Preparing for Christmas (yes, already)

When I learned about this brand new Advent reflection on Joe written by Fr. Mark Toups, I knew I had to share it with all of you.

I already bought mine and I encourage you to do the same. As Fr Mark said in a short introductory video, if we prepare for a day, then  nothing will change, but if we prepare for a Person, then we will change. Through this Advent reflection we will be able to prepare for Jesus as Joe did.

You can purchase the book (you can also purchase along with it a DVD of accompanying videos) at Ascension Press. Perhaps, you might buy it for someone you think needs to encounter Joe.

Jesus, Joe, and JP II

Yesterday, we celebrated the memory of Pope St. John Paul II. I cannot help but recall his encyclical about Joe, Redemptoris Custos. Here is a little paragraph from it (27), but I cannot recommend highly enough the whole encyclical if you have not already.

Why should the "fatherly" love of Joseph not have had an influence upon the "filial" love of Jesus? And vice versa why should the "filial" love of Jesus not have had an influence upon the "fatherly" love of Joseph, thus leading to a further deepening of their unique relationship? Those souls most sensitive to the impulses of divine love have rightly seen in Joseph a brilliant example of the interior life.

Joe, Teresa and Avila

Yesterday, we celebrated the memory of St Teresa of Avila. It is well known that she had a great devotion to Joe, but did you know that she placed her first reformed Carmel under his patronage? This statue of Joe is still at this Carmel.

200 Men Consecrate Themselves to Joe

A couple days ago I came across this article about 200 college men who consecrated themselves to Joe. How awesome would it be if we could get another 200 young men to do the same!

The Visitation of Mary, with Joe?

Among the various depictions of Joe at St Jude’s in Elyria, this particular stained glass of the Visitation caught my attention. What strikes me is that Joe is depicted in the scene of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth but he is never mentioned in this part of the story (Luke 1:39-56).

I was wondering if there is a tradition of Joe accompanying Mary to visit Elizabeth, and so I did what everyone else does, I googled it. I came across this article by Fr Edward Looney that shortly asks the question from three sources: Scripture, private revelations, and art. His conclusion... there’s no way of knowing for sure.

One of the benefits of the holding the view that Joe accompanied Mary is it offers an answer to how Joseph found Mary “with child through the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18). In fact, we could understand this passage in a new way: Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, before others were able to know, through the Holy Spirit, Who spoke through Elizabeth that Mary was pregnant (Luke 1:41-45).