what greater Blessing can we have than the Sacrifice of the Son of God who was Promis'd to us Moreover were not this true yet all that we can perform that is considerable all that is of any worth or that conduces to the Glory of any Saint is included in the Oblation of the Divine Sacrifice of Mass wherein JESUS CHRIST is offer'd in thanks giving to his Eternal Father for all those Favours and Benefits he has heap'd upon any Saint raising him to so Eminent a Glory and Dignity The fifth Devotion is to give Almes or bestow a Dinner upon some poor Man or Widdow in Honour of Saint Joseph and if you please for the same end relieve a poor Woman and her little Infant to Honour the Created Trinity the Infant JESUS Mary as also Saint Joseph and to encourage you to so Pious a Work Saint Vincent Ferrerius recounts a wonderful Story of a Gentelman of Valence who was very Devout to all these three and amongst the rest of his Devotions us'd every Christmas Day to invite a Woman with a Sucking Child and an Old Man to Dine with him and all this for the Love he bore to Jesus Mary and Joseph This Charity and Devotion was so pleasing to God that upon his Death Bed he had the Comfort to see them who just as he Departed gave him this comfortable Invitation to Paradise as follows Friend you have every Year invited us to a Feast in your House come now and we will receive you to our Feast and into the dwelling place of the Blessed there to â—ign with us and them in all sorts of contentment as long as a happy Eternity shall last Who can conceive how God Recompences even the least Services we do to him or his Saints I wish we cou'd always think on this And practise what these thoughts wou'd move us to perform The sixth and last Devotion to Saint Joseph is to meditate upon the Vertues Mysteries or chief Passages of his Life The Morning either before or after Communion is the most proper time for Meditation Because the After-noon is reserv'd for Even-Song Sermon or some other Works of Charity as visiting the Sick in Hospitals comforting and relieving Prisoners How and when these Meditations are to be us'd I shall declare in the following chapter CHAP. VIII Of Devotions to Saint Joseph during the Octave of his Feast or at other times according to the Opportunity or Affection of his Clients I Cannot think ther 's any better means to pass the Octave of Saint Joseph with Devotion and profit than by the consideration of his Life and Death and the contemplating upon his Glory in Heaven Because such Reflexions as these will increase our Love and Affection towards him and move us to earnest and efficacious attempts to imitate his transcendent Vertues However because some may not have time or opportunity of making these Meditations and that those that have not or know not how to Meditate may make use of 'em instead of Spiritual Reading I have made the Meditations somewhat longer than ordinary Which you will find Printed in a large Character at the end of this Book amongst other Devotions Page 41. There are eight of 'em in all for each Day of the Octave of his Feast in which are briefly contain'd the chief Passages of the Life Death and Glory of Saint Joseph and tho' the Reading of 'em for your Spiritual Lecture will be very profitable yet they will produce far greater profit and comfort in your Soul if you Meditate upon 'em whereby you will increase a far greater Devotion to Saint Joseph than only by the bare Reading of them We have declar'd already that all the Devotions Honours and Respects that are render'd to other Saints ought to be given to Saint Joseph For whosoever Loves him as he deserves must needs think he can never sufficiently Honour him his Merits exceeding all Honour and Devotion that can be shew'd him Wherefore shou'd I advise you to cause a Mass to be sayd in his Honour to perform some good Work of Charity or Pennance you may say I invite you only to such a general testimony of Affection as we give to all other Saints whom we honour I will here therefore propose to you such a particular Devotion as Mother Jane of the Angels Superiour of the Vrsulins practis'd with admirable success Who having purpos'd for her Deliverance to Communicate nine Days together in honour of Saint Joseph upon the Ninth Day one of the Devils within her of his own accord presented himself to the Exorcist during his Exorcisms and acknowledg'd he was Commanded in the Name of Saint Joseph as he left his Station to write the Name of Saint Joseph upon her Hand which he swore he wou'd perform as he did soon after You may also say or get nine Masses sayd in honour of Saint Joseph which was a Devotion that very much assisted Father John Joseph Sevrin Exorcist to this Religious Woman for before he had ended his nine Masses the Devil left her writing according to his Promise his Name in the presence of many upon her bare Hand and amongst others in the Presence of an English Nobleman †The Right Honorable Walter Montague Son to the Earl of Manchesters then a Protestant who held her Arm which was the occasion of his Conversion to the Roman Catholic Faith and of another then an Athist whose Life is Writ he afterwards becoming as renown'd for Sanctity as before he was Infamous for Athisme You may also perform the Devotion proper to all Saints by endeavouring to Imitate his rare and particular Vertues As the exercise of a retir'd and hidden Sanctity the practice of Angelical Purity even in Marriage his Humility Patience and Meekness in Conversation his great Recollection and wonderful Silence Who as a Holy Person declar'd to Father Sevrin Was a very great keeper of Silence and that in the House of our Saviour at Nazareth he spoke very little our Blessed Lady and Jesus still much less and that his Eyes perform'd to him the Office of a Tongue without need of speaking Lastly you may Imitate the works of Piety that Saint Joseph Practis'd But because these are also found in most Saints and therefore seem a general Devotion I will propose some that were particular and proper to Saint Joseph Which other Persons of Piety and Particular Devotes of his * Quiriolê have perform'd in his Honour they are six in number some of which I hope you will find suitable to your Devotion and Inclination CHAP. IX Containing nine different occasions of particular Devotions proper to Saint Joseph and practis'd by his Particular Devotes THE first is when you have lost any thing you had a high Value for to have recourse to Saint Joseph either to beg his help or at least to suffer profitably this loss if by his Assistance we happen not to recover it John Gerson his great Client suggests this Devotion assuring
