Joseph attended him lovingly, encouraging and stimulating him to an ever greater trust in the divine goodness and mercy, and consoling him with his own conviction that he would soon enter into the domain of peace and joy. Thus, fully resigned and with a firm hope of obtaining eternal life, Joseph’s father finally expired. Once his father had breathed his last, Joseph withdrew and allowed his grief-stricken nature to find relief in tears. Indeed, he had every reason to be sorrowful, considering what a generous, loving and solicitous father he had lost.

After the departure of his father, we are shown the image of an 18 year old Joseph falling under the weight of his tears, not only allowing himself to grieve the loss of his parents whom he loved so dearly, but also, commending himself with filial trust to the care of the Heavenly Father:

After he had thus given free reign to his sorrow, he fell down upon his knees, and streaming with tears, besought the Divine Majesty for aid with these words:

“Oh God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-and my own God! Look down upon me, thus deprived of both father and mother. You have graciously placed them beyond reach of the cares of this mortal life, and I now beg You, that in Your goodness You take me entirely under Your protection. I give and surrender myself again entirely to You.

I have always been Yours’, and also have always been safeguarded and defended by You. I wish to renew my dedication to You, and desire to have   You reign over me completely. Since I am no longer subject to anyone but You, my God, give me the requisite grace, so that I too may be able to say with the royal prophet: ‘My father and mother have left me, but the Lord has taken me up’ (Psalm 27:10). From now on do You be my father, my protector, my mother, my refuge, my whole support. Do with me and mine as it pleases You. May Your holy will be accomplished in me in everything. Grant that I may always discern Your will, for it is my desire to follow it completely and perfectly.”
 

♔ 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. 

Happy & Holy Death of St Joseph

St. Luke 2:29 - Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace…  

St. Alphonsus Liguori:  Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death. All Christians regard him as the advocate of the dying who had honored him during their life, and they do so for three reasons: First, because Jesus Christ loved him not only as a friend, but as a father, and on this account his mediation is far more efficacious than that of any other Saint. Second, because St. Joseph has obtained special power against the evil spirits, who tempt us with redoubled vigor at the hour of death. Third, the assistance given St. Joseph at his death by Jesus and Mary obtained for him the right to secure a holy and peaceful death for his servants. Hence, if they invoke him at the hour of death he will not only help them, but he will also obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and Mary. 

Venerable Maria de Agreda: The day before St. Joseph died, being wholly inflamed with divine love, he was wrapped in an ecstasy... In this ecstasy he saw clearly the divine Essence, and, manifested therein, all that he had believed by faith: the incomprehensible Divinity, the mystery of the Incarnation and Redemption, the militant Church with all its Sacraments and mysteries. The Blessed Trinity commissioned and assigned him as the messenger of our Savior to the holy Patriarchs and Prophets of limbo; and commanded him to prepare them for their issuing forth from this bosom of Abraham to eternal rest and happiness. 

St. Francis de Sales:  St. Joseph, who had loved so much in his life, could not die but of love; … and having already performed the duty which was required in the childhood of Jesus, what remained was that he should say … to the Son, “O my child! As your heavenly Father put your tender body into my hands the day you came into this world, so do I render up my soul into your hands, this day of my departure out of the world.” Such, as I conceive, was the death of this great patriarch, a man elected to perform the most tender and loving offices that ever were or shall be performed to the Son of God, save those that were done by his sacred spouse, the true natural mother of the said Son.

St. Alphonsus Liguori:  "Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His faithful ones" (Ps. 115:6). After having faithfully served Jesus and Mary, St. Joseph reached the end of his life in the house at Nazareth. There, surrounded by angels, assisted by Jesus Christ the King of angels, and by Mary, his spouse, who placed themselves at each side of his poor bed, filled with the peace of paradise, he departed from this miserable life. Who shall ever be able to understand the sweetness, the consolation, the blessed hope, the acts of resignation, the flames of charity which the words of eternal life coming alternately from the lips of Jesus and Mary, breathed into the soul of Joseph at the end of his life?