Father, Worker and Guardian of our Redeemer
CTS Companions Series
J.B. Midgley
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860821721
eISBN 9781784694364
ASIN B073GZJGGX
CTS Booklet DO686
This is the second book by J.B.Midgley that I have read, and it will not be the last. I have greatly enjoyed both books by him that I have read to date. In just over a year I have read 70 books and booklets from the Catholic Truth Society. There has not been a bad book in the lot. And As much as I enjoyed this book by Midgley and look forward to reading others by him, I also look forward to pursuing other books in the CTS Companions Series.
After I became a father, and as my children grow. My fascination, appreciation and devotion to Saint Joseph has continually grown. In the last few months I have come across this book on Saint Joseph and eagerly await the Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Don Calloway that is due out later this year, this book was an excellent little volume to hold me over. This volume was originally published in 2002, and the eBook edition was released in 2017. The book was written in part to a Jubilee Year Midgley states in the introduction:
“In his Apostolic Letter ‘At the Beginning of the New Millennium’, January 2001, Pope John Paul hoped that the Great Jubilee’s legacy for the world would be an increase in holiness. At the same time, the World of Work Committee of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales published ‘A Spirituality of Work’, calling attention to the ‘Gospel of Work’ which teaches that life is not compartmentalised, and that the necessity of work is a means to the holiness for which every man and woman is created. Thoughts turn naturally to Saint Joseph, their universal patron.”
And further on:
“Today, he remains the exemplar of persevering honesty, the incomparable pattern for fathers of families, and now cares for all God’s children as they undertake their responsibilities in the world. The foster-father from whom the Carpenter of Nazareth Himself was happy to learn, is now supremely placed to support all who work for justice, peace, and well-being, within and between families and nations, for the glory of God and their own sanctification.”
The chapters in this volume are:
Introduction
Devotion to Saint Joseph
Preparations for the Incarnation
Annunciation and Visitation
The Nativity
After the Nativity
The Finding in the Temple
The Hidden Life
Joseph’s Legacy
The Liturgy of Saint Joseph
The Feasts
In the section on the history of the devotion he starts with some of the history, he says:
“The nineteenth century witnessed a universal growth in devotion to Saint Joseph, especially on the part of workers who were often exploited and impoverished. In 1847, Pope Pius IX, in an early act of his pontificate, extended to the universal Church the Feast of ‘The Patronage of Saint Joseph’ to be celebrated on the third Wednesday after Easter. In 1861, he approved the establishment, in Beauvais, of the Archconfraternity of Saint Joseph which welcomed the affiliation of Associates throughout France. Its aims were to extend devotion to Saint Joseph, ask his protection for the Holy Father, the Church, the well-being of Christian family life, and his intercession for the grace of a holy death.”
I loved reading about some of the areas where Saint Joseph is the patron saint. He is the principal Patron Saint of Canada, not noted in the book. There are some great prayers to Saint Joseph, and a wonderful litany. The final section on the feats has the history of that feast, and then a reflection.
Overall this book was a wonderful read. It leaves readers wanting to go deeper in their knowledge and devotion to Saint Joseph. A great introduction to devotion to Saint Joseph, and another book from the Catholic Truth Society that I am blessed to have read. And now I am left with a long list of books to read by Midgley and others from the Companions series.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.
Books by J.B. Midgley:
Advent & Christmastide with the Saints
Antonio Rosmini
Benedict - Patron of Europe
Bernard of Clairvaux – CTS Great Saints
Charles Borromeo - CTS Great Saints
Companion to St. Joseph
Companion to the Feasts of Mary
Companion to Saint Peter
Companion to Saint Paul
Companion to the Angels
Companion to the Feasts of Our Lord
Companion to the Passion of Our Lord
Dominic - CTS Great Saints
George: Patron of England - CTS Great Saints
Dewi Sant: St David Patron of Wales
Francis de Sales – CTS Great Saints
John Baptist de La Salle – CTS Great Saints
John Vianney – CTS Great Saints
Lent with the Saints
Nurturing the Young
Robert Bellarmine
Saint John the Baptist
Stations of the Cross and Resurrection with the Saints
The Eucharist with the Saints
The Four Evangelists
Thomas Becket – CTS Saints of the Isles
Vincent de Paul – CTS Great Saints
Witchcraft, Sorcery and Magic
…
Contributed to:
First Fridays and First Saturdays The Devotions Explained
...
Other books in the CTS Companions Series:
Companion to St. Joseph – J.B. Midgley
Companion to the Feasts of Mary – J.B. Midgley
Companion to Saint Peter – J.B. Midgley
Companion to Saint Paul – J.B. Midgley
Companion to the Angels – J.B. Midgley
Companion to the Feasts of Our Lord - J.B. Midgley
Companion to the Passion of Our Lord – J.B. Midgley
Companion to the Order of the Mass - Mgr Bruce Harbert
Companion to Reading the Old Testament – Adrian Graffy
Companion to Reading the New Testament – Adrian Graffy
Companion to Praying with the Bible – Z. Mattam
New Companion to Advent & Christmastide - CTS
New Companion to Prayer - Celia Wolf-Devine
New Companion to Lent - CTS
...
Other reviews and articles about Saint Joseph:
Consecration to St. Joseph - Fr. Donald Calloway
Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph Compiled from Traditional Sources- TAN Books
Prayer to Saint Joseph Prayer of the Day
Joseph of Nazareth - Federico Suarez
Devotion to St. Joseph - F. Declaux
Go to St. Joseph: Do Whatever He Tells You - Brian Kiczek
Saint Joseph: Help for Life's Emergencies - Kathryn J. Hermes
Feast of Saint Joseph 2018 Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary Principal Patron of Canada
Companion to Saint Joseph - J.B. Midgley - CTS Companions Series
Saints of the Roman Canon - Julien Chilcott-Monk - CTS Living the Liturgy Series
Seven Saints for Seven Virtues - Jean M. Heimann
Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph Compiled from Traditional Sources- TAN Books
Prayer to Saint Joseph Prayer of the Day
Joseph of Nazareth - Federico Suarez
Devotion to St. Joseph - F. Declaux
Go to St. Joseph: Do Whatever He Tells You - Brian Kiczek
Saint Joseph: Help for Life's Emergencies - Kathryn J. Hermes
Feast of Saint Joseph 2018 Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary Principal Patron of Canada
Companion to Saint Joseph - J.B. Midgley - CTS Companions Series
Saints of the Roman Canon - Julien Chilcott-Monk - CTS Living the Liturgy Series
Seven Saints for Seven Virtues - Jean M. Heimann
...
No comments:
Post a Comment