17/03/2026
*NOVENA TO ST JOSEPH*
_@Aheartopenedforall_
8th day
19th of March is the Feast Day of St Joseph Husband of our Mother Mary.
The Novena has Begun in all our groups (Aheartopenedforall and My Mother my Helper
Join us and Pray for Families, for your Father, Husband, Brother, Boss in the Office, Friend, Son etc. There is someone you have to pray For.
Thank you
*THE EIGHT DAY*
We Begin in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
*Act of Contrition...*
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.
*INTENTIONS*
Today let us Pray for all our *PRIESTS* as we always call them by the name *"FATHER"*
*REFLECTIONS* ( _very important)_
*Many do not understand Jesus' teaching found in the Gospel of St. Matthew, when He said,* *"Do not call anyone on earth your father. Only one is your father, the One in heaven" (Mtt. 23:9).*
Taken literally, we would have to wonder why we do use the title "Father" when Jesus seems to forbid it. First, we must remember the context of the passage.
Jesus is addressing the hypocrisy of the scribes and the Pharisees who are the learned religious leaders of Judaism.
Our Lord castigates them for not providing good example; for creating erroneous spiritual burdens for others with their various rules and regulations; for being haughty in exercising their office and for promoting themselves by looking for places of honor, seeking marks of respect and wearing ostentatious symbols.
Basically, the scribes and Pharisees had forgotten that they were called to serve the Lord and those entrusted to their care with humility and generous spirit.
Given that context, Jesus says not to call anyone on earth by the title, "Rabbi," "Father" or "Teacher," in the sense of arrogating to oneself an authority which rests with God and of forgetting the responsibility of the title.
Yes, as Jesus said, only the heavenly Father is the true Father, and the Messiah, the true teacher and rabbi.
Nevertheless, we do use these titles in common parlance: We call those who instruct us and others "teacher"; our male parent "father"; and Jewish religious leaders "rabbi."
Especially in a religious sense, those who serve the Lord and represent His authority, as a teacher, parent and especially a priest, must be mindful of exercising it diligently, humbly and courageously.
To use this authority for self-aggrandizement is pure hypocrisy.
Jesus said at the end of this passage, "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."
Since the earliest times of our Church, we have used the title "Father" for religious leaders.
Bishops, who are the shepherds of the local Church community and the authentic teachers of the faith, were given the title "Father."
Actually, until about the year AD 400, a bishop was called "Papa" for Father; this title was then restricted solely to addressing the Bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter, and in English was rendered "Pope."
In an early form of his rule, St. Benedict (d. c. 547) designated the title to spiritual confessors, since they were the guardians of souls.
Moreover, the word "abbot," denoting the leader in faith of the monastic community, is derived from the word abba, the Aramaic Hebrew word for father, but in the very familiar sense of "Daddy."
On a more personal note, the title for me is very humbling. As a priest, "Father" reminds me that I am entrusted with a grave responsibility by our Lord among His faithful people.
Just as a father must nourish, instruct, challenge, correct, forgive, listen and sustain, the priest must meet the spiritual needs of those entrusted to his care, providing them with the nourishment of our Lord through the sacraments.
He must preach the Gospel without fervor and conviction in accord with the mind of the Church, challenging all to continue on that path of conversion which leads to holiness.
He must correct those who have erred but with mercy and compassion.
In the same spirit as the father with his prodigal son, the priest must reconcile sinners who have gone astray but seek a way back to God.
As a father listens to his child, so must a priest listen to his spiritual children, providing counsel and consolation.
A priest must also be mindful of the "physical" needs of his flock which are food, housing, clothing and education.
While priests may be celibate, the words of our Lord to His Apostles ring true: "I give you My word, there is not one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children or property for Me and for the Gospel who will not receive in this present age a hundred times as many homes, brothers and sisters, mothers, children and property and in the age to come, everlasting life" (Mk 10:29-30).
All of us must pray for our priests, especially those we know and those that serve in our own parishes, that by God's grace they may strive to fulfill the responsibility of being "Father."
*LET US PRAY*
God our Father, we bring before you today those who suffer from chronic illness or disability - those for whom sickness or disability profoundly affects their lives. When they feel diminished,remind them that you call them by nameand hold them in the palm of your hand. Is 43:1When they feel fragile and broken, mould them and heal them,that they may more closely resemble the image of Jesus, Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore: for terminally ill.
When they are reminded
of different times in the past,
lead them to grow in the faith
that you love them today, as they are, in the reality of their lives this day.
When they feel uncertain about the future, lead them to that perfect love which casts out all fear. When situations remind themnot of what they can do,
but of what they cannot do -
remind them that “love never fails”,and that, living in your love, they will bear your fruit in plenty.
May all of us whatever our circumstances never be so taken up with our own concernsthat we do not see or respond to the needs of others.
May we live with courage
the different challenges
that each of us faces. Amen.
( *Mention your request* )
Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers on my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.
St. Joseph Most Loving Husband, Pray for us!
Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
The Lord be with you...
And may the Almighty God bless you the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Don't give up praying
St Joseph... Pray for us
_Fr. Dennismary@Aheartopenedforall_
