glory sure above Whom CHRIST did so intirely love As on thy Person to bestow Such Priviledges here below Then let us all with one Beseech Saint Joseph to present Our wants to God and for us Pray That serve our Lord we ever may Amen The Prayer OMnipotent and Merciful Lord Jesus who did'st provide Saint Joseph the just Son of David for Spouse of Blessed Mary thy Virgin-Mother and chose him for thy Nursing-Father Grant we beseech thee that by his Prayers and Merits thy Church may enjoy a perfect Peace and so arrive at the consolation of thy everlasting Vision Throu ' the same Lord Jesus our Saviour who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God for ever and ever Amen A VOTIVE OBLATION TO S. JOSEPH To choose him for our Patron O Holy JOSEPH Virgin-Spouse of the Virgin-Mother of GOD most glorious Advocate of all such as are in danger or in their last Agony and most faithful Protector of all the Servants of MARY your dearest Spouse I. N.N. In the Presence of JESUS and MARY do from this moment choose you for my Lord and Master for my powerful Patron and Advocate for the obtayning a most happy Death And I firmly Resolve and Purpose never to forsake you and never to say or do nor even to suffer any under my charge to say or do any thing against your Honour receive me therefore for your constant Servant and recommend me to the constant Protection of MARY your dearest Spouse and to the everlasting Mercies of JESUS my Saviour Assist me in all the Actions of my whole Life all which I now offer to the greater and everlasting glory of JESUS and MARY as well as to your own Never therefore forsake me and whatsoever Grace you see most necessary and profitable to me obtain it for me now and at the hour of my Death to which I now invite you against the uncertain hour in which it shall happen that whatsoever now and then shall not be possible for me to obtain may by your Intercession be bestow'd upon me by JESUS the GOD the of my Soul Amen Ex Man Tyrnaviensi THE BEADS OF S. IOSEPH UPON the great Beads you recite the following Prayer which the Holy Church makes use of in his Divine Office and is as follow 's The Prayer ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee by the Merits of the Spouse of thy most Holy Mother that what our possibility cannot 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 Upon the lesser Beads you say HOLY Joseph most Blessed of all Blessed Souls after JESUS and MARY Pray for us now and at the hour of our Death Amen SEVEN PRAYERS OR DEVOTIONS Containing the seven Dolours and Joy's of Saint Joseph The first Prayer Containing the first Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph O Most Chast Spouse of the most Holy Mother of Jesus by the grief you felt when you perceiv'd her your beloved Spouse with Child being as yet Ignorant of that Ineffable means God had made use of for this end which caus'd you to think of leaving her And by the great Joy you had as soon as the Angel freed you from the Suspicion by declaring to you the Mistery of the Incarnation of the Eternal Word Pray for us that we may endeavour to advance your honour and worship throughout the whole World to the end that by the assistance of God's Grace surmounting all troubles and asslictions of Mind in this Mortal Life we may in the next become the peaceful Mansion of the Holy Ghost for all Eternity Amen Our Father Hail Mary The second Prayer Containing the second Doloâ—â— and Joy of Saint Joseph O Thrice happy Joseph Foster-Father of Jesus by the great grief you 〈◊〉 in your Heart when you contemplated this beloved Infaâ—â— lying in the Manger Weeping and Shivering with Cold. And by the great Joy you receiv'd in beholding the Holy Angels adoring and honouring hâ—â— with their Heavenly Musiclâ—â— and in seeing the three King Prostrate before him and Offering him three rich Presents Pray for us O great Saint 〈◊〉 the end that our Souls may bâ—â— come fit Mangers to receiâ—â— our Saviour into and that 〈◊〉 may lodge and keep him always therein even to the last Moment of our Lives that then we may find and enjoy him in Heaven in the midst of his Everlasting Glory Amen Our Father Hail Mary The third Prayer Containing the third Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph O Great Joseph a Man according to God's own Heart by the grief you felt at the Circumcision of the tender Infant Jesus shedding his most Precious Blood and by the Joy you had in giving him the Sweet Name of Jesus according to the Revelation which the Angel had made you Pray for us to your Blessed Son to the end we may be wash'd and purified with his most Precious Blood and always bear his Name imprinted in our Hearts Amen Our Father Hail Mary The fourth Prayer Containing the fourth Grief and Joy of Saint Joseph O Most Glorious Joseph and Prudent Servant of God by the great Grief that Wounded and Pierc'd your Afflicted Heart when you heard by the Mouth of Simeon that the Soul of your dear Spouse was to be pierc'd with a Sword And by the joy you felt therein when you heard froÌ„ the same Simeon that Jesus was design'd for the Resurrection and Salvation of Mankind Pray for us to the end that we may become such partakers of the Dolours of the Mother that we may afterwards partake of the Joy and Happiness of her Belov'd Son Jesus Amen Our Father Hail Mary The fifth Prayer Containing the fifth Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph O Pious Comforter of the Mother of God by the Dolours and Anxieties you underwent in your Flight into Aegypt and by the Joy you receiv'd when at your entrance you saw the Idol's fall down upon the Earth as not being able to suffer the Presence 〈◊〉 your Divine Jesus Pray for us I beseech you that flying the dangers of all Terrene and Inordinate Inclinations we may one Day rejoyce by seeing all the black Idol's of our Sins Intirely cast down and destroy'd in our Souls Amen Our Father Hail Mary The sixth Prayer Containing the sixth Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph O Most Chast and Vigilant Guardian of Mary the Virgin of Virgins by the great perplexity you were in when call'd out of Aegypt you heard that Archilaus the Son of Herod was made King who was no less Cruel and Bloody than his Father and by the great Joy that possest your Heart when the Angel Commanded you not to fear because all were Dead that sought his Life Pray for us that we may so live in the midst of the Aegypt of this Sinful World that one Day we may deserve to be call'd to the Celestial Juda Amen Our Father Hail Mary The seventh Prayer
