Day 24
Model of Workmen, Pray for Us
“At the workbench where he [St Joseph] plied his trade together with Jesus, Joseph brought human work closer to the mystery of the Redemption.”
- St John Paul II
The devil hates an honest and diligent worker. At the beginning of human history, the wicked serpent initiated his attack on the human family in the workplace - that is, the garden God gave Adam and Eve to tend and keep. Lucifer hates work. He particularly disdains the fact that because of love, God humbled himself and became a man, making himself capable of manual labour. Jesus spent many years in St Joseph's workshop diligently working. It was preparation for his re-entering man's original workshop - a garden; the Garden of Gethsemane, specifically - and accomplishing the work of our redemption.
When Jesus became flesh Jesus sanctified human work and elevated it to a level of greatness that did not exist prior to his Incarnation. Though divine, God humbled himself, became a man, and worked like a man. In his humanity, he learned how to work as a man by imitating the example of his earthly father, St Joseph. Work is not always easy and pleasant. Putting in a hard day's work can be taxing on the mind, body and soul. Sometimes work can be right burdensome. As a carpenter, Jesus knew this firsthand.
St Joseph is, indeed, a light in the darkness and the Model of Workmen. He brings to light the malice of the enemies of the family. He brings light into the darkness of erroneous movements that seek to strip people of their human dignity and eliminate God from the minds and hearts of families and nations. It is because of this reason that in 1937, Pope Pius XI, after realizing the serious threat that the atheistic ideas of communism posed to the common good, called upon St Joseph to protect the Church from the many errors of communism. And on 1 May 1955, Pope Pius XII declared May 1 to be the liturgical feast of St Joseph the Worker to help in the cause of workers’ rights.
Prayer
“Come to me, all who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30) We take comfort in these words of our Saviour and ask the patronage of the ‘Model of Workmen’ to help us along with deacons, priests, bishops, and religious, who are involved in the salvation of souls. We implore you to assist us to work diligently and faithfully in God’s vineyard. O St Joseph, you, who could find time for God, family, recreation and rest after work, instil in us the grace of working hard and resting well. Show me the way to turn my work into prayer, to work alongside you, and to work for Jesus. Amen.
Litany of St Joseph
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Noble Offspring of David, pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-Father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Zealous Defender of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph Most Just, pray for us.
Joseph Most Chaste, pray for us.
Joseph Most Prudent, pray for us.
Joseph Most Courageous, pray for us.
Joseph Most Obedient, pray for us.
Joseph Most Faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of Patience, pray for us.
Lover of Poverty, pray for us.
Model of Workmen, pray for us.
Glory of Domestic Life, pray for us.
Guardian of Virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of Families, pray for us.
Comfort of the Afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the Sick, pray for us.
Patron of the Dying, pray for us.
Terror of Demons, pray for us.
Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. He has made him lord of his household,
R. And prince over all his possessions.
Let us pray. O God, who, in your loving providence, chose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most Holy Mother, grant us the favor of having him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our protector. You, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Source: Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father, Fr. Donald Calloway MIC
hnip² butk¸nXmhnt\mSpÅ {]XnjvT
Znhkw 24
sXmgnemfnIfpsS amXrItb, R§Ä¡pthïn {]mÀ°n¡Wta
"A²zm\taibn hn. butk¸nXmhnt\msSm¸w Cutimbpw tPmenbn DÕmln¨p {]hÀ¯n¨p. hosïSp¸v F¶ clky¯nte¡v a\pjyhym]mc§sf hn. butk¸nXmhv IqSp Xembn ASp¸n¨p.
(tPm¬- t]mÄ cïma³ ]m¸)
kXykÔ\pw _p²nam\pamb sXmgnemfnsb km¯m³ shdp¡p¶p. a\pjyhÀ¤¯nsâ Ncn{X¯nsâ Bcw`¯n Xs¶ tPmenØe¯p Zpã\mb kÀ¸w a\pjyIpSpw_s¯ B{Ian¡m³ Bcw`n¨p. AXmbXv ssZhw BZ¯n\pw lÆmbv¡pw ]cn ]men¡m\pw kwc£n¡m\pambn sImSp¯XmWv GZ³tXm«w. eqkn^À tPmensb shdp¡p¶p. kvt\lm[nIy¯m ssZhw Xs¶ kzbw Ffnas¸«v a\pjy\mbn Hcp km[mcW tPmen¡m c\mbn F¶ kXyw km¯m³ {]tXyIambn AhKWn¨p. hn. butk¸nXmhnsâ ]Wnimebn Cutim At\Iw sImÃ§Ä A²zm\n¨psImïv sNehgn¨p. AXv a\pjysâ bYmÀ° ]Wn imebmIp¶ KZvska³ tXm«¯nse ]p\{]thi\¯n\pÅ Hcp¡ambncp¶p. AXv \ap¡pthïnbpÅ c£mIcamb {]hr¯n ]qÀ¯oIcn¡m\mWv.
