CAPG's Blog 

"As regards matter, only doctrines of faith and morals, and facts so intimately connected with these as to require infallible determination, fall under the scope of infallible ecclesiastical teaching." Catholic Encyclopedia.

Divorce:The Church is clear that “a ratified and consummated marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death” (CCC 2382).

Slavery:
"We order and command all and each of the faithful of each sex that, within the space of fifteen days of the publication of these letters in the place where they live, that they restore to their earlier liberty all and each person of either sex who were once residents of said Canary Islands...who have been made subject to slavery. These people are to be totally and perpetually free and are to be let go without the exaction or reception of any money..." Pope Eugene IV in 1435 wrote to Bishop Ferdinand of Lanzarote in his Bull, Sicut Dudum

Usury: The acceptance by human society of murderous famines, without efforts to remedy them, is a scandalous injustice and a grave offense. Those whose usurious and avaricious dealings lead to the hunger and death of their brethren in the human family indirectly commit homicide, which is imputable to them. (CCC 2269) Did the Church Changed its stance on Usury

Freedom of Conscience: "Religious freedom, in turn, which men demand as necessary to fulfill their duty to worship God, has to do with immunity from coercion in civil society. Therefore, it leaves untouched traditional Catholic doctrine on the moral duty of men and societies toward the true religion and toward the one Church of Christ." Dignitatis Humanae

"We have said recently that We are happy and proud to fight the good fight for the liberty of consciences, not (as some, perhaps by inadvertence, have made Us say) for liberty of conscience, which is an equivocal expression, and one too often abused to signify absolute independence of conscience, an absurd thing in a soul created and redeemed by God." Pope Pius XI in his Encyclical Non Abbiamo Bisogno, in 1931,

Prayer to God to save the Church by Sanctifying His priests who have fallen away

O God, our Lord, we obey without delay to Thy gracious invitation to pray. Encouraged by Thy desire, we worship at your sacred feet, crying out to Thee for our guilty priests. Deign to be reminded, Lord, that Thy priestly Body is Thy crown of predilection, the splendor of Thy glory, the chosen part of Thy heritage.

We implore Thee to arm Thyself with holy indignation against Satan, who dared to plant the banner of sin in Thy own sanctuary, and to chase him away in shame from Thy solemnly dedicated domain.

What would it cost Thee, O Lord, to turn the most hardened hearts into penitents? Only one simple glance at Peter was enough to retrieve him from the abyss of a three times apostasy; would it cost Thee more to touch and convert those who have had the misfortune to imitate his weakness?

O Jesus, our King and Pontiff, we beseech Thee on behalf of Mary, Thy Mother and ours, save the Church, save Thy faithful, save Thy blessed honor, by saving priests! Amen.

To Honor St. Joseph Josephite Fathers

Seventh Sunday:

Pattern of all holiness, glorious St. Joseph, without fault of thine, thou didst lose the holy child Jesus, and for three days, to thy great sorrow, didst seek for Him, until, with joy unspeakable, thou didst find thy life amid the Doctors in the Temple.

By this thy sorrow and thy joy, we pray thee with all our heart, stand between us and danger, that we may never lose Jesus by mortal sin; but if, to our shame and disgrace, we lose Him, may we seek Him with such ceaseless grief that we may find Him propitious to us, especially at the hour of our death, and thus go to enjoy Him in heaven, and there with thee sing His divine mercy forever!

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Ant. Jesus was about thirty years old, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph

V. Pray for us, Blessed Joseph

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be made worthy to receive him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Source: My Prayer Book by Father Lasance

To Honor St. Joseph Josephite Fathers

Sixth Sunday:

Angel on earth, glorious St. Joseph, while thou didst marvel at seeing the King of Heaven obedient to thy bidding, fear of the tyrant mingled with thy joy when thou didst bring him back from Egypt; but, reassured by the angel, thou didst dwell at Nazareth with glad heart, in the sweet company of Jesus and Mary.

By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain for us that, with hearts set free from every hurtful fear, we too may taste the quiet of a tranquil conscience, safely dwelling with Jesus and with Mary, and one day die within their loving arms.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Ant. Jesus was about thirty years old, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph

V. Pray for us, Blessed Joseph

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be made worthy to receive him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Source: My Prayer Book by Father Lasance

Remember, O most loving Heart of Jesus, that he for whom I pray, is one for whom You prayed so fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before You died. He is among those whom You first called Your friends. He is one of those friends You asked to remain with You while the others abandoned You, so that he could share Your graces, and so that he could share Your persecution in accordance with Your word: "The servant is not greater than his Lord."

Remember, O Heart of Jesus, that he is an object of scorn to the world, and that the deadly snares of Satan are laid for him. Guard him, O Jesus, and guard all Your priests in the fortress of Your Sacred Heart, and there let them be sanctified in truth. May Your priests be one with You and united among themselves. Grant that multitudes of people, through their words, be brought to believe in You and to love You. Amen

Source: CAPG

To Honor St. Joseph Josephite Fathers

Fifth Sunday:

Watchful guardian, bosom friend of the incarnate Son of God, glorious St. Joseph, how didst thou toil to nurture and to serve the Son of the Most High, especially in the flight into Egypt; but far greater was thy joy in having with thee God Himself, and in seeing Egypt's idols fall to the earth!

