7th Sunday
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER O glorious Saint Joseph, pattern of all holiness, when you lost the child Jesus, you sought him sorrowing for the space of three days, until with great joy you found him again in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors. By this sorrow and this joy, we ask you, with our hearts upon our lips, to keep us from ever having the misfortune of losing Jesus through mortal sin. Grant also that we always may seek him with unceasing sorrow, when we commit a serious sin, until we find him again, ready to show us his great mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
GOSPEL READING | LUKE 2:41 – 5 0 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but, supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.
REFLECTION “Faith, hope, love: these are the supports of Joseph’s life and of all Christian lives. Joseph’s self-giving is an interweaving of faithful love, loving faith and confident hope. His feast is thus a good opportunity for us to renew our commitment to the Christian calling God has given each of us. “When you sincerely desire to live by faith, hope and love, the renewal of your commitment is not a matter of picking up again something neglected. When there really is faith, hope and love, renewal means staying in God’s hands, despite our personal faults, mistakes and defects. It is a confirmation of our faithfulness. Renewing our commitment means renewing our fidelity to what God wants of us: it means expressing our love in deeds”
Lord, have mercy… Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy… Christ, have mercy.
Holy Trinity, one God… Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary… Pray for us.
St. Joseph…
Noble son of the House of David…
Light of patriarchs…
Husband of the Mother of God…
Guardian of the Virgin…
Foster father of the Son of God…
Faithful guardian of Christ…
Head of the holy family…
Joseph, chaste and just…
Joseph, prudent and brave…
Joseph, obedient and loyal…
Pattern of patience…
Lover of poverty…
Model of workers…
Example to parents…
Guardian of virgins…
Pillar of family life…
Comfort of the troubled…
Hope of the sick…
Patron of the dying…
Terror of evil spirits…
Protector of the Church…
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world… Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world… Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world… Have mercy on us.
God made him master of his household… And put him in charge of all that he owned.