Cutim amwkw [cn¨t¸mÄ a\pjy] hr¯nsb hnip²oIcn¡pIbpw Xsâ a\pjymhXmc¯n\v ap¼v \ne\n¡mXncp¶ Hcp AhØbnte¡v, amlmßy¯nte¡va\pjys\ DbÀ¯pIbpw sNbvXp. ssZhambncp¶n«pIqSn Ah³ kzbw Ffnas¸«v a\pjy\mbn. a\pjys\t¸mse tPmen sNbvXp. Xsâ `uanI A¸\mb hn. butk¸nXmhnsâ amXrI A\pIcn¨psImïv F§s\ tPmen sN¿Wsa¶pw Xsâ a\pjyXz¯n \n¶v Ah³ ]Tn¨p.
tPmen Ft¸mgpw Ffp¸hpw kpJIchpaÃ. ITn\amb Hcp Znhks¯ tPmenbn GÀs¸Sp¶Xv a\Ên\pw icoc¯n\pw Bßmhn\pw ta Bbmkapïm¡pw. Nnet¸mÄ tPmen henb `mcamtb¡mw. Hcp ac¸Wn¡mcs\¶ \nebn tbiphn\v CXv t\cn«v Adnbmambncp¶p.
tPmen FÃmbvt¸mgpw kt´mj{]Zhpw Ffp¸hpaÃ. ITn\m[zm\¯n sNehgn¡p¶ Zn\§Ä \½psS a\Êns\bpw Bßmhns\bpw icocs¯bpw `mcs¸Sp¯mw. Nnet¸mÄ tPmenXs¶ `mcambn tXm¶mw. Hcp acmimcnsb¶ \nebn tbip CXv a\Ênem¡n.
kXy¯n hnip² butk¸nXmhv AÔImc¯n shfn¨hpw sXmgnemfnIfpsS amXrIbpamWv. IpSpw_¯nsâ i{Xp¡fpsS ZpãX Ah³ {]Imi¯nte¡v sImïphcp¶p. IpSpw_§fpsSbpw P\§fpsSbpw a\Ên \n¶pw ssZhs¯ CÃmXm¡p¶Xpw a\pjy amlmßyw DcnªpIfbm\mbn \S¯p¶Xpamb sXämb {]Xybimkv{X§fnse AÔImcs¯ hnip² butk¸nXmhv {]Imi¯nte¡v sImïphcp¶p. C¡mcW¯mÂ, 1937þÂ, I½yqWnk¯nsâ \ncoizchmZ Bib§Ä s]mXp\·bv¡v DbÀ¯p¶ KpcpXcamb `ojWn a\Ênem¡nb tijw, I½yqWnk¯nsâ \nch[n sIWnIfn \n¶v k`sb kwc£n¡m³ hn. butk¸nXmhnt\mSv amÀ¸m¸ At]£n¡pIbpw sNbvXp. 1955 sabv 1 \v, ]obqkv ]{´ïma³ amÀ¸m¸, sXmgnemfnIfpsS AhImi§Ä AhÀ¡v e`yamIp¶Xn\mbn butk¸nXmhnsâ klmbw A`yÀ°n¨psImïv At¶ Znhkw sXmgnemfnIfpsS a²yØ\mb hn.butk¸nXmhnsâ Xncp\mfmbn {]Jym]n¨p.
{]mÀ°\
“A[zm\n¡p¶hcpw `mcw hln¡p¶hcpamb \n§sfÃmhcpw Fsâ ASp¡Â hcphn³;
Rm³ \n§sf Bizkn¸n¡mw. Rm³ im´ioe\pw hn\oXlrZb\pamIbm Fsâ \pIw hln¡pIbpw F¶nÂ\n¶p ]Tn¡pIbpw sN¿phn³. At¸mÄ, \n§Ä¡v Bizmkw e`n¡pw.
Fs´¶mÂ, Fsâ \pIw hln¡ms\fp¸apÅXpw NpaSv `mcw IpdªXpamWv.“ a¯mbn 11 : 28þ30
R§fpsS c£I\mb CutimbpsS Cu hm¡pIfn R§Ä Bizkn¡pIbpw, Uo¡³amÀ, sshZnIÀ, _nj¸pamÀ, AÂambÀ F¶nhtcmsSm¸w Bßm¡fpsS c£m{]hÀ¯\¯n GÀs¸«ncn¡p¶ R§sf klmbn¡m³ sXmgnemfnIfpsS amXrIbmb A§bpsS c£mIÀXrXzw At]£n¡pIbpw sN¿p¶p.ssZh¯nsâ ap´ncnt¯m«¯n DÕmlt¯msSbpw hnizkvXXtbmsSbpw {]hÀ¯n¡m³ R§sf klmbn¡m³ R§Ä A§tbmSv A`yÀ°n¡p¶p. hnip² butk¸nXmth, tPmen Ignªv ssZh¯n\pw IpSpw_¯n\pw hnt\mZ¯n\pw hn{ia¯n\pw FÃmw kabw Isï¯nb A§v, ITn\m[zm\w sN¿p¶Xn\pw \¶mbn hn{ian¡p¶Xn\papÅ Ir] R§Ä¡v ]IÀ¶p\ÂIWta.R§fpsS tPmen {]mÀ°\bm¡n amäm\pw A§tbmsSm¸w {]hÀ¯n¡m\pw tbiphn\pthïn {]hÀ¯n¡m\papÅ amÀKw R§sf ImWn¡Wta. Bta³.