Faithfull and prudent servant constituted by our Lord for the Comforter of his Mother for the Forster-Father of his Humanity and for his only and most faithfull assistant in his great design upon earth S. Bern. Hom. 2. Super Missus est PIOUS REMARKES UPON THE LIFE OF S. JOSEPH SPOUSE Of the B. Virgin Mary Mother of our Lord JESUS CHRIST Written Originally in French by Rd. Father Paul Barrie The Second Edition of the English Translation Printed by T. F. in the Year M.DCC. THE TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS Pious Remarks upon the Life of Saint Joseph Spouse to the Bles-Virgin Mary exciting Devotion to this Glorious Saint CHAPTER I. OF the admirable Love that God bore Saint Joseph Pag. 1. CHAP. II. Of those wonderful Qualities whereby God render'd Saint Joseph aimiable above all other Saints except JESUS and MARY Pag. 20. CHAP. III. Of the great Love and special Devotion we ow Saint Joseph and that it ought to be next to that we have for JESUS and MARY Pag. 28. CHAP. IV. What was the Reason why it was so long before Saint Joseph the best belov'd of God and most aimiable of all the Saints after JESUS and MARY had such a Love and Devotion payd him as was due to the greatness of his Merits Pag. 34. 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 Pag. 50. CHAP. VI. Of the Ordinary Devotions that may be daily Exercis'd towards Saint Joseph Pag. 78. The Alphabetical Litany of Saint Joseph Pag. 85. CHAP. VII What Devotions are to be us'd to Saint Joseph upon his Feast Pag. 96. CHAP. VIII Of Devotions to S. Joseph during the Octave of his Feast or at other times according to the opportunity or affection of his Clients Pag. 108. CHAP. IX Containing nine different occasions of particular Devotions proper to Saint Joseph and practis'd by his particular Devots P 113. CHAP. X. Of the help and Assistance that Saint Joseph gives to his Devout Clients towards their attaining Interiour Perfection and in what this Perfection do's consist Pag. 130. CHAP. XI Of the assistance Saint Joseph gives to Spiritual Maladies especially to those who are in a bad State of Soul Pag. 146. CHAP. XII The Miraculous Assistance which Saint Joseph giv's in Curing Corporal Diseases especially the Plague Pag. 155. CHAP. XIII The assistance which God giv's upon all occasions by Saint Joseph Intercession Pag. 171. CHAP. XIV To exhort all to have recours to Saint Joseph and Confide in his Powerful Protection P. 177. PIOUS REMARKS UPON The Life of Saint Joseph Spouse to the Blessed Virgin Mary exciting Devotion to this Glorious Saint CHAP. I. Of the admirable Love that God bore Saint Ioseph IT was doubtless a Divine Inspiration with which that Painter was mov'd who first put a Lilly into Saint Joseph's Hand Flowers we know have something very lovely and charming in them and 't is look'd upon as an honor and good Fortune no less to bear their Name than to bear them in our Scutcheon or Coat of Armes Wherefore the City of Florence esteems it as a very great one to bear the Name of that rich Flower that adorns her delicious Gardens The glorious Name of Rose is also justly intail'd upon the Iland of Rhod's as being so beautiful and pleasant a place that it even resembles a Rose in the Spring All the World know's that Susa the chief City in great Assuerus's Kingdom pretended to better Fortune than all the other Cities of Asia because the Name Susa signifies a Lilly whereby she gave her self a right above all other Cities of stiling her self the City of Lillies And there are none even of the Interpreters of Holy Scripture who do not take notice that the City of Nazareth fortunately bore the Name of Flowers Because it was the residence of Jesus Nazarenus that is Jesus of the City of Flowers and the Native Town of Mary and Joseph the three fairest Flowers in the Garden of the Holy Catholic Church We Read also in Ancient Annals that the very name and sight of Flowers have been look'd upon as a most happy and prosperous Omen for as Plutarch recounts in the Life of Sylla the Roman Army being drawn up in Battle array ready to charge the Enemy an agreeable gale arising brought a great quantity of Lillies Roses Violets Flower-de-Luces Daffadils and several other sorts of flowers from the Neighboring Fields and Gardens which falling upon the Shields and Head-pieces of the Roman Souldiers they believ'd it a certain presage of their good Fortune and even a kind of crowning them Conquerors before-hand At the Battle of Lepanto Roses were there sold in the publick Piazza in the Month of October as red and fresh as they are in June From whence all assur'd themselves of a signal Victory that the Christians shou'd obtain against the Turk's This Lilly therefore Saint Joseph bears betokens those extraordinary qualities and priviledges wherewith he is inrich'd and therefore the Painter who first put it into his Hand was as I sayd without doubt inspir'd from Heaven to do so since this Branch of Lillies silently hint's at whatsoever can be said of him and even manifests all those wonders that lie hid in this Great Saint As I shall hereafter endeavour to explicate Wherefore do but learn the price and excellency of the Lilly and thereby you 'll know the eminent and admirable Perfections of Saint Joseph and perceive also that wonderful and almost incredible Love which God had for him For as a Lilly is the grace and ornament of a Garden of pleasure as 't is the beautiful Master-piece that draws the Eyes and charms the Hearts of the beholders at their first entrance into it so according to Saint Austin there are no less charming Lillies in the Garden of Heaven †Floribus caeli neque rosa neque liliae desunt Aug. serm 11 de Sanctis Amongst Heavenly Flowers neither Roses nor Lillies says he are wanting That are no less charming to their beholders Now let us see how beautiful and sweet a Lilly Saint Joseph is for since the heavenly Spouse is highly pleas'd with a feast of Lillies therefore Saint Joseph had the honor to be invited to it next after the Bridegroom himself * Dilectus meus mihi ego illi qui pascitur inter lilia Cant. 2.26 My beloved is mine says the Spouse and I am his who feeds amongst Lillies Behold then Jesus Mary and Joseph three glorious Lillies indeed that assist at this Banquet of Lillies The honor and beauty both of Heaven and Earth and the most amiable of all Created Objects But before we Contemplate Saint Joseph let us take a view of the Lillies Perfections which is an Emblem of him The Lilly surpasses all other odoriferous Flowers in growth as well as beauty she raises her beautiful head upon a streight stalk many feet
higher than any other Flowers do as Saint Joseph also in the height of Justice and Perfection surmounts all other Saints Wherefore when we behold Saint Joseph leading his reputed Son Jesus in one Hand and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the other we cannot but admire to what a height of Dignity God has rais'd him and must own that none ever was rais'd to the like and that such a Dignity as this is not given in the House of God but according to the Sanctity and Graces the Person rais'd to it is partaker of and which the Ministry he is imploy'd in do's require The first and highest degree of all Honors and Dignities upon Earth was due to Jesus the Son of God Incarnate the second to the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God and the third to Saint Joseph Spouse to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Foster-Father to the Son of God Wherefore according to the most devout and learned Doctor of the Church Saint Thomas our Lilly Saint Joseph is rais'd also after Jesus and Mary to the highest Dignity upon Earth * Eo fuit excellentior quo ad altiorem ordinem pertinuit S. Th. 3. par â— By so much says he he excel'd others by how much he was rais'd to a higher Dignity than