By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain for us to keep aloof from the infernal tyrant, quitting all dangerous occasions, that all earthly idols may be cast out from our hearts, and that, employed in the service of Jesus and Mary, we may ever live for them alone, and with them calmly die.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Ant. Jesus was about thirty years old, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph

V. Pray for us, Blessed Joseph

R. That was may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be made worthy to receive him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Source: My Prayer Book by Father Lasance

To Honor St. Joseph Josephite Fathers

Fourth Sunday:

Faithful saint, who was admitted to take part in man's redemption, glorious St. Joseph, Simeon's prophecy of the coming woes of Jesus and of Mary filled thy soul with agony like death but thy soul was filled with blessedness when he foretold salvation and glorious resurrection to innumerable souls.

By this thy sorrow and thy joy, help us with thy prayers to be of those who, by the merits of Jesus and His virgin Mother, shall be partakers of the glorious resurrection.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Ant. Jesus was about thirty years old, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph

V. Pray for us, Blessed Joseph

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be made worthy to receive him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Source: My Prayer Book by Father Lasance

Imprimatur: Most Rev. Vincent S. Waters, D.D. May 2, 1949

Source: Cure d'Ars Prayer Group

To Honor St. Joseph Josephite Fathers

Third Sunday:

O thou who was ever most obedient in fulfilling the law of God, glorious St. Joseph! when, at His circumcision, the infant Savior's precious blood was shed, thy heart was pierced through and through; but with the name of Jesus came again to thee new life and heavenly joy.

By this thy sorrow and thy joy, obtain for us that, freed in life from the vile yoke of sin, we too may die with joy, with the sweet name of Jesus in our hearts and on our lips.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Ant. Jesus was about thirty years old, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph

V. Pray for us, Blessed Joseph

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be made worthy to receive him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Source: My Prayer Book by Father Lasance

To Honor St. Joseph Josephite Fathers

Second Sunday:

Thrice happy patriarch, glorious St. Joseph, chosen to be the foster-father of the Word made man, keen was the pain thou didst feel when thou didst see the infant Jesus born in abject poverty; but thy pain was suddenly changed into heavenly joy when upon thee burst the harmony of the angel choirs, and thou didst behold the glory of that refulgent night.

By this thy sorrow and thy joy, we pray thee, obtain for us that, when the journey of our life is over, we too may pass to that blessed land where we shall hear the angel-chants, and enjoy the brightness of celestial glory.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Ant. Jesus was about thirty years old, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph

V. Pray for us, Blessed Joseph

R. That was may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be made worthy to receive him for our intercessor in heaven, whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Source: My Prayer Book by Father Lasance

St. Joseph, God has appointed you patron of the Catholic Church, because you were the head of the Holy Family, the type and starting-point of the Church. You were the father, protector, guide and support of the Holy Family. For that reason you belong in a particular way to the Church, which was the purpose of the Holy Family’s existence.

I believe that the Church is the family of God on earth. Its government is represented in priestly authority which consists above all in its power over the true Body of Christ, really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, thus continuing Christ's life in the Church. From this power, too, comes authority over the Mystical Body of Christ, the members of the Church — the power to teach and govern souls, to reconcile them with God, to bless them, and to pray for them.

You have a special relationship to the priesthood because you possessed a wonderful power over our Savior Himself. Your life and office were of a priestly nature, even as the priestly functions are especially connected with the Blessed Sacrament. To some extent you were the means of bringing the Redeemer to us — as it is the priest’s function to bring Him to us in the Mass — for you reared Jesus, supported, nourished, protected and sheltered Him. You were prefigured by the patriarch Joseph, who kept supplies of wheat for his people. But how much greater than he were you! Joseph of old gave the Egyptians mere bread for their bodies. You nourished and with tenderest care preserved for the Church Him who is the Bread of Heaven and who gives eternal life in Holy Communion.

 God has appointed you patron of the Church, because the glorious title of patriarch also falls by special right to you. The patriarchs were the heads of families of the Chosen People, and theirs was the honor to prepare for the Savior’s incarnation. You belonged to this line of patriarchs, for you were one of the last descendants of the family of David and one of the nearest forebears of Christ according to the flesh. As husband of Mary, the Mother of God, and as the foster-father of the Savior, you were directly connected with Christ. Your vocation was especially concerned with the Person of Jesus; your entire activity centered about Him. You are, therefore, the closing of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, which took its rise with the Holy Family of Nazareth. Because the New Testament surpasses the Old in every respect, you are the patriarch of patriarchs, the most venerable, exalted, and amiable of all the patriarchs.

Through Mary, the Church received Christ, and therefore the Church is indebted to her. But the Church owes her debt of gratitude and veneration to you also, for you were the chosen one who enabled Christ to enter into the world according to the laws of order and fitness. It was by you that the patriarchs and the prophets and the faithful reaped the fruit of God's promise. Alone among them all, you saw with your own eyes and possessed the Redeemer promised to the rest of men.

St. Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being the Patron of the Church. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to live always as a worthy member of this Church, so that through it I may save my soul; Bless the priests, the religious, and the laity of the Catholic Church that they may ever grow in God’s love and faithfulness in His service. Protect the Church from the evils of our day and from the persecution of her enemies. Through your powerful intercession may the Church successfully accomplish its mission in this world — the glory of God and the salvation of souls!

Source: Saint Joseph: the Family Saint by Fr. Lovasik