CHAPTER 20
VOLUME 2, HANDBOOK OF GOD THE FATHER

SECRET PLANS OF GOD: SAINT JOSEPH

Quote: Mary, Our Lady of Emmitsburg (May 1, 2023) (mystic, Gianna Talone-Sullivan): “How great was the dignity of my Joseph! Joseph is the highest of all the Angels and Saints. He is the most powerful Saint above all Saints. He is the Terror of Demons! He is the light bearer. He is the Patron of the Church. You would do well to seek his protection under his paternal Cloak of humility…”

Quote: Mary, Our Lady of Emmitsburg (June 1, 2023) (mystic, Gianna Talone-Sullivan): “I desire all my children to be safe, protected, and free. Always, seek refuge in my Most Immaculate Heart, my Son’s Most Sacred Heart and under my spouse, your spiritual father’s cloak of Saint Joseph.”

Saint Joseph, the earthly foster father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, is the most excellent and greatest Saint in Heaven, above all other saints and holy angels, second only in holy eminence to Our Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth.  This is why Saint Joseph may be rightfully called, Viceroy, or Vice-royalty King, as part of the Heavenly Court and Royal Council, in the Celestial Divine Kingdom.

Blessed Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph the “Patron of the Universal Church,” which is a title above and beyond that given to any other saint in history, except for the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Therefore, Saint Joseph is recognized as the Spiritual Father of all Christians.  Also, according to private revelation, Saint Joseph has been the “Restrainer” mentioned in Sacred Scriptures that holds back the “man of lawlessness” (antichrist) throughout the centuries from entering Holy Mother Church.  Thus, the powerful intercession and protection of Saint Joseph from the antichrist should be rightfully invoked by the Catholic Church and all followers of God.  (Holy Bible: 2nd Thessalonians, Chapter 2).

Saint Joseph is the Patron Saint of a Happy Death, as he died in the holy arms of Our Holy Mother Mary and Our Lord, Jesus Christ.  He may also be rightfully considered the Patron Saint of all Christian Martyrs for that same reason as that is the ultimate aspiration of all martyrs of God to be embraced by Our Blessed Mother and Our Lord at the moment of their holy death.  (See more information in the chapter about Christian martyrdom in this Handbook).

Although the actual words of Saint Joseph are not recorded in Sacred Scriptures — as he blissfully died before the 3-year sacred ministry of Jesus commenced on earth — there is a patriarchal forerunner, another Joseph, from whom we can take to heart an inspirational word and advice about our spiritual father: Scripture Meditation: “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”  (Book of Genesis, Chapter 41, Verse 55)

Saint Joseph is the exemplary model for all Christians because he is known for his fidelity to God and Our Holy Mother Mary, as Her earthly spouse.  He is the Sacred Protector and Holy Guardian of the Three Divine Deposits: (1) virginity of the Blessed Mother, (2) the person of Jesus Christ, and (3) secret of God the Father (Incarnation of His Divine Son). 

As written by others: “Joseph sought God in simplicity; Joseph found God in detachment; Joseph enjoyed God’s company in obscurity… His faith cannot be shaken in spite of the darkness of the unexpected mystery (the pregnancy of Holy Mary). The word of God communicated to him by the angel throws light on the virginal conception of the Savior: Joseph might have hesitated to believe a thing so wonderful, but he believes it firmly in the simplicity of his heart. By his simplicity and his humility, he reaches up to divine heights.”

As written by others: “The same hand gave Joseph the heart of a father and Jesus the heart of a son. That is why Jesus obeys and Joseph does not fear to command. How has he the courage to command his Creator? Because the true Father of Jesus Christ, the God who gives him birth from all eternity, having chosen Joseph to be the father of his only son in time, sent down into his bosom some ray or some spark of his own infinite love for his son; that is what changed his heart, that is what gave him a father’s love, and Joseph the just man who feels that father’s heart within him feels also that God wishes him to use his paternal authority, so that he dares to command him who he knows is his Master.”

Thus, Saint Joseph was predestined to the highest degree of glory after the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in consequence to the highest degree of grace and of charity, so that he could be called the worthy foster-father and protector of the Man-God (Jesus Christ).  For all these reasons and even more, all Christians should turn with loving trust and full confidence to invoke our spiritual father, Saint Joseph, in all their temporal and spiritual needs.  Amen.  (Please also see the Appendix to read extensively about the “Glories of Saint Joseph”, the foster father of Our Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly life over 2,000 years ago.)

Quote: Doctor of the Church, Saint Teresa of Avila, has said: “I wish I could persuade everyone to be devoted to the glorious Saint Joseph, for I have great experience of the blessings which he can obtain from God. I do not remember that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I am astonished at the great favors which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which he has delivered me, both in body and in soul. To other saints, the Lord seems to have given grace to help us in some of our necessities. But my experience is that Saint Joseph helps us in them all; also that the Lord wishes to teach us that, as he was himself subject on earth to Saint Joseph, so in heaven he now does all that Joseph asks. This has also been the experience of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to the saint… I only request, for the love of God, whoever will not believe me will test the truth of what I say, for he will see by experience how great a blessing it is to recommend oneself to this glorious patriarch and to be devout to him.”

Quote: Doctor of the Church, Saint Francis de Sales highlights: “Although it is true that Mary possessed every virtue in a higher degree than is attainable by any other pure creature, yet it is quite certain that the glorious Saint Joseph was the being that approached most nearly to that perfection.”

Saint Bernard says of St. Joseph: “He is the faithful and prudent servant whom the Lord made the support of his mother, the foster-father of his flesh, and the sole most faithful co-operator on earth in his great design.”

THE SEVEN PRIVILEGES OF DEVOTION TO SAINT JOSEPH (Revealed by Venerable Mary of Jesus of Ágreda, 17th Century): “I have discovered that the Most High accorded to Saint Joseph, because of his great sanctity, certain privileges in favor of those who choose him for their intercessor, and who invoke him with devotion…”

— “The first is, to obtain the virtue of chastity, and to be withdrawn from the danger of losing it;

— the second, to receive powerful assistance to be freed from sin and to recover the grace of God;

— the third, to acquire, by his means, devotion for our Blessed Lady (Holy Queen Mary), and dispositions to receive her favors;

— the fourth, to obtain a happy death and a special protection against the demons at this last hour;

— the fifth, to intimidate the enemies of our salvation by pronouncing the name of Saint Joseph (“Terror of demons”);

— the sixth, to obtain health of body and consolation in affliction;

— the seventh privilege to have, by his intercession, successors in families (obtaining children).”

“God grants all these favors, and many more to those who ask for them as they ought, in the name of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin; and I entreat all the faithful children of the Holy Church to have a great devotion for this great saint, and to be persuaded that they will become sensible of the favorable effects of his protection, if they will dispose themselves worthily to merit and to receive them.”