inspire me with those Thoughts of these Mysteries wherewith thou didst Inspire the tender and Loving Heart of Saint Joseph O most Holy Joseph obtain by your Spouses and your own Intercession such a true Disposition of Heart to Receive and lay them up in my Heart that I may profit by them that hereby my Heart may become a grateful Present to you to Offer to JESUS Behold such as it is I here Offer with all the Affection I am able O Increase this Affection that the present may be more acceptable and than Offer it to the Divine JESUS the God of my Heart VI. MEDITATION Of the Virtues Saint Joseph Exercis'd in the Flight of JESUS into Aegypt in his Return from thence and at his loss of him in Jerusalem Preparatory Prayer BEG Grace to see and Imitate those Virtues Saint Joseph practis'd in these Mysteries I. Prelude BEHOLD Saint Joseph as soon as he heard the Angel Pronounce those Words Take the Child and his Mother and fly into Aegypt getting up at Midnight and without any delay beginning a long Winter Journy of above a hundred and sixty Miles with his Spouse the Blessed Virgin and her tender Infant JESUS not yet a Year old Behold him also exercising his Trade for seven Years together at Mattutes six miles from Babylon amidst a company of Idolaters who were incited by the Devil to treat these Holy Persons after a most rude and inhuman manner All which Saint Joseph patiently suffer'd till he was warn'd by an Angel to return home Then imagine them returning back the same tedious Winter Journy to Nazareth were remaining four Years they ascended with JESUS now twelve Years of of Age to Jerusalem where they lost him and returning back to seek him found him in the Temple II. Prelude BEG Grace rightly to Consider the profit Saint Joseph made by all these Mysteries and beg his Intercession to do the like I. Point Consider Saint Joseph's Blind and Prompt Obedience by intirely adandoning himself to God's Provindence Quitting at mid-night his Country his House Friends and all other Conveniencies to begin a long Winter Journey to go to live amongst Idolaters The Love of JESUS and his Precious Life made him set at naught all other things to save this God's Will was his Guide and Law which he Blindly Obey'd without consulting his Reason which might have suggested difficulties and objected for Example why at this time of Night Why in this hard season of Winter Why must we go amongst Idolaters and not rather to the three Kings What must he Fly He who is to Save others Cannot he Save himself How long must we remain in this Banishment But nothing pass'd of all this he knew Reason was not to be Consulted but Contradicted when God Commands He knew God never adandon's those that abandon themselves to his Providence O sublime Obedience O perfect Resignation O admirable Confidence O Holy Joseph obtain for me these Vertues Practis'd by thee after so sublime a manner as rais'd thee to this Dignity of becoming Saviour to him who was to Save the whole World II. Point Consider what a Mortified Life Saint Joseph must needs lead amongst such Barbarous Idolaters Consider what he must Interiourly suffer for seven Years together by seeing God continually Offended And what Exteriour Sufferings he underwent by a want of all things Living only upon the poor Earnings of his Trade and the effects of Poverty he saw JESUS and his Spouse suffer were more sensible than his own and then behold and admire his Patience Resignation and Joy in Suffering with and for JESUS Consider how by his continual Adorations and Honours done to God he endeavour'd to satisfie for those Idolatries which he with a sad Heart continually beheld O Pious O Patient and Resign'd Joseph teach me how to Love and to Express my Love by Labours and Sufferings as you did and that Love may make Labours and Sufferings both Easie and Delightful assist me to undergo them as in the Presence and purely for the sake of JESUS Then Consider what Joy the Angels tidings of Herod's Death occasion'd in his Heart not for his own sake but for the sake of JESUS whose Life Herod sought and which was dearer to him than his own O teach me this generous and disinteress'd Love that may make me have no regaurd at all to my own Interest but that my chief delight may be only in what relates to God's Honour and Happiness III. Point Consider at Saint Joseph's return from Jerusalem how sensible he was when he miss'd JESUS finding he had lost the only object of his Love and fearing this loss might proceed from his own Fault and Negligence Consider his Resignation to this so sensible Affliction and with what Peace and equality of Mind he bore it and with what Diligence he sought him and then consider what Joy his Heart felt when he found him and heard his Divine Disputations with the Doctours in the Temple Consider also what Joy the Words of our Blessed Lady caus'd in his Soul when she gave him the Title of Father which Joy was accompanied with no less Humility and Confusion reflecting upon his own unworthiness thereof O great Saint Joseph Interceed that I may never loose JESUS through my own Fault and when he withdraws himself that I may suffer it with resignation and so efficaciously seek him that I may find him as soon as you did The Colloquie O Infinite Goodness grant me by the Intercession of Saint Joseph that I may in all things intirely abandon my self to your Divine Will Patiently suffer what you think best where when and as long as you please grant that I may never Wilfully loose you but when you please to withdraw your self may suffer it with that Patience and Resignation and seek you with such Fervour and Constancy as that I may find you VII MEDITATION Of Saint Joseph's eighteen Years Conversation with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth Preparatory Prayer TO beg of God to understand the great profit Saint Joseph made by the advantage of two such admirable Examples encreasing in all sorts of Vertue I. Prelude IMAGINE your self to hear his Royal Progenitor David under a Similitude Prophetically declare in the following words the profit he made by his abode at Nazareth †Justus ut Palina florebit sicut Cedrus Libani multiplicabitur plantati in Domo Domini in atrijs Domus Dei nostri florebunt Psal 91.13 The Just says he planted in the House or Court of God shall florish like a Palm Tree and Increase or be Exalted in Perfection like a Cedar of Libanus See how Saint Joseph verifies this Prediction both by his Title of Just and Name of Joseph which signifies An Increase and reflect how like a Cedar he grew and increas'd even to the highest pitch of Perfection in Nazareth which may truly be call'd the House and Court of God since 't was the Habitation of the Son of God his Virgin Mother and his