others were The Lilly also is an Emblem of pure Love and springs from a Heart the source of Love which it's Root resembles and in this it resembles also our Saint Joseph Who next to Jesus and Mary exceeds all Creatures both in active and passive Love his Heart was most inflam'd by being replenish'd with the Love of God towards him which mov'd his Divine Majesty to raise him to the highest Dignity on Earth next to Jesus and Mary And Saint Joseph reverberates and casts back these Flames towards God by a faithful correspondence and fidelity in those high functions to which he had chosen him which render'd him most amiable both to Heaven and Earth as I shall hereafter prove more at large So that we see how the Lilly is a lively Emblem of our Saint and that this Lilly he holds in his Hand intimates something that is great and what is beyond our power to express The very number also of the Lillies leaves betokens those six wonderful priviledges which the extraordinary Love of God mov'd him to bestow upon our Lilly Saint Joseph Margaret Queen of Navar took for her Device a crown'd Lilly at which two rich Pendants of Jewels were hung with this Motto * Mirandum naturae opus The wonderful work of Nature Which Device may also be very well apply'd to Saint Joseph The Lilly is his Ensign and is not only the wonder of Nature but of Grace also upon which hung those two rich Jewels Jesus and Mary whom he led in each Hand bearing the Title of Father to the one and of Husband to the other he therefore justly deserves to be Crown'd since in the Love of God he bears away the Prise from all both in the Church Militant and Triumphant So that none must dare to dispute the right of Coronation with him he having those high Prerogatives bestow'd upon him from which all others except Jesus and Mary his beloved Son and Spouse are excluded The part and portion also he has of Divine Love in this Triumph is very remarkable and gives him a place in that title which his great Progenitor David gave to the 44. Psalm * Triumphus per lilia Psal 44. The Triumph by Lillies Making him partner in this Triumph with the two other Lillies Jesus and Mary these being all and always of a Company Wherefore since this Triumph partly belongs to him I may conclude him a Conqueror with the other two and that this his Triumph is as much above that of all other Saints as he exceeds them in those wonderful Graces and Prerogatives which the Love of God bestow'd upon him This will easily be perceiv'd by displaying the six Leaves of our Lilly and discovering thereby the six extraordinary Prerogatives the Love of God has bestow'd upon him above all other Saints excepting upon Jesus and Mary The Head or Blossom of this Flower contains as I sayd six white resplendent Leaves which represent the six particular and extraordinary Prerogatives that shine in Saint Joseph beyond all other Saints Wherefore 't will be sufficient only to open and display these six Leaves to let you see the wonderful novelties they contain and thereby both raise your Imagination of Saint Joseph's Perfections and charm your Affection to such a height with Love and Devotion to him as he truly deserves Novelties as we find by experience contain a certain lustre within themselves that causes admiration and therefore they need not borrow words or discourses to set themselves out A Beauty inrich'd by Nature as you know needs neither Paint nor Patch a Diamond of great price wants no foile to set it off A Cabinet also fill'd with rich and sparkling jewels declares it's own value and therefore needs no other commendation than to set it open containing within it self it 's own light lustre and beauty The Leaves I am about to display of this glorious Lilly are of the same stamp or nature so that by giving you only a sight of them as of so many unheard of Prerogatives they cannot but raise your admiration of his Perfections and even charm and move you to a Devotion to him The first Leaf or Prerogative I lay open cannot but cause a strange admiration for is it not wonderful that a Son should choose his own Father 'T is a wonder never before heard of in the World since it 's first beginning Read the Roman Annals turn over all the Histories of the Universe you 'll find nothing like to this and were this a practice that cou'd be brought into the World what a change wou'd it make in it Poor Deform'd Imperfect and Vicious Men wou'd never be chosen for Fathers None but such as were Rich Prudent Vertuous and every way Accomplish'd wou'd be made choice of from whence we may conclude that a Person who is chosen by one that is very Prudent must needs be very Good Beautiful and most Accomplish'd in all kind of Perfections Now to apply this to our Lilly to our Glorious Saint Joseph You know that the Son of God by right of his Divine Existence had a Being before his Human Birth and therefore had the advantage of Time in which he might choose his Father and supposing his design to choose one amongst Men 't is certain his infinite Wisdom wou'd make choice of one most Perfect and Eminent in Sanctity and of one that were most fit and most capable for so high a Dignity For if a Worm like my self wou'd make choice of the bravest of Men for it's Father had it an occasion offer'd to do so can we imagine that the Son of God the Eternal Wisdom who judges of things as they are knows the value and depth of Hearts
Favors where-ever he places his particular Affection The fifth Miraculous Leaf or Prerogative of this Lilly is that S. Joseph being a Creature shou'd take care of his Creator For he was †Pater familias Father of the Family Foster-father Tutor and Guardian of the Word Incarnate So that the Angels who beheld the Son of God in the Bosom of his Eternal Father in Heaven seeing him also in the Arms of Saint Joseph upon Earth might very well cry out with admiration and astonishmentâ— behold the Governor of the Universe govern'd by a Man Behold him who carefully nourishes all Creatures nourish'd by his Creature Behold him whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain shelter'd under the Roof and Protection of a poor Inhabitant of Nazareth And these Angels might also very well have address'd to Saint Joseph the same admirations that Methodius did to the Mother of God in these following words †O Nutriti cuncta nutrientis Ave Joseph cujus gratia Deus factus est indigens Euge qui debitorem illum habes qui omnia omnibus mutuat omnis enim ereatura omnia Deo debet Deuâ— autâ—m tibi debitor existiâ— O Nursing-Father to him who feeds all Creatures O Rich Joseph to whom God himself becomes a Beggar Thrice happy art thou who hast him for thy Debtor who lends to every one whatsoever he possesses for all Creatures are indebted to God for their Being and for every thing they Enjoy But to oblige thee God will become oblig'd to thee and make himself thy Debtor Wherefore let us joyn our Admirations and Congratulations with those of the Angels saying O thrice happy Joseph favorit of the Court of Heaven O best Beloved of God! since he has plac'd so great a confidence in thee as to commit his only Son to thy Care and Conduct The sixth and last Miraculous Leaf or Prerogative of this Lilly is