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Vigil of the Nativity

 J.M.J.

 

ITE AD JOSEPH

 

"The Rector's Letter"

 

Dear friends and benefactors,

 

The contemplation of the creche that shelters the Holy Family contains inestimable virtues which emanate from it and relieve our aching souls with a pacifying and healing balm. With this end in view, let us approach it with respect.

 

Habituated to living according to the frantic rhythm of a disoriented world, we have lost the understanding of sacred things, which requires peace of soul and silence of heart. At best, we content ourselves with glancing over them with a distracted eye.

 

How can we reconcile this superficial approach with the necessary contemplation of the birth of the Infant-God? It is just the opposite: the extreme simplicity that the divine spectacle of the creche offers us must help us to conquer the spiritual self-indulgence that ruins our souls.

 

How, in the presence of the very simple scene of a young mother, of an unobtrusive father and of a newborn baby attended only by an ox and an ass, can we legitimately expect healing graces?

 

We can, firstly, by reason of its very simplicity, which calms our ordinary complications.

 

We can, because it prevents us from abandoning ourselves to the heightening of our emotions; there is nothing in the creche that can draw our eyes or satisfy our unwholesome curiosity.

 

We can, by the questions we ask ourselves before this Infant born, in such conditions and who obliges us to place ourselves well above human considerations.

 

We can, if we simply want to understand the reason for such austerity.

 

We can, finally, in order to live by the faith, penetrating with adoration the mystery of this divine birth. Indeed, the faith alone allows us to see in the young woman, the Mother; in her child, our God; and in the father, St. Joseph giving his protection.

 

Thus, the creche teaches us in a thousand and one ways, but, above all, we must carefully draw from it a lesson of faith.

 

Yet, we well know that this virtue of faith no longer plays the role it must play in our lives. We have lost the understanding of it and, consequently, it no longer plays the role of a beacon which at the same time enlightens and protects.

 

The ambient naturalism prevents us, whether we like it or not, from profiting from the faith's luminous simplicity and observing, with a peaceful view, human realities, sometimes so complex.

 

Thanks to the faith, we can put our lives in order and make an act of adoration. Is this not what the creche and the birth of Our Lord teach us? His entire life was nothing other than an offering to His Father so as to raise up a generation of adorers.

 

What does it matter where we are or what we are doing? It is of little importance whether or not we are known or esteemed. To adore alone matters.

 

To accomplish this task, we must possess souls of faith, of a living and active faith. This is why, on this Christmas Eve, we must go to Joseph. "Ite ad Joseph."

 

We invite you to do so by the prayer we ask you to address to St.

Joseph each day from December 25 to February 2.

 

On the eve of beginning our construction in Virginia, we want to place this enterprise under his wise government. This is the first and practical reason of the prayer to St. Joseph accompanying this letter.

 

But beyond this concrete intention, we wish to insistently invite you to ask him to give us this spirit of faith of which we are so much in need. We forget too often and too easily that St. Joseph had to be a man of faith to show himself worthy of the mission he had received from God, and of the exalted mystery of which he was the witness and the guardian.

 

Let us ask him the grace to adore in our turn by a life of purity, of work, and of devotion. Let us ask him above all to grant us a small part of his understanding of the government of Providence and of his docility to submit to it, whatever it may be.

 

Finally, allow us to assure you ardently of our gratitude for your generosity, the tangible sign that Providence watches over us during this delicate period of the construction of a seminary and its church.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

In Christo sacerdote et Maria,

Fr. Yves le Roux

 

From "The Rector's Letter" -- December 2011

(http://stas.org/publications/rectors-letters-separator/rectors-letter/549-ite-ad-joseph.html)

 

THE PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH

(from December 25 to February 2)

 

O glorious St. Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to thee do we raise our hearts and hands to implore thy powerful intercession in obtaining from the benign heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special favor we now implore:

 

the successful completion of the construction of the new St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary. O Guardian of the Word Incarnate, we have confidence that thy prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

 

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I love you, save souls!

 

--

Sincerely in Christ,

Our Lady of the Rosary Library

"Pray and work for souls"

http://olrl.org

 

 

 

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For good Catholic books, articles and

religious goods visit www.olrl.org.

 

 

 

 

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