Thought for the Day – 20 March – The Patronage of Saint Joseph

Thought for the Day – 20 March – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Patronage of Saint Joseph

“St Joseph is the Universal Patron of the Church.
We, who are loved children of the Church should invoke his special intercession, therefore, for the triumph and expansion of the Kingdom of God upon earth.

It is a sad but certain fact, that in every age, the Church is subject to persecution in many parts of the world, even in our own countries!
There is always some nation and often, many of them, where the Church is obstructed in her mission for the salvation of souls and for the true welfare of society.
Sometimes She is compelled to fight for her existence, with the weapons of the Spirit.
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but, powerful before God …” (2 Cor 10:4).

Sometimes the Church is in bonds and the blood of her Martyrs is poured forth to become the seed, from which new Christians will spring.
There is no reason for surprise at all this, for Christ Himself foretold it quite clearly.
“If they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you too …” (Jn 15:20) but “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18).

If we are loyal sons of the Church, we should pray that She may triumph.
We should ask for the special intercession of St Joseph, Her Heavenly Patron.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/20/thought-for-the-day-20-march-the-patronage-of-st-joseph/