that he is one of the Persons of the Created Trinity which is next in dignity to the uncreated and wonderfully also resembles all the three Persons of the uncreated Trinity as the Lilly also do's which he bears in his Hand For in a white resplendent Cup or Throne it includes three Golden Septers all three equal in Odour Beauty and Shape issuing from the middle or heart of the Flower which resemblance gives no little honor to the Lilly since it mak's it a similitude whereby to declare the Majesty of this Divine Mystery Nor is it any less honor to our Lilly Saint Joseph to resemble the three Divine Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost which he do's after such a manner as might raise a jealosie even in the Angels to see that God has bestow'd upon Man such a resemblance of that Mystery which in it self is the most wonderful of all Mysteries did they not Adore with all possible Submission and Resignation his Divine Will and Pleasure in all things For as the Eternal Father is the Father of the Uncreated word so Saint Joseph is the reputed Father of the word Created And as God the Son is the Redeemer of Mankind so Saint Joseph is his Coadjutor in this great work since he imploy's all his cares all the labours of his Hands and all the sweat of his Brows to gain wherewithal to nourish and maintain our most Merciful Redeemer Lastly as the Holy Ghost is the Spouse of Mary the Mother of God so Saint Joseph is also her Spouse What therefore can be a greater Subject of jealosie to the Angels than this But they know him to be a favorit of God and therefore rejoyce as much in the honor God bestow's upon him as in their own and honor him as a Prince of their Grand-masters Court and as one he will have thus honor'd After having thus display'd these Miraculous Leaves and declar'd the wonderful Prerogatives of our Lilly I cannot refrain from blessing and praising the Divine Providence for inspiring the Painter to put a Lilly into Saint Josephs Hand by the help of which the same Providence has been pleas'd to inspire me to explicate his Merits and wonderful Prerogatives And if heretofore an ingenious Artist did so cut and dispose the Leaves of several Flowers that they made a very Beautiful Picture of Flora why may not I quicken'd by Saint Bernard's Fancy when he says †Quot virtutes tot Lilia Ser. 70. in Cant. So many Lillies so many Vertues endeavour to make a lively Picture of Saint Josephs Vertues out of the different sorts of Lillies and different signification of their Colours By the white Lilly is represented his Chastity by the yellow his Charity by the carnation his Mortification and by the green one his Hope So many Lillies so many Vertues Let therefore this declaration of his Vertues joyn'd with the rest of those wonderful Prerogatives I have before declar'd convince us of his extraordinary Perfection and give us an assurance that there is neither in Heaven nor Earth any Creature above Saint Ioseph or that is more favor'd by God except Iesus and Mary CHAP. II. Of those wonderful Qualities whereby God render'd Saint Joseph amiable above all other Saints except Jesus and Mary ARIVS Montanus a famous Antiquary and no less admir'd for his knowledge in the Hebrew Tongue kept in his Cabinet amongst his other Rarities a Medal that he extreamly valu'd both for it's Antiquity and Prophetical signification Which was a piece of Mony call'd by the Jews a Shekle on the one side of which was represented such a Vessel as the Crisme or Consecrated Oyl was kept in in the Temple with this inscription under it †Genealogia The Genealogy and on the reverse of the Medal was a double rank of Pearls one and forty in number in the center of which were these words †Tempus Unctionis The time of Anointing By the number of the Pearls were signifi'd the Pâ—ogenitors of Christ who were fitly represented by such precious jewels who were in all one and forty himself the * Christus Anointed being included I willingly make use of this erudition to begin my description of the amiable qualities of Saint Ioseph who was one of these Pearls to which he is fitly compar'd since you know how much this Jewel is esteemd for it's resplendent Beauty and Heavenly colour and therefore one of his Devot's cou'd not find out a title that more fitly express'd his Beauty than to call him †Margarita amabilis S. Teresa Lovely Pearl as the Church stiles his Spouse * Mater amabilis Let. Laur. Lovely Mother both being Parents of the Amiable and Lovely Iesus whom his Royal Progenitor stiles in his Psalm of Triumph †Speciosus forma prae Filijs Hominum Psal 44.31 The most Beautiful of the Sons of Men. We know amongst other Perfections Beauty of Body is very highly esteem'd which when it meets with good Natural Parts and a Vertuous disposition of Mind nothing can be more desir'd I shall therefore
shew how great this Love and Devotion ought to be That is to say it ought to be next to our Love and Devotion to Jesus and Mary CHAP. III. Of the great Love and special Devotion we ow Saint Joseph and that it ought to be next to that we have for Jesus and Mary CERTAINLY none can refuse to pay this debt of Love to our Amiable Saint Joseph to this object of the Love of Jesus and Mary and to one so highly belov'd by God himself For can the Eternal Wisdom Error be Deceiv'd Can Mary engage her Affections without Reason Or can we charge God with partiality because he Loves Saint Joseph next to Jesus and Mary Certainly such thoughts as these can never enter into a Pious Heart Wherefore we must conclude that since he was so amiable they cou'd not elsewhere lodge their Affections better or give a present of their Love to any one more deserving than Saint Joseph Let us therefore see how they Lov'd him and endeavour to Love him as they did Believing that God has renderd him lovely above others to move us to Love him above others and move us to follow the track's of his own Divine Affection towards Saint Joseph 'T is hereby we shall know that we are proficients in this Divine School of Love when we come to Love Saint Joseph above all other Saints next to Jesus and Mary in which consists that special Devotion we ought to have to him I say not this to lessen your Love and Devotion to any other Saint but to augment your Love and Devotion to this Saint who in regard of his Merits hold's the first rank in Heaven and Earth not only upon account of that Love that Jesus and Mary bore him but of the Love that God has manifested towards him by those high perogatives he has bestow'd upon him Not but that God has also very highly favour'd many other Saints of his Heavenly Court such as Saint John Baptist whom the Divine Word declar'd the †Inter natos Mulierum non surrexit major Joanne Baptista Matth. 