JOSEPH - A MAN FOR ALL TIMES

 

WHO IS GOD?

One fine evening,

I walked across to a shop.

A kind gentleman came on my way and asked,

Who named God?

Amazed by his question, I said,

Beg your pardon

He repeated,

Who named God?

I said, “God himself”

No, came the answer

Who named God? once again he asked

Perplexed and puzzled, I remained dumb

With a broad smile, he continued

One fine day, my child,

A man had a sheer glance of God’s canvas

Mesmerized by the wonders

He exclaimed, Oh God!

Oh, God! Awesome Thou Art

The gentleman smiled

And concluded,

GOD: Great Organizer and Developer

by Laveena CSJ,
Province of Tanmaya/India

AN ODE TO GOD, MY LOVE!

     AN ODE TO GOD, MY LOVE!

Down the corridor of time
I’ve known a love so fine
Years passed by, love remained the same
A fine friendship became
Who knew this could happen?
Yet Love made it happen
For life is but a mystery
Filled with unknown history!
 
Pained and broken was I
Ignored and left to sigh
Poor fragile me, I cried
Handle me with care, I begged
Few hearts heard my cry
Tears rolled never to dry
By gone are those days
Marvelous are God’s ways!
 
Years went by, we found each other
Love put my broken pieces together
Touched me with gentle gesture
Pressed me with tender care
Life seemed wonderful
It was no more dreadful
Love and care was all I knew
Life bloomed once again anew!
 
Perfect is this love story
All I see is God’s great glory
Life seems now brighter
For Love made it lighter
With multi-colored hues so clear
Smiles and hugs ever so dear
God is Love and so very special
Whose touch is ever so perennial!

by Laveena CSJ,

Province of Tanmaya/India

Patron Saint - St. Joseph

 God the Father watched the earth carefully

Found Joseph carving the wood skillfully

Perfect! Thought God the Father

Chose Joseph to be the foster-father

 

An angel stood by Joseph peacefully

Watching the sleeping man blissfully

Revealed the plan of God gently

Announced the birth of Jesus gladly

 

Took Mary as his wife diligently

Set the manger in Bethlehem anxiously

Helped Mary in her pain carefully

Cared for Jesus so lovingly

 

Followed the dreams so wisely

Rescued Jesus from Herod’s wrath hastily

Returned to Nazareth obediently

Carved woods so artistically

 

Laboured for Jesus with paternal care

Till he grew to manhood fair

May we learn your virtues dear Joseph

Father, Patron, Protector St. Joseph

 

Laveena D’Souza

Tanmaya Province/India

JOSEPH OF NAZARETH

 Amidst the simplicity of that carpentry shop

Worked a saint of great hope

A skilled labourer, a great craftsman,

A renowned woodworker, Joseph of Nazareth

 

Perfect in work, humble in thoughts

Noble in ways, father so great

A just man, acted on dreams

Never questioned, never doubted, just believed

 

Husband of Mary, Foster Father of Jesus

Obedient, kind and faithful

Knew the pain of exile, yet followed God’s command

Searched Jesus in the ancient city, when he was lost

 

Who else than Joseph to be protector of the church?

Who else than Joseph to be patron of dreams?

Who else than Joseph to be patron of Little Design?

Who else than Joseph to be our guide?

 

Go to Joseph - was said in the old

Go to Joseph - is all that is asked

Go to him, and he will take you to Jesus

For Joseph has the greatest treasure with him. 

With Gratitude

A fallen stone in the womb of the earth

Trampled, unnoticed, and forgotten
Its creator caresses it from afar
The lonely fallen stone.

People walk up and down
Fail to notice the beauty of this stone
An angel in human form passes that way
Picks this lonely fallen stone away

She cleanses this stone with love, 
Glitters with her tender loving care
With warmth, she colors it with all hues
Makes it beautiful and precious once more

Vocation Sunday

 “God’s call makes our greatest dreams come true” – Pope Francis

The first Vocation Sunday

Pope Paul VI in 1964, established the first World day of Prayer for vocations on Good Shepherd Sunday, which is now celebrated on the Fourth Sunday of Easter and known as ‘Vocation Sunday.’

 

The 58^th World day of Prayer for Vocations falls on April 25, 2021

Being dedicated this year to our dear Patron Saint Joseph, Pope Francis in his message enumerates the life and the vocation of St. Joseph.  

Pope Francis connects the message to his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde, which was released on 8 December 2020. Through this letter Pope urges every faithful to increase their love towards this great Saint.

Highlights of Pope’s message

St. Joseph being an extraordinary figure, yet he is so close to our own human experiences. He did not have unique charisms nor he was highlighted in the Bible. Lived an ordinary life accomplishing extraordinary things in the eyes of God.

The Three Keywords from the life of St. Joseph that are very much connected to each individual’s vocation.

1-      Dream: St. Mathew in his Gospel recounts four dreams of St. Joseph. In each dream Joseph gets a difficult call from God to change his plans and to take a risk in order to follow the divine plans. Why did Joseph hastened to fulfil the dreams?  Pope Francis says “Because his heart was directed to God, it was already inclined towards Him. A small indication was enough for his watchful ‘inner ear’ to recognize God’s Voice.”

 

2-      Service: Pope Francis considers St. Joseph’s vocation to service. Joseph lived entirely for Jesus and Mary and never for himself. He serves them, protects them and cares for them. Pope Francis calls this great saint as ‘Protector of Vocations’.

 

3-      Fidelity: Pope Francis says, “Success in life is built on constant fidelity to important decisions.’ As consecrated persons, what matters is one’s fidelity in the light of God’s faithfulness.

 

Pope Francis concludes the message by urging the consecrated to fill their homes / communities with simple and radiant, sober and hopeful joy that was present in the home of Nazareth.

Click on the following link to read the full message.

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/vocations/documents/papa-francesco_20210319_58-messaggio-giornata-mondiale-vocazioni.html

 

Laveena CSJ

Tanmaya Province / India