"Sanctification of the Family" (Part 2) - Sister Lucia

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters ,

My last post on this chapter of Sister Lucia of Fatima’s book stated:

God chose to conclude the Message in Fatima, in October 1917 with three further apparitions which I regard as three more calls placed before us for our consideration, so that we may keep them in mind during our earthly pilgrimage…

…The first was the apparition of the Holy Family: Our Lady, and the Child Jesus in the arms of St. Joseph, blessing the people.

I want to continue some of Sister’s comments on the family in this thread but I also wanted to let you know that in the next few chapters of her book she speaks about the other two apparitions besides the Holy Family, included in October 1917.

In the second of the three further apparitions in October 1917, Our Lord appeared as the Perfect Man and Our Lady as Our Lady of Sorrows. In the third, Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I’ll post more on these two in the future, God willing.

There are many things about the Family in Sister’s chapter I chose this:
.

…in the message of Fatima, God calls on us to turn our eyes to the Holy Family of Nazareth, into which He chose to be born, and to grow in grace and stature, in order to present to us a model to imitate as our footsteps tread the path of our pilgrimage to heaven.

Her words are simple but need to be heard with an open and prayerful heart. I’d be grateful to hear anyone’s thoughts, pondering this “call to sanctify the family”. Thanks.

 

[patricius79]

Dear Brothers and Sisters ,

My last post on this chapter of Sister Lucia of Fatima’s book stated:

I want to continue some of Sister’s comments on the family in this thread but I also wanted to let you know that in the next few chapters of her book she speaks about the other two apparitions besides the Holy Family, included in October 1917.

In the second of the three further apparitions in October 1917, Our Lord appeared as the Perfect Man and Our Lady as Our Lady of Sorrows. In the third, Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I’ll post more on these two in the future, God willing.

There are many things about the Family in Sister’s chapter I chose this:
.
Her words are simple but need to be heard with an open and prayerful heart. I’d be grateful to hear anyone’s thoughts, pondering this “call to sanctify the family”. Thanks.

Dear sister, I think that we need an increase in devotion to the Holy Family, and to each person.

We need a great increase in devotion to Jesus through Mary. And I’m learning to see St. Joseph as a mediator with Jesus through Mary. I’m learning to see how charitable and helpful he is.

In times when so many fathers, including myself, are struggling, and so many people have father issues, St. Joseph can be so helpful.

He can provide the solid, manly support that we need.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear sister, I think that we need an increase in devotion to the Holy Family, and to each person.

We need a great increase in devotion to Jesus through Mary. And I’m learning to see St. Joseph as a mediator with Jesus through Mary. I’m learning to see how charitable and helpful he is.

In times when so many fathers, including myself, are struggling, and so many people have father issues, St. Joseph can be so helpful.

He can provide the solid, manly support that we need.

Dear brother Pat,

Yes, we certainly need an authentic “Re-Evangelization” as St. JPII called it. Mary as the Star of this new Evangelization can lead the way as Mother and Model for the Church. God has given Mary the unique role as Mother of our Saviour Jesus – He came to us by the power of the Holy Spirit, through her and He continues to come through her unto the end of the age.

I know you wrote in another thread on CAF that you were reading Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange’s book: “Mother of the Savior And Our Interior Life” so perhaps you have read the final chapter in that book on St. Joseph. It is beautiful and gives us much to ponder. Father’s final words on the chapter which concludes his book is this:

Grace has become fruitful in him and he will sahre its fruit with all who strive to attain to the life which is “hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3)

 

[patricius79]

Dear brother Pat,

Yes, we certainly need an authentic “Re-Evangelization” as St. JPII called it. Mary as the Star of this new Evangelization can lead the way as Mother and Model for the Church. God has given Mary the unique role as Mother of our Saviour Jesus – He came to us by the power of the Holy Spirit, through her and He continues to come through her unto the end of the age.

I know you wrote in another thread on CAF that you were reading Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange’s book: “Mother of the Savior And Our Interior Life” so perhaps you have read the final chapter in that book on St. Joseph. It is beautiful and gives us much to ponder. Father’s final words on the chapter which concludes his book is this:

Dear sister,

I remember Fr. Lagrange saying that Mary and Joseph–both ever-virgin–shared themselves and their gifts with one another in marriage, so that St. Joseph shared in Mary’s holiness.

Since she approaches as near to God as is possible for a creature, St. Joseph’s holiness must be far above any other saint.

He’s a good one to ask for help.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear sister,

I remember Fr. Lagrange saying that Mary and Joseph–both ever-virgin–shared themselves and their gifts with one another in marriage, so that St. Joseph shared in Mary’s holiness.

Since she approaches as near to God as is possible for a creature, St. Joseph’s holiness must be far above any other saint.

He’s a good one to ask for help.

Thanks dear brother Pat,

Yes, St. Joseph does rise above the other saints because of His nearness to Jesus and Mary. God gave Him great Grace to fulfill his vocation as husband of Mary and Guardian of the Child Jesus on earth and now as Protector of the Church from heaven. He is always a good one to ask for help! I pray to him, in particular for my husband and all the men and boys in the world - especially those who are in need of holy models of fatherhood in their families. I pray to Joseph for other intentions as well.