us that such as in these occasions recommend themselves to this great Patriarch presently either recover what is lost or by his efficacious Assistance even gain by their loss bearing the same with perfect Patience and Resignation For a proof of what he asserts he brings for an Example the Comfort which one of his acquaintance receiv'd who lost something of great Value and recover'd it by this means 'T is perhaps upon this account that Scrupulous and Anxious Persons have recourse to him since they have lost so great a Jewel as is the Repose of Conscience and Peace of Mind this being the dearest most precious and considerable Treasure we have in this World for we may assure our selves and certainly believe that he who felt the loss of JESUS and the grief it cost him will not fail to comfort those who implore his assistance in the like exigency The Second is to take occasion for Saint Joseph's sake to make it your endeavour to Love all his Clients and Devotes whether they be already gon before us to Heaven or are still with us upon Earth and especially those who have born the happy Name of Joseph but above all to shew a particular Love and Devotion to Saint Teresa his particular and as I may say his chief Devote and not only to those that are in Heaven but also to those as you know particularly to be Devoted to him upon Earth For your Love to them upon this account will become no less pleasing to Saint Joseph than if they bore his Name and the bearing a tenderness and love to those that do so is very pleasing also to Saint Joseph Wherefore to help you to practise this Devotion I will here give you a ' List of some Eminent Persons that have born his Name and upon this account receiv'd from God some of those particular Favours he bestow'd upon him And shall begin with the Patriarch Joseph who tho' he liv'd so many Ages before our great Saint Joseph yet was a Type of him and probably upon that account might receive his Name and those other extraordinary Favours God bestow'd upon him The first therefore in this List of those that bore the Name of Joseph Is the Patriarch Joseph of the Old Law to whom the Holy Ghost gives a evry great Elogium or Commendation in the 49. Chapter of Ecclesiasticus Calling him Ruler and Prince of his Brethren the Stay and Support of his Nation and People Who deserves also the first place he being not only the first to whom this Name was given but who was also a Type of our Saint Joseph upon account of his Chastity The Character also that the Holy Ghost gives the Patriarch agrees with our Joseph in a far more eminent degree than it did to the Patriarch he being a Prince and Ruler not only over his Brethren but Governour to the Mother and Son of God being their support in all their Necessities and Saving him who was to Save not only one but all Nations throu'out the whole World The second is Joseph of Arimathea that Noble Centurion prais'd by the Holy Ghost for his Love to CHRIST in a time of extream danger For when those who were Friends of CHRIST fled from him as being look'd upon as Enemies to the State he couragiously ask'd his Body and took care of Embalming it and laying it in a new Monument he had prepar'd for himself by the Love and care he took of it after his Death hereby Imitating our Saint Joseph's Love to the Living Body of JESUS He also resembles him in recovering things lost As may appear by the following Example †Ex P. Joan. a S. Maria in Hist S S. Ordinis Saint Mary Vasquez of Mela of the Order of Saint Dominick and of the Monastery of Zamata in Spain had a singular Devotion to this Saint Joseph of Arimathea upon account of the tender Devotion he shew'd to the Precious Body of JESUS begging it taking it from the Cross Embalming it and laying it in his own Monument and when her Monastery had lost a Paper of great importance she had recourse to him for it Soon after there came a Person well mounted to the Monastery Gate where lighting from his Horse he ask'd for Sister Mary Vasquez and as soon as she came Deliver'd her the Paper and return'd without any Conversation at all with her The third is Saint Joseph Son to the Samaritan Woman who gave Water to our Saviour at the Well whilst he rested himself in the Journy he made with his Disciples Who accompany'd with his Brother Victor obtain'd the Glorious Crown of Martyrdom their Mother also shar'd in the Victory as a Reward for her Charity to JESUS Whose Feast is kept upon the twentith of March according to Baronius's Martyrologe who now drink of that Water their Mother beg'd that takes away all Thirst for an Eternity The fourth is Joseph the Just one of the seventy two Disciples of our Saviour to whom the Holy Ghost gave the same title of Just as to our great Saint Joseph so esteem'd by the Apostles for his Sanctity that they Nam'd him with Saint Mathias to be substituted in Judas Escariot's place The fifth is Joseph the Poet by Excellency call'd the Sacred Poet Whose delight was to Compose Verses in Honour of the Saints whom they recompenc'd by Appearing to him and assisting him at his Death and accompanying him to Everlasting Life his Feast is kept upon the third of April according to the †Euseb Hist. lib. 3. cap. 32. Greek Martyrologe but according to Baronius the fifteenth of February The sixth is Joseph of Steâ—ald call'd Herman in the World of the Order of Saint Norbert so singularly devoted to the Mother of God that she took him for her Spouse and gave him the Name of Joseph to the end that in all things he shou'd resemble her first Spouse The manner how it fell out is as follows * Surius Apr. 11. The Religious amongst whom he Liv'd began first to call him Joseph upon account of Virginal Bashfulness which caus'd him to Blush upon the least occasion even when the Religious call'd him Joseph which made him complain to the Abbot tho' without redress for their calling him so and the Night after in time of his Prayer in the Quire he saw a most Beautiful Lady coming towards him full of Majesty and Glory with two Angels attending her the one ask'd the other to whom this Beautiful Lady shou'd be espous'd To whom reply's the other but to him you see here before you Poor Herman was surpris'd at this discourse and so confounded that he wish'd himself hid in some by Corner where none might see him But one of the Angels takes him by the Hand and leads him to the Altar and there takes his Virginal Hand and joyns it with the Hand of the Sacred Virgin saying By the order of God my Master I give you the Virgin of Virgins for your Spouse
