The book, The Month of St. Joseph, presents daily considerations for the month of March in the form of meditations and practical examples. The example for today is as follows.

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EXAMPLE

Father Evangelista, of the Society of Jesus, one of the most devoted clients of St. Joseph, obtained through his intercession the following singular favor.

For more than twenty years this great servant of God endured most excruciating pains from asthma. The thought struck him, how comparatively light these sufferings would be, were he only certain after death of enjoying God. On the 19th March, 1626, he humbly begged of God, through the intercession of St. Joseph, to grant him the assurance of eternal salvation. Animated with the liveliest confidence, that he should obtain the favor he so earnestly desired, he prepared to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and his confidence increased, when he found he had been appointed to say Mass at the altar of the Saint.

Scarcely had he begun the Holy Sacrifice, when he felt his soul inflamed with so tender a devotion, that be remained wrapped in the contemplation of the glory with which the saints are rewarded in Heaven. The feelings of humility, gratitude, and love, with which his heart then overflowed, left him motionless and unable to proceed. Having at length come to himself, he made an entire oblation of his whole being to God and to St. Joseph, and continued the Mass, as well as his feelings would permit him, until the consecration of the chalice; but after having pronounced with tender devotion the words qui pro vobis (which for you) he heard distinctly an interior voice, and this consoling word efficaciter (efficaciously), after which he proceeded repeating the usual form, et pro muliis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum (which shall be shed for you and for many to the remission of sin).

What must have been the feelings of holy joy, which inundated the soul of this holy man, at the intimation that the blood of Jesus Christ had been efficaciously shed for him, and that his salvation was secured. During the seventeen years Father Evangelista survived, the mere recollection of this great favor filled his soul with heavenly delight, and made him happy amidst his greatest sufferings.

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This anecdote comes from the Month of St. Joseph by Abbé Berlioux, originally published in English in the year 1887. This book contains meditations and an example story for each day of the month. In an effort to preserve short inspiring stories from our Catholic past, every day for the month of March you can find the example story for the day published on the website under people/stories.

The same author also published similar books for the months of, May (Our Lady), June (Sacred Heart), and November (Holy Souls). We are planning to post the stories for these months in the future and are working with Mediatrix Press to re-publish these as a four book collection, so be sure to check back. The Month of St. Joseph is available now.