11.11 Greatest amongst the Sons of women and such as the Apostles also were who are Pillars of his Church and like Stars of the first magnitude in the glorious Firmament of Heaven as well as several other Saints like unto these but we must remember what the Learn'd and Devout Gerson says that if the first Ranck and Hierarchy in Heaven is that of the Father Son and Holy Ghost so the second is this of Jesus Mary and Joseph and that all other Saints are of a lower Rank and of a different Hierarchy These other great Saints hold indeed the first place in their Rank and Hierarchy according to the ordinary Law of Love but not in that of the Order of the Hypostatical Union and in the Mistery of the Incarnation wherein those are only compris'd who most nearly relate to Jesus and Mary namely Saint Joseph who compleats this Created Trinity as I before signifi'd and therefore makes a Hierarchy apart of far greater Excellency and Dignity than the rest But still to set forth more at large Saint Joseph's Dignity I will here declare the Source and Order of this Hierarchy which comprehends none but Jesus Mary and Joseph We must therefore take notice that God who is admirable in his Works was not content only to make Man after his own Image and Likeness but wou'd also make a Created Image and Likeness of the Increated Trinity in these three wonderful personages Jesus Mary and Joseph whom he chose for the Mistery of the Incarnation So that as the three Persons of the Increated Trinity have all Cooperated to the Sacred Mystery of the Incarnation so they wou'd also make an Illustrious and Created Emblem of themselves to Cooperate likewise towards the same Mistery For Example first in the subsistance of the two Natures of JESUS CHRIST his Soul Body and Divinity are United in the Person of the Son of God So by the Union of the admirable Love and singular Report that these three Persons Jesus Mary and Joseph have to one another they Contributed to it upon Earth Mary bears the Image of God the Father Jesus is the Son according to his Humanity in a just likeness to what he is in Heaven as he is the Word or Son of God And Saint Joseph Represents the Holy Ghost in the quality of Spouse to the Blessed Virgin or in the Love he had for Jesus and Mary which he manifested by the care he took both of the one and of the other What Affections therefore are due to this Admirable and Venerable Created Trinity as the Learn'd Gerson stiles it either in general or in particular And if the greatest Honour be confer'd upon them by this Title why ought not the greatest Love to accompany it If Love attends Merit what can be next the Uncreated Trinity but the Created And next to the Father Son and Holy Ghost but Jesus Mary and Joseph who ought to take the next place in our Affections And as it wou'd be amiss for any one first to Love God the Father secondly to Love God the Son and then breaking the Order of the Trinity to Love one of the Angels placeing the Holy Ghost in the same Rank with these Holy Spirits so infinitely inferiour to him in all things if therefore this wou'd be very Preposterous since by denying his first Affection to the Holy Ghost he wou'd refuse him the first of all possible Devotions which he deservedly challenges as his Right it being an undoubted Truth that we cannot render a greater Honour than by Love and by offering our Heart in Homage Wherefore as none can divide their Love and Devotion to the three Persons in the Uncreated Trinity to give it elsewhere no more can they do so in order to the Created Trinity But must Love Jesus Mary and Joseph after the Uncreated Trinity before any other object tho' never so Perfect and therefore to Love Jesus and Mary and in the next place to Love any Saint or Angel wou'd be to break the order of Love and become injurious to this Created Trinity robbing it of that Honour God has given it and 't wou'd be to displace Saint Joseph who ought to have the third Rank in the sanctuary of our Affections which wou'd clearly appear no less a Defect of Judgment than of Devotion Wherefore our greatest Devotion after that to Jesus and Mary ought to be to Saint Joseph without any fear or apprehension that any Saint or Angel will thereby be disoblig'd they all giving him the precedency knowing very well what Honour and Devotion is due to the Spouse of Mary the Mother of God and to the reputed Father of Jesus the Son of God and to the third Person of the admirable Created Trinity of Jesus Mary and Joseph CHAP. IV. What was the reason why it was so long before Saint Joseph the best belov'd of God and most amiable of all the
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
him in his last Agony leaning on his Pillow taking him by the Hand and receiving his last Breath from his Lips and at his last Groan clos'd his Eyes shut his Mouth and form'd his Visage with his own most Divine Hand to give him a graceful Aspect at his last farewell Are not all these extraordinary marks of Jesus his particular Love to Saint Joseph The second we find inroul'd amongst the fervorous Lovers of Saint Joseph is Mary the Mother of Jesus she Lov'd him in quality of her Spouse never any Virgin Lady was so Faithfully Loving so Chastly Observant so Religiously engaging in her Conversation with her espous'd Husband as Mary was to her Joseph He was Most passionately lov'd and esteem'd by her as the Protector of her Consecrated Virginity and also the conserver of her Honour Whose Conversation was a security to her unblemish'd Reputation against any reproach that cou'd be made concerning her Virgin Child-Birth For had he forsaken her during the nine Months after her Conception her Purity wou'd unavoidably have been suspected Moreover she bore an affectionate service to him as to her Husband and Head and as to one of the greatest Merit amongst all Man kind next to her Son Jesus This Love of the Virgin Mary to her Spouse caus'd her to descend to the meanest and lowest Services whereby she cou'd any ways express her Love and Esteem of him it caus'd her to attend and wait upon him to prepare his Meat and to perform all other humble Offices he stood in need of she knew very well the place she possest upon Earth and that also which was design'd for her in Heaven As being the Queen Mother of God as being Queen both of Men and Angels and that in this regard Saint Joseph was her Inferior yet the Love she had for him made her lay aside these considerations and render him all sorts of honour and respect imaginable for as Saint Briget says in her Revelations * Lib. 7. Revela S. Brigit cap. 25. lib. 6. cap. 59. she call'd him her Lord never spoke to him but with a wonderful and most submissive respect and there was no tenderness of affection that a loveing Soul can express to one she highly esteems and passionately loves which she did not thousands and thousands of times testifie to Saint Joseph wherefore to convince you how she lov'd him hearken to the affectionate Character she her self gives of him to Saint Briget as 't is set down in her Revelations after the following manner My Spouse was reserv'd in Speech never uttering the least unprofitable murmuring or complaining Word never was he mov'd to Anger or shew'd the least Impatience he was contented in Poverty diligent and vigilant in Labour most obedient and condescending to all my Inclinations Very Meek and Affable even to those that most rudely treated him he couragiously defended the absent that suffer'd Detraction and was a faithful Witness and Divulger of God's wonderful Works he was resign'd to live upon Earth tho his longing and earnest desire was after Heaven expecting and confiding in God's