endeavor to shew how Saint Ioseph excell'd in all these To begin then with hâ—s Beauty of Body in this he resembl'd his Spouse and as she surpass'd all other Beauties so in Beauty Saint Ioseph was her Consort In which truth I agree with those learned Men who hold for certain that he was no less excellent in all Perfections of Body than in those of his Mind For we cannot imagin that Iesus wou'd permit so strict an alliance of his Beautiful Mother with a Man who had any Personal Defect For what Father is there that chooses not the most accomplish'd Person to Marry his Daughter unto Gerson affirm's that in his Face or Countenance he resembl'd and was very like to Iesus the most Beautiful amongst the Sons of Men the †Facies Iesu erat similis faciel Ioseph Gerson Face of Iesus says he resembl'd the Face of Ioseph And Saint Bernard testifies also that he was like to that unparallel'd Beauty the Blessed Virgin Mary * Erat Ioseph factus ad similitudinem Virginis Sponsae suae S. Ber. Ioseph says he was made to the likeness of the Blessed Virgin his Spouse So that they are all alike in Beauty in which they exceeded all others Thus much therefore may suffice for the discription of his Beauty in general now let us descend to particulars His Face cast forth such rays of Beauty and Sweetness as charm'd all that beheld him One sight of him was sufficient to win the affection of the beholders and move them to a Devotion to him This Sister Iane of the Angels Prioress of the vrsulins at Lodun testifi'd when the Painters ask'd her after Saint Ioseph's Apparition and Miraculous cure of her Health how they shou'd draw him for having describ'd to them his Fore-head Eyes Nose Chin Beard Hair and all the rest of his Features after the best manner she was able she added make use infine of all the advantages your Art admits of or is able to perform yet after all you can do you will never be able to express the Beauty of his Countenance And when they ask'd her whether he was as handsom as such and such a Person make him as much handsomer than these you speak of as you are able yet after all you will come short of his Beauty it being impossible truly to express it as it is I must therefore forbear to endeavour to express by Pen what they were not able to express by their Pensils and conclude with this short description that in Beauty he was next to Jesus and Mary whose Beauties were above what can be express'd by Words and are even beyond any idea or imagination can be fram'd of ' em Yet to give you some glimps or shadow of his Beauty I am assur'd that when they shew'd this Devout vrsuline his Picture at Paris as she pass'd by which Hurlet the Famous Engraver had made to represent the Miracle of her Recovery she acknowledg'd the Face had many Features like his and that it had some resemblance of that Majesty she beheld in Saint Ioseph when he Appear'd to her and at the same time perfectly cur'd her Which mov'd me to get a Plate Ingrav'd after that tho' far smaller which you may see in the Frontispiece of this Book which the Graver has perform'd with so good success that it contains such a Majesty and Sweetness as strike both a Reverence and Affection into the beholders and gives 'em a glimps or shaddow of his heavenly Beauty Moreover an agreeable exterior a sweet and pleasant conversation are no less charming than Beauty Which Saint Ioseph had in very great Perfection as well from his Natural temper as from the many Years conversation he had enjoy'd with tho Word Incarnate and with the Queen of Angels For in him the least defect in this kind wou'd have been very notorious he being design'd by God to treat and converse with those Kings whom he inspir'd and led by a Star to Adore his Son and not only to treat with Kings but even with Angels themselves sent to him upon several Embassys to inform him of the Mistery of the Incarnation of the Name he shou'd give his Son of Herod's design against his Life to warn him to fly with him and â—is Mother into Aegypt to give him notice of Herod's Death and that he might return home again tho' by a different way from that he took when he fled into Aegypt Whom moreover he design'd to be tâ—e constant Companion of the Queen of Angells and even of the Son and Mother of God And therefore he endow'd him with a great noble and generous Mind and replenish'd his Heart with such a Heavenly joy as even broke forth and discover'd it self in his Countenance and gave a grace and ornament to every action he perform'd whereby â—e gain'd every on 's Affection and Esteem besides his own he being hereby not the least puffed up with any self-love or self-esteem nor did he as it ordinarily happens become less affable upon account of these honours done him but receiv'd 'em with so bashful a modesty and such an angelical sweetness as declar'd that he look'd upon himself as undeserving of the esteem and love they shew'd him more admiring and regarding their goodness than his own merits So that this his sweet disposition this his excellent humour together with his beautiful and pleasant Countenance which breath'd such an Humility joyn'd with winning and Angelical Modesty as render'd his conversation both pleasing to Men and Angels nay even to God himself So that the Interpretation of the Patriarch Joseph's Dream was verifi'd in our Saint Joseph for the Sun of Justice and she who was as beautiful as the Moon even the Son and Mother of God both admir'd and even reverenc'd him But all these are only exteriour ornaments and nothing in comparison of the interiour he possess'd I mean those Vertues that adorn'd his Soul for nothing is so lovely as Vertue and nothing renders any object so worthy of Love as Vertue do's And this it was that made Saint Joseph gain so great a conquest over the Hearts of all that knew him For he was Charitable Patient Meek Humble Devout Obedient and infine was all that either the reputed Father of Jesus or the Spouse of Mary ought to have been And tho he had not of himself been so Eminent in these Vertues yet the constant conversation with such eminent Paterns of them as Jesus and Mary were cou'd not but render him also most eminent in the same For as one who lives in a perfumer's shop do's not only take pleasure in the smell of the perfumes round about him but is thereby perfum'd himself so the Vertues of Saint Joseph were increas'd by theirs with whom he constantly Liv'd and Convers'd What I have sayd cannot I am sure but raise in your Hearts such a Love and Devotion to this great Saint as their's was whose Examples I shall hereafter recount and at the same time