hn. butk¸nXmhnsâ ep¯n\nb
IÀ¯mth A\p{Kln¡Wta
aninlmsb A\p{Kln¡Wta
IÀ¯mth A\p{Kln¡Wta
aninlmtb R§fpsS {]mÀ°\
tIÄ¡Wta.
aninlmtb R§fpsS {]mÀ°\
ssIs¡mÅWta.
kzÀ¤Ø\mb ]nXmth
temIc£I\mb aninlmtb
]cnip²mßmhmb ssZhta
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hnip² butkt¸
ZmhoZnsâ hninã k´m\ta
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ssZhP\\nbpsS hncà `À¯mth
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ssZhIpamcsâ hfÀ¯p]nXmth
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Xncp¡pSpw_¯nsâ \mYt\
F{Xbpw \oXnam\mb hnip² butkt¸
AXy´w \nÀae\mb hnip² butkt¸
Gähpw hnthInbmb hnip² butkt¸
F{Xbpw ià\mb hnip² butkt¸
AXy´w A\pkcWbpÅ hnip² butkt¸
F{Xbpw hnizkvX\mb hnip² butkt¸
£abpsS ZÀ¸Wta
Zmcn{Zy¯nsâ kvt\lnXm
sXmgnemfnIfpsS amXrItb
IpSpw_PohnX¯nsâ alXzta
I\yIIfpsS kwc£Im
IpSpw_§fpsS iàntb
thZ\n¡p¶hcpsS Bizmkta
tcmKnIfpsS {]Xymitb
acWmk¶cpsS icWta
]nimNp¡fpsS `oXnImcWta
Xncpk`bpsS kwc£It\
temI¯nsâ ]m]§Ä \o¡p¶ ZnhyIpªmtS IÀ¯mth R§fpsS ]m]§Ä £an¡Wta.
temI¯nsâ ]m]§Ä \o¡p¶ ZnhyIpªmtS IÀ¯mth R§fpsS {]mÀ°\ tIÄ¡Wta.
temI¯nsâ ]m]§Ä \o¡p¶ ZnhyIpªmtS IÀ¯mth R§sf A\p{Kln¡Wta.
{]mÀ°n¡mw
]cnip² I\yImadnb¯nsâ `À¯mhmbn hnip² butk¸ns\ XncsªSp¡phm³ Xncpa\Êmb ssZhta, `qanbn kwc£I\mbn R§Ä hW§p¶ Cu hnip²³ kzÀ¤¯nepw R§fpsS a[yØ\mbncn¡m³ Ir]bpïmIWta. R§fpsS IÀ¯mhpw A§bpsS ]p{X\pamb {InkvXphgn R§Ä kaÀ¸n¡p¶ {]mÀ°\ tI«cpfWta. Bt½³
CutimaninlmbpsS hmKvZm\§Ä¡v R§Ä tbmKycmIphm³ hnip² butk¸nXmth R§Ä¡pthïn At]£n¡Wta.
{]mÀ°n¡mw
Hm, I\yImadnb¯nsâ Gähpw \nÀ½e\mb hÃ`t\, R§fpsS {]nbs¸« c£mIÀ¯mhmb hnip² butkt¸ At§ klmbw tXSnbhcnepw At§ c£m[nImcw At]£n¨hcnepw Hcmsfsb¦nepw Hcn¡Ât¸mepw A§v Dt]£n¨Xmbn tIÄ¡s¸«n«nsöv HmÀ¡Wta. Cu hnizmk¯n icWs¸«v At§ ]¡Â R§Ä AWbp¶p. At§¸¡Â Xo£vWambn {]mÀ°n¡p¶p. Hm, R§fpsS c£Isâ hfÀ¯p]nXmth, R§fpsS At]£ Dt]£n¡msX Zbm]qÀÆw tI«cpfWta, Bt½³.
IS¸mSv: hnip² butk¸nXmhnt\mSpÅ {]XnjvT: \½psS Bßob]nXmhnsâ hnkvab§Ä, ^m. sUmWmÄUv F¨v. Imsemth
MIC