Promises and frequently repeating God grant I may see them Accomplish'd he avoided Publick Assemblies took no content at all in Creatures but all his thoughts and desires were that he might perfectly accomplish God's Divine Will Saint Teresa of Jesus deserves the third place amongst those who after a particular manner have express'd their Love and Esteem to Saint Joseph Who merits the title of Saint Joseph's chiefest Devote and may well therefore be plac'd amongst his lovers She made choice of him for her particular Advocate frequently recommending her self to him as to one she honour'd above all other Saints she stil'd him her Father and Master and had such a confidence in him as was admirable and thereby deserv'd such a reward for it as she her self attests in the sixth chapter of her Life which was that she never ask'd any thing of him either for Body or for Soul that he denied her which caus'd her to say that God by his other Saints help'd and succour'd us in some particular cases of necessity but help'd us in all necessities by Saint Joseph as by his Plenipotentiary To let us understand that as he was subject to him in all things upon Earth as to a father who Commanded him So he was the same in Heaven granting him whatsoever he ask'd This was Saint Teresa's opinion concerning her great Patron to whom she was so particularly Devoted that she endevour'd to invite all to take him for their particular Patron and Protectour But especially those who desire to give themselves to Prayer and to become knowing in that most holy and profitable Exercise and therefore was wont to say let him who cannot find a Master to teach him the Art of Praying take this great Saint for his Master and he shall not fail to prove a great Proficient and a most skilful Scholar Infine she did what she cou'd to instill into all sorts of Persons a particular Devotion to Saint Joseph who as he was Master of her Heart so she had a desire he shou'd be so of the Hearts of all others and therefore endeavour'd to engage their Hearts with her own in an ardent Love of him and Devotion to him which desire of hers together with the experiments she had had of the good obtain'd by the Merits and Prayers of this Saint caus'd her engageingly to promise the same success to all that shou'd recommend themselves to him Attesting that she never knew any Person that had a true Devotion for him or render'd him any particular Service that obtain'd not a great progress and advancement in Vertue You see here the cause of my ranking her in the first place of those of this last Age that set up the Standard of Devotion to Saint Joseph by divulging his Merits and by a due acknowledgement of his Favours whereby in these our times in which we have more need than ever of Heavenly assistance she brought in that profitable Devotion to this great Saint The fourth Person noted for his particular Devotion to Saint Joseph is that holy Minim blessed Gaspar Bond who after Jesus and Mary had none so near his Heart as Saint Joseph All his Life long he had a most singular Devotion to him and at his Death his chief recours was to none so much as to this Holy and Amiable Patriarch and express'd his Devotion by a particular honour shew'd to his Name after the Name Jesus and Maria which made such an impression in him that he cou'd think or speak of nothing else he took a particular gust in the pronouncing of them and thought the doing so gave a good success and prosper'd all his undertakings and this was the short but pithy Incomium that he gave them * Haec tria nomina Bona sunt omnia Et mundi lumina Et coeli limina This Trinity of Names This lower World Inflames Contains the goods of Love
effecting it by some Inhabitants of that place who herein testifi'd their good will Wherefore they transported themselves thither but found so little satisfaction at their first arrival meeting with so great and so many difficulties that they cou'd not so much as find a House to hire to live in that hereupon they resolv'd to return back to Aix from whence they came but first had their Recourse to Saint Joseph whom they had taken for Protector in this their Design and resolv'd for nine Days together to say his Litany after Mass But what appear'd as a wonderful effect of their Devotion before the end of the nine Davs a Priest of great worth and authority who had built a House and a Church adjoyning to it in honour of Saint Teresa near the said Town came to find out the Superiour to make her an offer both of the Church and House and to put her in Possession of all things else belonging thereunto Which ofler they accepted and presently the Religious took Possession of it and were settl'd there by the especial favour of Saint Joseph Who not only took them into his particular charge and care but plac'd 'em under the protection of his great Devote and dear Child Saint Teresa in a House and Church where she was greatly honour'd and where she desir'd her great Patron Saint Joseph shou'd be honour'd also Fifthly say at least the Prayer at the end of the Litany every Day or very often this being a short but a substancial and pleasing Devotion to him which qualities cannot but invite us to make use of it and thereby to imitate the Canons of Charters who Daily recite it as well to satisfie their own Devotion as to comply with the Pious desires of the Devout Henry Chicot their Benefactor and Founder of this Devotion I cannot here omit what will authorise this Devotion by relating how great an advantage it procur'd to a Religious House of Nuns which I heard from the Mouth of it's Superiour a few Months ago This Monastery had not receiv'd any Novices for a long time which much afflicted the Religious wherefore the Superiour thought it necessary to have recourse to Saint Joseph to beg his Assistance and therefore they resolv'd for six Month◠together Daily to recite this hi◠Prayer after Mass for this Intention which all the Religious Chearfully perform'd Which Devotion wa◠no sooner begun but a young Lady of Quality with a good Fortune offer'd her self to Live and Dye with 'em in God's Service which favour will never be forgot by that Community and has oblig'd 'em to a constant Confidence in Saint Joseph as in a Father and particularly this his Child for having procur'd such a favour to them and her by his powerful Intercession Sixtly you may assign one Day in the Week for the Exercise o◠some particular Devotion in honour of Saint Joseph Saturday seems to me the most proper Day upon which he may be joyntly honour'd and serv'd with his most Amiable Spouse 'T is now a Days a Devotion practis'd by some Pious Souls to assign or dedicate each Day in the Week to so me particular Devotion As Sunday to the honour of the Blessed Trinity and the Angel Guardian Munday to the honour of God the Father and for the Souls in Purgatory Tuseday to God the Son and Saint Ann. Wednesday to God the Holy Ghost and the Patron whose Name we bear Thursday to the honour of the Blessed Sacrament and Saint Barbara who rewards her Clients with Receiving their Viaticum or Communion before their Death Friday to the honour of the Passion of our Saviour And Saturday to the honour of the Mother of God