Measures wherewith he inspires both Art and Nature to Operate Especially in framing his chief Master-piece his Holy Church For to what End did he ordain so many Ceremonies in the Old Jewish Law Why was he so careful of all the Ornaments of Salomons Temple as even to Ordain that the very Snuffers and other Instruments of less Moment shou'd be of Gold It was because the beholding all these Ordinations and Ceremonies serv'd to his Elect People as an Aprentiship to understand and learn both the Excellency and Sublime Practices of the New Law that JESUS CHRIST was to Establish these serv'd as Foundations whereupon that was to be built and to dispose us to that Perfection as was requir'd and obtain'd by those Sacraments instituted in the Law of Love which the Divine Wisdom was to Establish in his Church 'T was therefore for this End that he brought up his Elect People in the Exercise of such a Multitude of Ceremonies in the Old Law that he might hereby dispose and bring them by little and little to that solid Devotion and Attention requir'd in the New We also see that the Written Law God gave to Moyses Perfected the Law of Nature and the Law of Grace Perfects both the Law of Nature and the Written Law and God made use of all these to bring us to that Perfection which the Vertue and Prerogatives of his Grace prepar'd us to obtain the better to entertain him with such Fervour and Devotion as he requir'd when he shou'd favor us with his Divine Presence Thus we see that God both by himself and his Creatures prepares disposes brings about and perfects all his designs by degrees And we see the reason why God for the space of near seventeen hundred Years has dispos'd and order'd that particular Honours and Devotions shou'd be perform'd by his Servants to particular Saints for particular benefits receiv'd by their Intercession for he bestow's upon each Saint some particular Grace or Priviledge to move the Faithful to a particular Devotion to that particular Saint giveing to one Saint the power of cureing one Disease to another the power of curing a different Distemper to one Saint power to help us in one Necessity to another Saint power to help us in a different Exigency to one Saint he gives the priviledge to obtain one Vertue for us to another to obtain some other different Vertue and why did God do all this but to move his Servants to a particular Devotion to the Saints in general And to move and dispose us also to a Devotion to each Saint in particular when we wanted their help in such a necessity as God had given that Saint a particular power to help us in And why has God reserv'd to this last Age the declaration of the Merits and Power of Saint Joseph but that the Devotion wherewith he had Inspir'd us to give to each Saint in in Particular might serve us like so many dispositions and steps to raise us to such a Devotion to Saint Joseph as he merits above all other Saints next to Jesus and Mary he having all that Power united in himself which God had distributed amongst all other Saints whereby he was able to cure all Corporal and Spiritual Diseases both of Soul and Body and to help his Clients in all their Necessities whatsoever his Dignity and Merits challenging this extraordinary priviledge above all other Saints except Jesus and Mary to the end therefore that all the particular Devotions exhibited for so many Ages to many different Saints might be united and offer'd to him and that all might have Recourse to him in all their Necessities God has discover'd to us that all the power he had before Communicated and Distributed to several Saints is united and given to Saint Joseph he having all Power given him next to Jesus and Mary I shou'd not thus freely have declar'd my Thoughts upon so sublime a Subject had I not before-hand made my Apology since after all none but God and his Saints do certainly know the true reason why Saint Joseph receiv'd not more Early Honours in the Catholick Church Now therefore I shall go on to perform that which I also Promis'd and will be a far easier task which is to make known to you who were those particular Clients of Saint Joseph that in these latter Years God has Inspir'd to endeavour after a most particular manner the promoting his Honour CHAP. V. Of the ten particular Clients of Saint Joseph who by their Pious Examples have invited and mov'd us to a particular Devotion to him next to Jesus and Mary THE Clients of Saint Joseph daily increase and are already become so numerous that there are few or none that desire not to be inrol'd amongst ' em All the Clients of Jesus and Mary have also Consecrated their Affections to him in acknowledgement of his Amability and of the Love which his reputed Son Jesus and his Virgin Spouse Mary have for him their Mouths and Pens express the desires and wishes of their Hearts saying Long Live Jesus Mary and Joseph these are now become their Aspirations adding Joseph to the common Aspiration of Devout Souls Long Live Jesus and Mary and their frequent prohouncing of these words is a signal mark of the Victory he has gain'd over their Chast Affections It has been heretofore a singular Devotion of some Persons who were particularly Devoted to the Vertue of Purity to add Alexius to those two Venerable Names of Jesus and Mary but since this Lovely Sun Saint Joseph has peirc'd the Cloud under which he so many Years lay hid all change their notes and cry out Jesus Mary and Joseph instead of Jesus Mary Alexius giving Saint Joseph his own yet without lessoning their Devotion to Alexius whom after Saint Joseph they honor also with frequent Aspirations Live Alexius O let Alexius Live But they knowing the Merits of Saint Joseph to be of a different and higher rank upon account of the alliance he had with the Vertues of his Holy Spouse and with the Mistery of the Incarnation which render'd him as I have sayd one of the Created Trinity where he takes his place gives him a preference above all other Saints tho after him every one may take Alexius or what other Saint they are particularly Devoted unto for the Object of their particular Affection The first and chief of those who were tenderly affected to Saint Joseph was Jesus the Son of God For tho' our Blessed Lady was first by the date of time that Lov'd her Spouse since her Love began before JESUS CHRIST her Son was Born yet 't is not to be doubted but that the Saviour of the World incomparably more Lov'd and Cherish'd him than our Lady did And therefore tho' her Love was precedent as I sayd in regard of time Yet the Love which Jesus as Son of God had for him before time was above our imagination and beyond the power of Angels to express he lov'd
