SEVENTH DAY

When God, destines anyone for a particular office, He gives him the graces that fit him for it. Therefore, since God chose St. Joseph to fill the office of father over the person of the Incarnate Word, we must certainly believe that he conferred upon him all the sanctity which belonged to such an office.

Gerson says that among other privileges Joseph had three which were special to him:

1. That he was sanctified in his mother's womb, as were Jeremias and St. John the Baptist.

2. That he was at the same time confirmed in grace.

3. That he was always exempt from the inclinations of concupiscence-a privilege with which St. Joseph by the merit of his purity, favors his devout clients by delivering them from carnal appetites.

Let us then frequently say:

St. Joseph, shining light of chastity, preserve the angelic virtue in me.

PRAYER

Most holy patriarch, St. Joseph, I rejoice at the great dignity to which you have been raised in being made foster father of the Son of God, endowed with authority to command Him Whom heaven and earth obey.

My holy patron, since Jesus Himself respected and served you as His father, I, too, wish to enroll myself in your service. I choose you, after Mary, for my principal advocate and protector. I promise to honor you every day with some special devotion, and each day I will place myself under your protection.

As you enjoyed the sweet company of Jesus and Mary during your life on earth, grant that I may ever live close to them and never be separated from God by losing His grace. And as you were assisted by Jesus and Mary at the hour of your death, so grant me protection at the hour of my death, that, dying in your presence and that of Jesus and Mary, I may one day go to thank you in paradise, and in your company praise and love God for all eternity. Amen.

St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, protect us.

Protect our Holy Father, the Pope, and our Mother, Holy Church.