 

[patricius79]

Thanks dear brother Pat,

Yes, St. Joseph does rise above the other saints because of His nearness to Jesus and Mary. God gave Him great Grace to fulfill his vocation as husband of Mary and Guardian of the Child Jesus on earth and now as Protector of the Church from heaven. He is always a good one to ask for help! I pray to him, in particular for my husband and all the men and boys in the world - especially those who are in need of holy models of fatherhood in their families. I pray to Joseph for other intentions as well.

I for example need much help from St. Joseph as a father and husband.

Pope Leo 13 sure wrote a lot of encyclicals.

here’s one he wrote about St. Joseph in case anyone is interested:

papalencyclicals.net/Leo13/l13jos.htm
"3. The special motives for which St. Joseph has been proclaimed Patron of the Church, and from which the Church looks for singular benefit from his patronage and protection, are that Joseph was the spouse of Mary and that he was reputed the Father of Jesus Christ. From these sources have sprung his dignity, his holiness, his glory. In truth, the dignity of the Mother of God is so lofty that naught created can rank above it. But as Joseph has been united to the Blessed Virgin by the ties of marriage, it may not be doubted that he approached nearer than any to the eminent dignity by which the Mother of God surpasses so nobly all created natures. For marriage is the most intimate of all unions which from its essence imparts a community of gifts between those that by it are joined together. Thus in giving Joseph the Blessed Virgin as spouse, God appointed him to be not only her life’s companion, the witness of her maidenhood, the protector of her honor, but also, by virtue of the conjugal tie, a participator in her sublime dignity. And Joseph shines among all mankind by the most august dignity, since by divine will, he was the guardian of the Son of God and reputed as His father among men. Hence it came about that the Word of God was humbly subject to Joseph, that He obeyed him, and that He rendered to him all those offices that children are bound to render to their parents. From this two-fold dignity flowed the obligation which nature lays upon the head of families, so that Joseph became the guardian, the administrator, and the legal defender of the divine house whose chief he was. And during the whole course of his life he fulfilled those charges and those duties. He set himself to protect with a mighty love and a daily solicitude his spouse and the Divine Infant; regularly by his work he earned what was necessary for the one and the other for nourishment and clothing; he guarded from death the Child threatened by a monarch’s jealousy, and found for Him a refuge; in the miseries of the journey and in the bitternesses of exile he was ever the companion, the assistance, and the upholder of the Virgin and of Jesus. "

 

[MariaChristi]

I for example need much help from St. Joseph as a father and husband.

Pope Leo 13 sure wrote a lot of encyclicals.

here’s one he wrote about St. Joseph in case anyone is interested:

papalencyclicals.net/Leo13/l13jos.htm
"3. The special motives for which St. Joseph has been proclaimed Patron of the Church, and from which the Church looks for singular benefit from his patronage and protection, are that Joseph was the spouse of Mary and that he was reputed the Father of Jesus Christ. From these sources have sprung his dignity, his holiness, his glory. In truth, the dignity of the Mother of God is so lofty that naught created can rank above it. But as Joseph has been united to the Blessed Virgin by the ties of marriage, it may not be doubted that he approached nearer than any to the eminent dignity by which the Mother of God surpasses so nobly all created natures. For marriage is the most intimate of all unions which from its essence imparts a community of gifts between those that by it are joined together. Thus in giving Joseph the Blessed Virgin as spouse, God appointed him to be not only her life’s companion, the witness of her maidenhood, the protector of her honor, but also, by virtue of the conjugal tie, a participator in her sublime dignity. And Joseph shines among all mankind by the most august dignity, since by divine will, he was the guardian of the Son of God and reputed as His father among men. Hence it came about that the Word of God was humbly subject to Joseph, that He obeyed him, and that He rendered to him all those offices that children are bound to render to their parents. From this two-fold dignity flowed the obligation which nature lays upon the head of families, so that Joseph became the guardian, the administrator, and the legal defender of the divine house whose chief he was. And during the whole course of his life he fulfilled those charges and those duties. He set himself to protect with a mighty love and a daily solicitude his spouse and the Divine Infant; regularly by his work he earned what was necessary for the one and the other for nourishment and clothing; he guarded from death the Child threatened by a monarch’s jealousy, and found for Him a refuge; in the miseries of the journey and in the bitternesses of exile he was ever the companion, the assistance, and the upholder of the Virgin and of Jesus. "

Dear brother Pat,

Thanks so much for the excerpt from Pope Leo XIII on St. Joseph. You are not the only one who needs help as husband and father! All of us need to honor and go to St. Joseph for his intercession. It seems to me that is what Sister Lucia learned from the apparition given to the three Children at Fatima, when they saw the Holy Family and particularly in receiving the blessing from both Baby Jesus and St. Joseph together, as Joseph held the Child in his arms.

In her book,* “Calls” From the Message of Fatima* Her Chapter on the “Sanctification of the Family” is powerful and much needed in our time. It was the last book she wrote before her death.