Saint Joseph the Workman!
Today is the feast of Saint Joseph the Workman. It is also the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary! So today, let us honor both of them, spouses and parents of Our Blessed Lord.
From the Tridentine Mass…
Wisdom rendered to the just the
wages of their labors, and conducted
them in a wonderful way: and she was
to them for a covert by day, and for the
light of stars by night.
O God, Creator of all things, Who dost
impose on man the law of work; grant
in Thy goodness that, by the example
and patronage of blessed Joseph, we
may both accomplish the work Thou
dost command and attain the reward
Thou hast promised.
Alleluia, alleluia.
In whatever
tribulation they shall cry to me, I will
hear them and be their protector
always.
Make us, Joseph, to
lead an innocent life: and may it ever
be preserved by thy patronage.
May the works of our hands, that we
offer Thee in sacrifice, O Lord,
become for us, by the intercession of
blessed Joseph, a pledge of unity and
peace.
It is truly meet and just, right and for
our salvation, that we should at all
times and in all places give thanks to
Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty,
eternal God: and that we should with
due praise magnify, bless, and
proclaim Thee on the Feast of blessed
Joseph; who being a just man, was
given by Thee as Spouse to the Virgin
Mother of God, and, as a faithful and
prudent servant, was set over Thy
Family, that with fatherly care he might
guard Thine only-begotten Son,
conceived by the overshadowing
of the Holy Spirit, even Jesus Christ
our Lord. Through Whom the Angels
praise Thy majesty, the Dominations
adore, the Powers tremble: the
heavens and the hosts of heaven, and
the blessed Seraphim, together
celebrate in exultation. With whom,
we pray Thee, command that our
voices of supplication also be admitted
in confessing Thee, saying:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth. Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis! 🕇 Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis!
O Sanctus Ioseph, pro nobis hac hora oro!
70 Percent Of U.S. Farmers Say...
…That They Will Not Be Able To Purchase All The Fertilizer They Need In 2026
Excerpt:
“We might want to listen to what the farmers are telling us, because if they don’t grow our food we do not eat. Coming into this year, we were already facing the worst farming crisis in America in at least 50 years. Farmers all over the nation are drowning in debt, and farm bankruptcies have been soaring. In all my years, I have never seen America’s farmers so angry, and now the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has made things much worse. Spring planting season is here and there is a global scramble for whatever supplies of nitrogen fertilizer that happen to be available. As a result, prices have skyrocketed and farmers all over the planet are facing some incredibly tough choices.
That is even true here in the United States.
According to a brand new survey that was just conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation, 70 percent of U.S. farmers say that they will not be able to purchase all of the fertilizer that they need in 2026 because it has become so expensive.”
Buy fresh seeds! Start a garden! Build community!
Please note, when we put up links, it is not necessarily an endorsement of the website.
Is God Telling Us Something? Fireballs From the Sky....
To continue from the previous post, where I ask the question, “Is a great chastisement upon us?”…here are some links regarding the recent flurry of bright meteors across the world….
NASA explains what the fireball seen over parts of the northeast was
Long-duration fireball streaks across western Turkey skies, possibly an Earth-grazing meteor
Fireball sightings are surging across the US — here's what's really going on
Daylight fireballs: What’s behind the surge of brilliant meteors visible across the globe?
War with Iran: Massive Energy Shock Unfolding...
This changes EVERYTHING. Now.
Hopefully the worst won’t happen. But hope is not a strategy.
ALERT: Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz
“Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and threatened to fire at any ship passing through it. The narrow waterway is a vital chokepoint for global oil and gas, but also for other commodities such as fertiliser. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks with Noam Raydan, a maritime risk expert at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, about the potential impact of the Strait's closure and how Iran could further escalate the situation.”
Watch video…
Iran shuts down the Strait of Hormuz. What more could it do?
Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord
Today is Epiphany in the post-conciliar calendar of the USA. In the trad, it is always January 6th, immediately following the 12 Days of Christmas.
Here is the traditional Epiphany Blessing of the Home, which has become more popular in recent years. This version is Nomen Christi Apostolate’s, based on research involving several good sources. How wonderful to revive these treasures of our Holy Faith!
epiphany blessing of the home PDF
And here is our Epiphany Topic for further info.
The Epiphany Blessing format suggests singing a hymn at the end, here is…
“We Three Kings of Orient Are”
This Christmas Song Should Be Much Better Known!
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol
by Sir John Rutter
Going through the hills on a night all starry
on the way to Bethlehem,
far away I heard a shepherd boy piping
on the way to Bethlehem
Angels in the sky brought this message nigh
Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King
is come to bring us peace on earth,
and He's lying cradled there at Bethlehem
Tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily
on the way to Bethlehem,
who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely
on the way to Bethlehem?
None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely
on the way to Bethlehem,
but a King will hear me play sweet lullabies
when I get to Bethlehem
Angels in the sky came down from on high,
hovered o'er the manger where the Babe was lying
cradled in the arms of His mother Mary,
sleeping now at Bethlehem
Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily,
is He there at Bethlehem?
I will find Him soon by the star shining brightly
in the sky o'er Bethlehem
May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily,
come with you to Bethlehem?
Pay my homage too at the new King's cradle,
is it far to Bethlehem?
Angels in the sky brought this message nigh
Dance and sing for joy that Christ the infant King
is born this night in lowly stable yonder,
born for you at Bethlehem
I only recently discovered this song and wondered where it’s been my whole life! Why don’t we hear it more often? It’s wonderful!
Composer Sir John Rutter wrote Shepherd’s Pipe Carol (I believe the lyrics as well) when he was only about 21 and it’s the thing that first placed him on the musical map at that young age. He went on to an illustrious career, chiefly known for choral music, much of which is spiritual. At the age of 80, he seems to still be going strong.
One might call this carol genius, unique among Christmas songs, crisp and joyful (if performed right), yet still with poignant moments. You may notice each verse ends with “Bethlehem.” This is Hebrew (Ba-it Lechem), meaning “House of Bread.” Such was Divine Providence that the Bread of Life was born in Bethlehem!
”And Jesus said to them:
I Am the Bread of Life:
he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that
believeth in me shall never thirst.”
John 6:35
Another Post-Holy Door Thought
To be a saint is to live fully in reality.
Thoughts for the Day
My dear readers, this is what is on my mind today, as my first offering after passing through the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica…
Anything you can’t take with you is not your life.
And on this feast of Saint Margaret Mary…