and Saint Joseph her Spouse 'T is not convenient I shou'd here suggest what each one is to do that Day but leave it to the Affection or Devotion wherewith each one shall find himself inspir'd with all For Example some good Work as the giving of Almes the doing some Pennance or performing any of the Devotions before mention'd in this Chapter or whatever else the Holy Ghost shall inspire you let it be perform'd upon this Day in honour of the Person to whom you design your Devotion The seventh Devotion may be to call to mind the memory of the seven Dolours or Griefs that Afflicted Saint Joseph or of the seven Joys that were a constant Comfort to him throughout his whole Life Which you will find Compos'd after his Office and Beads Page 30. This was a Devotion that Saint Joseph himself taught to two Religious Men of the Holy Order of Saint Francis after he had deliver'd 'em from the danger of Death Who being cast away at Sea they happily laid hold of a Plank upon which they were tost to and fro upon the Waves for three Days and Nights together in this their Danger and Affliction their whole Recourse was to Saint Joseph begging his help and assistance in the sad Condition they were in Who appear'd to them in the Habit of a Young Man of a Beautiful and Comely Feature who incourag'd them to confide in his Assistance and as their Pilot Conducted them into a safe Harbour They desirous to know who their Benefactour was begg'd his Name that they might gratefully acknowledge so great a Blessing and Favour He told them he was Saint Joseph he advis'd them Daily to recite seven Pater Nosters and seven Ave Marys in Memory of his seven Dolours or Griefs and of his seven Joys and having sayd this he Disappear'd The seven Dolours of Saint Joseph I. The thought he had of forsaking his Spouse seeing her big with Child II. He seeing the Infant JESUS in the Crib shivering with cold and so ill accommodated III. Beholding the Wound of JESUS in his Circumcision and seeing him so early shedding his Blood for Love of Sinners IV. The Words of Simeon on the Day of the Purification of our Blessed Lady testifying that a Sword shou'd pierce our Ladies Heart V. His flight into Aegypt occasion'd by Herods Persecution VI. The news he heard as he return'd out of Aegypt that Archilaus was more Cruel than his Father Herod VII His loosing JESUS at twelve Years of Age when they went up to the Temple of Jerusalem The seven Joys of Saint Joseph I. That which he receiv'd by the Message of the Angel who bid him to Fear nothing but to take Mary for his Spouse II. The Adoration of the Angels Saluting our Saviour in the Crib and singing at his Birth the Hymn Gloria in Excelsis Deo III. The hearing the Salutiferous Name of JESUS from the Angel which as God-Father he was order'd to give the Son of God at his Circumcision IV. From the Words of Simeon when he foretold that CHRIST shou'd be the Salvation of many and the Glory of Israël V. From the falling down of the Idols of Aegypt at the Presence of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST VI. From the Command given him by the Angel to Return home with the Infant JESUS and
behalf and the particular desire he has to assist and help Retir'd and Interiour Souls and to become Master Directour and Protectour of those Souls that aim at this Hidden and Spiritual Life as the following passage will declare which I had from the Mouth of a Religious Person who serv's God in a Monastery of the Seraphical Saint Francis's Order Who as she dispos'd her self to make the Spiritual Exercise according to the advice I gave her out of Philagie she resolv'd to take a Saint for her Protectour to assist her in so important an affair and was inclin'd to choose Saint Francis as being Father and Patron of her Order whilst her Thoughts were thus imploy'd an Interiour trouble of Mind seiz'd her and rais'd a doubt whither or no this choice were according to the Will of God Whereupon she resolves to draw Lots and to write the Name of Saint Josephâ— who came first to her Mind with that of Saint Francis in little billets apart and twice together the first she drew was Saint Joseph which was sufficient to let her seâ— 't was God's Will to take him for her Directour in this her Solitude Some time after God gave her a strong inpulse to make choice of some Saint that might for her Life time take care of her Interiour hereupon she thought of choosing some of those Saints for whom from her tender Years she had had a Devotion Nevertheless it came into her Mind to put Saint Joseph amongst the rest After she had well mingl'd the Papers or Suffrages Saint Joseph as before twice fell to her Lot however tho' 't was very pleasing to her that she had thus drawn him yet she beg's of God that she might most certainly know his Divine Will to permit her if it were his Divine Pleasure to light upon the same Lot the third time wherefore mingling 'em again the first that came to her Hand was Saint Joseph which success made her intirely acknowledge and receive him for her Spiritual Father Protectour and faithful Directour of her Interiour Religious Life But to give us still a greater incitement to choose him for our Master and Directour in this Intenour Life Not only Saint Teresa Councel'd all who desir'd to profit in Prayer and in this Spiritual kind of Interiour Life to have recourse to Saint Joseph and take him for their Master But also his Virgin Spouse the Mother of God who knows his Power and Goodness gave the same Counsel to a Religious Person who upon account of her Name and that of her Order had a Filial Affection for her and a Confidence and Tender Devotion to her This Religious being very much Disquieted for some Temptations she suffer'd especially in time of Prayer they giving her a great deal of trouble and disincouragement upon account that they made her think she should never be able to treat with God with that Fervour nor have so open and liberal a Heart towards his Divine Majesty as she earnestly desir'd and found necessary perfectly to serve him Hereupon she addresses her self to the Blessed Virgin as to her tender Mother and Affectionately tells her with a Filial Confidence that she must needs obtain for her this Liberty of Spirit and Inspire and Direct her what Saint she shou'd choose to help her herein and in whose Assistance she might securely Confide that she might express her Gratitude during her whole Life for obtaining by her Assistance so great a Benefit She had no sooner ended her Petition but she obtain'd a grant thereof for she found that Saint Joseph was very lively presented to her Mind and with a great Interiour Sweetness and the Excellency and great Perfection of this Saint was so clearly set before her that she retain'd the idea thereof during her whole Life and ever after Confided in him in all and for all as in a Loving Father who immediately free'd her from the pain she was in not only for the present but for the future and when at any time any of her former Temptations return'd she found no disquiet at all nor did she do any thing else but confidently cast her self into the tender Arms of her Dear Father and immediately she found her wonted calm and Peace of Mind