I would like to share some insights from a profound book by Fr. Marie-Dominique Philippe, O.P. entitled The Mystery of St. Joseph. In his book, he focuses on the Cross and paternal authority: <> "The labor of the Cross is no longer the labor that results in a finished product; it is Jesus offering his body and as a victim of love. <> "Everything is fulfilled in the Cross. Joseph experienced this when the twelve year old Jesus began to work in teaching the doctors of the Temple - for teaching is clearly a work; it is a work of someone who wants to bear witness to the truth. However, this work is not true until it is associated with the Cross and with the Eucharist. <>"St. Joseph shows us the kind of work that God loves: a work that is humble, hidden, fervent and carried out in poverty. ("Blessed are the poor in spirit.") Fr. Philippe goes on to say that: "mankind has a lot of trouble understanding paternal authority, and it's one of the clearest attacks of the devil in the world today; he absolutely cannot stand paternal authority, hence he wants to destroy it and in order to do so, he wants to kill the paternal heart of man. <> "And once the father has been killed off, then the mother is killed as well, because it is only the father who can protect a mother; she can no longer be a mother if she is not protected by the father. <> "God radically renews everything in the New Covenant and He does so from within a family. A divine economy is tied to the family. <> "Everything is renewed through Mary's heart and Joseph's paternal authority is itself inscribed in Mary's heart. There is something completely new here; paternal authority is now linked to the mystery of the source, of a maternal fruitfulness which comes directly from God. In her virginal motherhood, Mary is linked directly to the Father; it is in Him that she is 'source'. <> "Let us try to understand Joseph's paternal authority. It is far greater than that of the patriarchs, for it is an authority over the Son of God. <> "Authority varies in greatness accordingly to the people over whom it is exercised. Is this not the reason why Scripture tells us that 'the Lord honors the father in his children?' <> "Hence we can see what exactly Joseph's authority must have been - an authority which will be glorified by Christ's priesthood, by the Beloved Son of the Father! St. Joseph holds authority over Him who is the Beloved Son. Why? Because he is linked to Mary. Fr. Philippe goes on to say that since "St. 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 St. Joseph the Blessed Virgin as spouse, God appointed him to be not only her life's companion, the witness of her motherhood, the protector of her honor, but also, by virtue of the conjugal tie, a participator in her sublime dignity. <> "St. Joseph shines among all mankind by the most august dignity, since by Divine Will, he was the guardian of the Son of God and thought of as His father among men. Hence it came about that the Word of God was humbly subject to Joseph, that He obeyed him, that He rendered 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 St. Joseph became the guardian, the administrator and the legal defender of the divine house whose chief he was. <> "And during the whole course of St. Joseph's life, he fulfilled those charges and those duties." This will give you a sample of some of the insights that will be presented at our conference. We pray that you will make every sacrifice to promote it and to attend.Please call us for a list of nearby accommodations if our lodging at Catholic Familyland is booked. This is the age of St. Joseph whom we look to as the Protector of the Holy Family and Protector of families in this third millennium. Moving forward with courage in these troubled times If we are going to reverse the diabolical trends of today, the only thing that is powerful enough to do that is Total Consecration to Jesus, through Mary, in union with St. Joseph. Cardinal Luigi Ciappi, who was the papal theologian for three Popes, and the Apostolate's theological director, called this act of consecration the Marian Multiplier.He stated that, "when we give all our merits to Mary, She multiplies them by her own incalculable merits. This puts into motion positive spiritual forces to repair the damage due to sin and significantly change the course of history, if enough make this commitment." When we consecrate countless families in the Truth there are more graces to be multiplied, and that power is the only thing Satan is really afraid of today - the only thing! This is what the Apostolate for Family Consecration has been called to do since its founding in 1975. Through God's grace and the prayers and sacrifices of so many, we have spread the news of consecration throughout the world, with our television ministry in Asia (which is the largest Catholic TV presence, reaching 500 million homes), Familyland.TV video on demand, and our formation and consecration resources. In plain language, we need your help! We are not stopping, but unless enough respond, we will not be able to continue with the development of our Family Catechism Teaching Guides and other vital projects. Our Family Catechism is becoming the catechism of the world with FamilyCatechism.com backing it up. Please visit this website and see the new languages just added! Our country is rapidly slipping into the dark side and once that tyranny takes hold, we will be forced to go underground to teach our faith. We will no longer have the powerful tool of the internet or free assembly at our disposal! This does not have to happen if we act now! We pray that you will increase your sacrificial monthly tithe and give a major sacrificial gift from your need. We are asking you to join our fundraising team to move this work out to our entire country and world. Please join us while we still have the freedom to do so much good. The virtue of the month of September is poverty and the Scripture verse is 2 Corinthians 8:9 - "Remember how generous the Lord Jesus was: he was rich but he became poor for your sake to make you rich out of his poverty." We hope to see you in October for the Totus Tuus Conference. Bring your children,they will either be the greatest evangelists or martyrs of the 21st century. May God truly bless and keep you. | 
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