March 5th - St. John Joseph of the Cross, Visionary
Confessor, priest, Franciscan Friar
(1654-1734)
Saint John Joseph of the Cross was born on the feast of the Assumption in
1654,
on the island of Ischia in the kingdom of Naples. From his childhood he
was a
model of virtue, and in his sixteenth year he entered the Franciscan Order
of
the Strict Observance, or Reform of Saint Peter of Alcantara, at Naples.
Such
was the edification he gave in his Order, that within three years after
his
profession he was sent to found a monastery in Piedmont. He assisted in
its
construction himself and established there the most perfect silence and
monastic
fervor.
One day Saint John Joseph was found in the chapel in ecstasy, raised far
above
the floor. He won the hearts of all his religious, and became a priest out
of
obedience to his Superiors. He obtained what seemed to be an inspired
knowledge
of moral theology, in prayer and silence. He assisted at the death of his
dear
mother who rejoiced and seemed to live again in his presence, and after he
had
sung the Mass for the repose of her soul, saw her soul ascend to heaven,
to pray
thereafter their God face to face.
With his superiors' permission he established another convent and drew up
rules
for the Community, which the Holy See confirmed. Afterward he became a
master of
novices vigilant and filled with gentleness, and of a constantly even
disposition. Some time later he was made Provincial of the Province of
Naples,
erected in the beginning of the 18th century by Clement XI. He labored
hard to
establish in Italy this branch of his Order, which the Sovereign Pontiff
had
separated from the same branch in Spain. His ministry brought him many
sufferings, especially moral sufferings occasioned by numerous calumnies.
Nonetheless, the Saint succeeded in his undertakings, striving to
inculcate in
his subjects the double spirit of contemplation and penance which Saint
Peter of
Alcantara had bequeathed to the Franciscans of the Strict Observance. He
gave
them the example of the most sublime virtues, especially of humility and
religious discipline. God rewarded his zeal with numerous gifts in the
supernatural order, such as those of prophecy and miracles.
Finally, consumed by labors for the glory of God, he was called to his
reward.
Stricken with apoplexy, he died an octogenarian in his convent at Naples,
March
5, 1734. Countless posthumous miracles confirmed the sanctity and glory of
the
Saint, and he was canonized in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI.
Reflection. Christ by His death has acquired for Christians the grace of
the
state of interior death, by which the heart in its depths cannot be moved
by any
attraction coming from the world. Its honors, its riches, its pleasures
are as
though offered to a dead person. This is a state which must be carefully
conserved and cherished by each one of us. (Jean-Jacques Olier)
Source: Lives of the Saints for Every Day of the Year, edited by Rev. Hugo
Hoever, S.O. Cist., Ph.D. (Catholic Book Publishing: New York, 1951-1955).
<><><><>
"He who allows himself to be ruled or guided by the lower and animal part
of
his nature, deserves to be called a beast rather than a man"
-St. Vincent de Paul
Philip, Count of Nemours, after leading a very bad life, experienced on
his
deathbed wonderful contrition, so that he begged his confessor to have his
body
carried to the public square and left there, saying, "I have lived like a
dog,
and like a dog I ought to die"
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". March - Mortification)
Bible Quote:
35. Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands. 36. And you
yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from
the
wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him
immediately. 37.
Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find
watching.
Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down to
meat,
and passing will minister unto them.
- (Luke 12:35-37)
<><><><>
PRAYER FOR LENT 2008
By Fr. Héctor R.G. Pérez y Robles, STD
Most adorable Jesus, behold me prostrate at Thy feet, at the foot of Thy
Cross
which Thou didst carry and on which Thou wert crucified for love of me, a
most
abject sinner. How many times in my life, indeed, how many times a day do
I not
profess to love Thee with all my heart above all else; above anyone else.
And
how many times in my life and, in fact, every single day do I not betray
my
profession of love and fidelity by being unfaithful to Thee through sin,
whether
venial or, alas, even mortal ! Make me realize the import of my sins, O
God !
Let me realize that I not only risk the eternal loss of my soul to the
fires of
Hell, but that I also hurt all my brothers and sisters who are members of
Thy
Mystical Body, the Holy Catholic Church, and that I also weaken the
possibilities of others who are not yet members of Hers to have the
strength and
the courage to come humbly to Her for the saving waters of Baptism and the
sacred Anointing of Confirmation. Let me see that by my sins I not only
deny
myself the privilege of receiving Thy Body and Blood in Holy Communion but
even
of those others whom I affect by my sinfulness ! Let it be my purpose this
Lent
to amend my life and change my sinful ways so that I may not impede the
work of
Thy Church, the conversion of souls, and my own spiritual growth of which
I
stand in such dire need. Help me, O sweet Jesus Crucified ! Help me, O
Sorrowful
Mother Mary and all ye Saints of God ! Let this Lent and my life itself
make a
difference to all, and especially to me. This is my humble but ardent
prayer, O
most merciful Jesus ! Amen.
O Suffering Jesus ! O Sorrowful Mother !
|