nothing neerer their Hearts than Jesus Mary Joseph The Children also of Sainâ— Francis Sales who are the Religious of the Visitation in this make knowâ— both their own and their Foundeâ—â— inclinations And the Nuns of the Word Incarnate or the Annunciates from their first beginning put themselves under his happy Protection The manner of celebrating hiâ— Feast is the same with that we Celebrate the Feast of other Saints some Fast upon the Eve in his honour others perform some otheâ— Pennance and Mortification for the same end others Communicate upon his Feast others abstain from aservil Works as upon Sundays others give more time to Prayer thaâ— upon other Days others Read hâ— Life others spend the Day in more Religious Exercises performing all this in testimony of their Love to Saint Joseph The second Devotion is to take him for your special Patron and Directour for the following Year or shou'd you already have chosen him for such then to make choice of him for the effecting some particular affair you have in hand of great Importance Resolve to perform some Devotions to him for this Intention for the space of some Months as the necessity or length of your affairs shall require †Ex Libro de gloria S. Joseph Mother Jane of the Angels of whom I have already spoken beg'd of Saint Joseph upon New Years Day that he wou'd take her for that Year 1636. into his Protection and by his powerful Intercession obtain of our Saviour the Blessing of being deliver'd from all Interiour or Exteriour Impediments in God's Service and to dispossess her of those Devils that Tormented her and free her from whatsoever else that kept or retarded her Soul from the Union of his Divine Love The Night following as she fell asleep she seem'd to feel a more particular Devotion than ordinary accompany'd with a most incredible sweet smell quite different from all other scents that are found in the Perfumes of this World And at the same time she heard a Voice that sayd to her Behold him to whom thou hast Recommended thy self Hereupon the Holy Patriarch Saint Joseph came into her mind and her Heart was fill'd with an extraordinary veneration for and love of him She seem'd in her Sleep to see such a dazeling Light as far exceeded the Brightness and Splendor of the Sun Within which she beheld a Countenance full of wonderful Majesty so Beautiful that she neither found Words to express it nor any Comparisons whereby to discover her Thoughts After all the Person spoke to her as follows Conserve Patience and Constancy in these Sensible difficulties you suffer support 'em with Resignation and endeavour to forget your self for God has Favours in store to bestow upon you Tell your Exorcist that if Men labour not for your Recovery God will make it his own Work By all means let him continue his Endeavours and God by his Ministery will Expel the Devil that most of all hinders your Devotions This being sayd all Vanish'd except the Perfume which lasted so strong for some time after that when she awak'd she verily thought her Chamber had been Perfum'd Her Thoughts were taken up all the Day following with a Confidence in our Saviour and with the Assurance of Saint Joseph's Assistance in this extream necessity she was then in Nor was she deceiv'd for five Days after upon the Feast of the Epiphany she found the effect of her Protectour's Intercession by being dispossess'd of that Devil that did so maliciously interrupt her Devotions The Father Exorcist Commanding him in the Presence of all that were Spectatours that for a Mark of his going out he shou'd write the Name of Mary upon her Hand as he did tho' not without great difficulty and repugnance fixing this Name in very legible Characters immediately above Saint Joseph's which had been writ there before upon the going out of another Devil which Names during her whole Life appear'd as clear and distinct as they did the first Day which I my self was an Eye-witness of as the sayd Religious past by Lyons to go to Anessy to visit the Tomb of Saint Francis of Sales in the Year 1638. I say nothing of the Names of JESUS and Saint Frantis of Sales that were to be seen on the back of the same Hand Writ at the Command of the Exorcist as a Mark of these Devils quitting their Possession which by God's Permission they had taken of her Body that being not so much to my purpose which is only to declare how much it conduc'd to her Happiness to have recourse to Saint Joseph for his Protection either upon his own or upon any other Feast The third Devotion that may be perform'd to Saint Joseph is to take him for our chief Patron and Advocate during our whole Life and Yearly to renew this Resolution upon his Feast I know a Religious Person of our Society who constantly practises this Devotion every Year Offering himself unto him by the Recital of such a Prayer as in our Sodalities of our Blessed Lady erected in our Colledges is publickly recited at their Reception into it I pretend not to perswade you to perform this Exercise every Day lest to some it might seem too great a burthen but only once a Year at least upon his chief Feast which his true Clients can not think too much to perform And the first time one makes use of this Prayer 't is fit to choose him for our particular Patron and Protector The Prayer is short and therefore I shall insert it heer as I shall insert a longer at the end of this Book Page 25. amongst other particular Devotions to be recited at Leisure O Holy Joseph Spouse of the most Blessed Virgin Mary I N. N. choose you this Day for my special Advocate and Patron and do firmly purpose never to forsake you nor to say do nor suffer any under my charge to say or do any thing against your Honour I earnestly therefore beseech you that you will please to take me for your perpetual and constant Servant and to aid and assist me in all my Actions especially in the hour of my Death Amen Make a firm Resolution to keep this Purpose and renew it often either at Holy Communion or when you visit the Blessed Sacrament whereby you will render this Devotion more Pleasing to God more Honorable to the Saint and more profitable to your self The fourth Devotion may either be to offer Mass your self or get a Priest to offer one in Honour of Saint Joseph and that piece of the Eastern Church History that was found and offer'd to Pope Adrian the V I. as very authentick assures us that CHRIST assisting Saint Joseph at his Death gave him his Blessing and Promiss'd to give the same to all those that shou'd offer Sacrifice to God in Honour of Saint Joseph upon the Day of his Glorious Death the ninteenth of March But we have no Sacrifice except the Sacrifice of Holy Mass And
Angels than Men and asking them how they obtain'd this happiness they assur'd me it was the effect of Saint Joseph's Intercession they having beg'd it of him who was himself thirty Years together in the continual Presence of the Word Incarnate and found by experience the good that proceeded from it who is therefore ready to help Recollected Souls to a Participation of this incomparable Comfort of being Constantly in God's sight which influences and facilitates all their Actions But Saint Joseph's help is no lesâ— efficacious also in obtaining Peace of Mind another necessary Disposition for obtaining this Interiouâ— Life and amongst many other Examples I cou'd bring of my own knowledge I will heer produce one A certain Person of the number of those who think extraordinary Devotion and sublime Spirituality consists in discoursing of such high Points as are both above their own as well as Auditours reach either to understand or explicate yet will venture at new Propositions to make themselves admit'd as Persons more than ordinarily inlightned by God This Person came to a Monastery and at the Grate broaches one of his own Fantastical Opinions for a truth that the Humanity of our Saviour was in all places as well as his Divinity and that one might have the Presence of the one as well as of the other This new proposition wrought some trouble in those that were present especially in one of 'em who recounted the passage to me telling me she was not able any longer to make her Prayer but that this new and extravagant Doctrine came into her Head and so darkn'd her Soul that she was able to do nothing Wherefore by my Direction as soon as this Thought occur'd and troubl'd her she recommended her self to Saint Joseph and beg'd him to disperse this Clowd who had scarce finish'd this her Petition but her trouble vanish'd and heâ— wonted Peace and Tranquility of Mind return'd after such a manner that she never more thought of that Discourse and resolv'd never more â—o give ear to such Discourses of Novelties which nothing but a vain curiosity can lead us unto And as â—o the gaining all forts of Interiour Vertues requir'd also for this Spiritual and Interiour Life I need only tell you Saint Teresa's Thoughts †S. Teresa in the 6. Chap. of her Life Ther 's no sort of Vertue says she which is not lodg'd as in it's Proper Seat in the Soul of those who serve Saint Joseph with a Faithful Heart and recommend themselves to his Prayers for one may perceive in them in a little time incredible advancements 'T is but making tryal therefore and having recourse to him for these Ends expecting and assuring our selves of a Happy Success by his Favorable Assistance Thus Saint Teâ—â—sa assures us of his efficacious help CHAP. XI Of the assistance Saint Joseph gives to Spiritual Maladies especially to those who are in a bad State of Soul THE Vision Saint Teresa had upon the Assumption of our Blessed Lady whilst she consider'd the Sins of her Past Life is a proof of Saint Joseph's help in all our Spiritual Infirmities At which time a Divine Transport seizing her Soul she saw it cloath'd with a very white and resplendent Robe At first she perceiv'd not who put it on but at last she saw the Mother of God on the one side of her and Saint Joseph on the other and understood that this was done by them to signifie that at the same time her Soul was freed from all Sin and Imperfection Which proves how careful and desirous the Holy Spouse of Mary is to disperse and drive away all Spiritual Distempers and restore Purity to our Soul so that in all attack's of any Violent Passion in any dangerous Temptation and in our failings or fall's into any Imperfection there is no better means to free our selves and obtain a particular help and assistance than by calling upon Saint Joseph We see daily Examples of this by the great and wonderful change we find in the Conversations of those who are noted for their Devotion to this Saint what Victories do we perceive they have gain'd over their Passions What Mortifications do they not use to subdue their Senses And with what Peace and Tranquility do they perform all this I knew some who cou'd not forbear Jesting and Rallying which serves for nothing but to wound and destroy Charity others who had strange aversions against those who suited not with their Temper and Humor they not being able to suffer so much as their sight much less their Conversation others that were so Passionately carried away with Private and Particular Affections that they cou'd neither Pray Labour nor perform any of their Duties which is a Passion if not cur'd that is very Dangerous and Pernicious to Purity But to my great Joy and Comfort I ever found all these Passions vanish after they had perform'd some Devotions to Saint Joseph for this Intention For this ill Habit of Sharpe and Mortifying Words of Uncharitable and Malicious Thoughts that caus'd these aversions soon Vanish'd after application made to Saint Joseph for his Assistance I knew a Young Woman violently attack'd with a Passion of Love which she free'd her self from by resolving in honour of Saint Joseph to obstain for nine Days from the Conversation of the Person she Lov'd which the performing and recommending her self every Day during that time to Saint Joseph to beg his help to overcome it she was perfectly free'd from this tormenting and dangerous Spirit of Love and that she might never more be troubl'd with thâ— like she resolv'd during her whole Life to say Daily Saint Josephâ—â— Litany whereby she obtain'd thâ— happy end she aim'd at but to pâ—â— her in mind that this constant Devotion to Saint Joseph was thâ— means whereby she obtain'd thâ—â— Favour when ever she neglected thâ— ordinary time of performing itâ— she found some small return's of this Passion which immediately vanish'd at it's performance I knew also another Person who by a violent attack of the same Passion had quite lost her Sleep and was in great danger of loosing her wit 's also for she was seiz'd upon by Dispairing Thoughts and Doubts of her Perseverance in Religion who being Councel'd for nine Days together to say the Beads of Saint Joseph I before spoke of Page 28. some of her Friends joyning their Devotions with her's to Saint Joseph for this end at the end of the nine Days she found her self perfectly cur'd There are many such like Favours which this great Saint obtains for his Faithful Servants that have recourse to him by his obtaining for them a Victory over those Passions they find themselves seiz'd withall which often times they have not Confidence to Discover and which pass only between God and themselves these I have set down for encourageing all in the the like circumstances to have recourse to this Spiritual and Powerful Physitian the great Saint Joseph Isador in his fourth Book and
next and who most easily and favorably grants what ever is ask'd and procures us a free access to Jesus and Mary Wherefore it was a profitable and imitable invention of the Devourâ— Henry Canon of Charters to have Recourse to Saint Joseph since as thâ—â— Learn'd Gerson remarks having him on his side he was sure also of his Son and Spouses Protection Saint Joseph having their Power at his Disposal and 't is sufficient to take him for our Protector to have his and their help in all our Necessities at the very first Petition or ever without asking it as appears by the following Examples Saint Teresa making a Voyage with some of her Religious to Found Vies was gon out of the right way and so engag'd with her Company among the Rocks which hung over a Brow of a Precipice so that the Wagoner cou'd not go either forwards or backwards Presently she go's to her wonted Refuge Saint Joseph ordering her Companions to joyn with her in begging the Protection of her Dear Father they had no sooner â—one so but they saw an Old Man who crv'd to them with a lowd Voice Stand for you will be lost if you go on Wherefore they ask'd him what way shall we go then That way reply'd he which seem'd impossible for a Wagon to go to but on a suddain they found themselves Miraculously put into it at which time they endeavour'd to find out the the Old Man to thank him but in vain as S. Teresa foretold who assur'd them 't was her good Father Saint Joseph who had freed them from the great langer they were in 'T was for this Reason that the Exorcist of Sister Jean of the Angels Prioress of the Vrsulins at Loudun who knew his goodness and power those him for his Protectour in this work For the Devils complain'd of Saint Joseph by whose means they cou'd not molest the Religious at her Devotions And to prove that Saint Joseph even helps without being ask'd or expecting our Prayers the following passage that hapen'd at Lyons in the Month of September last past 1638. do's evidently prove which I had from the Persons own Mouth and is as follow 's Mr. Peter Evialvin a Rich Marchant coming upon the eighth of September our Blessed Ladies Nativity with a Friend of his to the Church of Saint Joseph after some Discourse with his Friend who was a Client of Saint Joseph's about several Graces and Favours that Saint Joseph bestow'd upon his Clients and of the Merits of this great Saint conceiv'd a great desire to take him for his Advocate and resolv'd to frequent his Church and to heat Mass in it the Thursday and Friday following The next Sunday within the Octave upon which he put himself under Saint Joseph's Protection as he walk'd in the Fields for his divertisment he met two Men unknown to him one of which shot at him with a Blunderbuss charg'd with thirty hail-shot all enteâ—'d his Body without giving him any Mortal Wound two or three stayd in his Belly and one of them was beat flat upon his fore-head His Wife and some Passengers coming to his Assistance found him upon the Ground and thought him Dead but being taken up the Wounded Man seeing himself all Bloody recommends himself to Saint Joseph to whom his Wife also makes a Vow which succeeded so well that her Husband recover'd his Hurts within five Days and came to give thanks at Saint Joseph's Church for this Preservation being perfectly well and there Offer'd a Picture of this Miraculous escape as a memory of his Gratitude Give me leave therefore to end this Treatise by joyning my Petition with Saint Teresa's and beseeching you if you 'll not Beleive me yet for the Love of God that you wou'd make tryal how advantagious the Devotion to this great Saint is and how prosperous you 'll find it by Expetience For I have not sayd all I might have sayd there being greater Advantages in Loving and being Devout to Saint Joseph than the most perswasive Panagerist is able to Express But beleive me who will and let them that will Imitate me also I for my Part am resolv'd to Love Saint Joseph for Time and Eternity not with a languishing but flaming Love thereby to redeem time lost nor will I prefer any object under God before him for next after Jesus and Mary Joseph shall have place in my Affections in which I will persever to my last Breath which shall be imploy'd in pronouncing these Sacred Names Jesus Maria Joseph Live Jesus Mary and Joseph Amen FINIS DEVOTIONS TO S. JOSEPH SPOVSE to the B. V. Mary Mother of Iesus Printed by T. F. in the Year 1700. THE OFFICE OF S. Joseph At Mattins Jesus Mary Joseph vers O Lord open my Lips resp And my Mouth shall declare thy Praise vers O God incline unto my aid resp O Lord make hast to help me vers Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost resp As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen Alleluia The Hymn JOSEPH the Son of David was esteem'd Father of Jesus who the World Redeem'd The Virgin he espous'd In Heart conjoyn'd And Guardian was of both By Heaven assign'd Antiphon All Hail honour of the Patriarchs Steward of the holy Church of God who did'st conserve the Bread of Life and the Wheat of the Elect. vers O holy Joseph Pray for us resp That we may be made worthy of the Promises of CHRIST The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee by the Merits of the Spouse of thy most holy Mother that what our possibility can not obtain may be giv'n us by his Intercession Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost World without end Amen At Prime Jesus Mary Joseph vers O God incline unto my aid resp O Lord make hast to help me vers Glory be to the Father c. Alleluia The Hymn WHen thou the Virgin didâ—st with Child perceive Perplext in thought thou her design'dst to leave But in thy Sleep an Angel with his Voice Advis'd thee not to fear but to Rejoyce Antiphon All Hail honour of c. as before Pag. 4. The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee c. as before Pag. 5. At the Third Hour Jesus Mary Joseph vers O God incline unto my aid resp O Lord make hast to help me vers Glory be to the Father c. Alleluia The Hymn TO Bethlem with the pregnant Virgin he Travel'd to pay th'imposed Subsidie Where Christ was to be born and in which place He shortly shouâ—d his Infant Lord embrace Antiphon All Hail honour of c. as before Pag. 4. vers O holy Joseph Pray for us resp That we may be made worthy of the Promises of CHRIST The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee c. as before Pag. 5. At the Sixth Hour Jesus Mary Joseph vers O God incline unto my aid