accompanied with a most comfortable Union and Entertainment with God Having thus st own you how willingly Saint Joseph takes upon him to help Souls to lead this Spiritual and Interiour Life I shall declare to you the manner how he do's it and the helps he gives towards the gaining this Interiour Perfection by procuring those things that are requir'd for it and conduce to it such as are Prayer Presence of God Peace of the Mind and the Interiour Practice of all sorts of Vertue As for Prayer Saint Teresa assures us in her Life that he who cannot find a Master to teach him how to Pray must choose Saint Joseph for his Guid and Directour and he will certainly find out the way to perform this Exercise well To Confirm this I know two Persons who found great difficulty in Prayer the one by frequently recommending himself to Saint Joseph the other by undertaking the Recital of a few Prayers in his Honour found themselves assisted by him even as soon as they had perform'd these Devotions and they have since by his Intercession obtain'd so great a facility in Mental Prayer that there is no greater Comfort or Consolation to them than the Exercise thereof A Religious Person of my acquaintance being newly Profest in a Holy Order desiring very earnestly as she told me the gift of quiet Prayer and to be free'd from Distractions found her self inwardly mov'd to have recourse to this admirable Master to whom she most readily adress'd her self and did it with such a Confidence in his help that he obtain'd this gift for her And she moreover owns that when she Meditates upon any Point of Saint Joseph's Vertues and Perfections ther 's nothing else to be thought on but what ordinary happens in the Meditations of the Blessed Trinity the Blessed Sacrament and such like high Mysteries Acts of Admiration Submission entring into her own nothingness and Contemplation of so high and sublime a greatness But the other favours she receiv'd of this Saint by means of recommending her self to him are equal to these already related When she go's to Bed she beg's somthing she wants and receives it she desires to be freed from Impure Dreams he obtains for her this Petition also So happy a thing it is to have so powerfull a Master and so good a Father Now as to the Presence of God another thing conducing to this Interiour Life 't is this that he certainly obtains for his Children and Devout Clients I knew some who continually walk'd in the Presence of God wherby they were guided in all even their least Actions with very great Atention yet without the least let or hindeâ—ance to the exact performance of their Imployments so that they seem'd to me rather
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
Contaning the seventh Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph O Merciful Joseph who is able to conceive the sensible Sorrow and extream grief you felt when you had lost the Child Jesus Methinks I hear you say O unfortunate Man that I am what is become of my Beloved Where is the Soul of my Heart And where shall I seek him I will never Sleep or give my self any Repose till I find him but presently without any loss of time run over all parts of the Earth to find him whom Heaven has pleas'd to commit to my Charge and Custody and without whom I cannot live but in extream Grief and Affliction And on the other fide who is able to express the Joy and extream Satisfaction wherewith your Heart was replenish'd when you found him in the midst of Doctours We humbly beseech you by this unconceivable Sadness and Joy that we may never loose our most amiable Jesus or if ever we be so unhappy as to loose him make us feel such a true and lively sorrow as you did that we may so carefully seek him as that we may soon find him with so great and sensible a Comfort that our sole care afterwards may be always to conserve him without ever loosing him any more Amen Our Father Hail Mary EIGHT MEDITATIONS FOR The Octave of Saint JOSEPH I. Meditation Of the Sanctification Birth and Name of Saint Joseph Preparatory Prayer TO beg Light of God to understand his particular Providence towards Saint Joseph and those special Prerogatives he bestow'd upon him before and at his Birth as also at his Circumcision I. Prelude Imagin your self at Nazareth where Saint Joseph was born and there behold the difference wherewith Men and Angels regarded this Royal Infant Harken to the sweet Name of Joseph given him at his Circumcision consider the esteem the Angels had both of this Holy Infant and of the sweet Name of Joseph that was given him at his Circumcision II. Prelude BEG Grace to be Inflam'd with Love and Devotion to this sweet Infant and the Holy Name of Joseph I. Point Consider that Saint Joseph as Gerson solidly proves was Sanctifi'd before his Birth for if the Prophet Jeremy Saint John Baptist and other Saints receiv'd this favour upon account of those Functions they were afterwards to Exercise The Office design'd for Saint Joseph of being Spouse to the Mother and Foster-Father and Governour to the Son of God far exceeded theirs and therefore no less requir'd the same priviledges they had Admire the Purity of this holy Infant give thanks to God for this favour of his early Sanctification congratulate with him for it and for those high Dignities for which God design'd him that mov'd him to give it And beg by the Intercession of Saint Joseph such a true Sanctification as may render you pleasing to his Divine Majesty and his Celestial Court whose love is as much to be valued as the esteem of the World is to be contemn'd II. Point Consider this holy Infant thus dear to God linally Descended from David heir to so many Kings and Royal Prophets is Born in a Poor house of Poor but Noble Parents without any of those marks of honor and greaâ—ness which are common to the Birth of Princes See the difference between God's and the World's esteem of Riches and Honor consider how be treats his true Favorits behold how the Angels admire what the World takes no notice of Praise their Wisdom and conâ—emn it's Folly The Glory of this Royal Infant is from within hid from the Eyes of the World but seen by God and his Angels O the Beauty and Riches of Poverty Which Worldlings perceive not O Royal and Holy Infant obtain for me such an inflam'd Love of Poverty such a generous Humility as you had that I may esteem no honour greater than to be contemn'd by the World for God's Sake or than the being lov'd and esteem'd by him and his Celestial Court III. Point Consider the signification of the Name that was given him at his Circumcision either by Divine Inspiration or which is more probable by the Revelation of aâ— Angel as Saint John Baptist's was Joseph signifies Encrease anâ— what an Encrease in all kinds did he receive with it All sonâ— of such Heavenly Graces aâ—sorts of Priviledges and Prerogatives as the Dignity of hiâ— Person and Employments justly requir'd The Name of the great Patriarch Joseph who was a Figure of this was given him upon account of his Angelical Chastity and the care he was to take in Feeding Protecting and Preserving the Elect Children of God in Aegypt But our Joseph of whom the other was a Type was to be the Virgin-Spouse of the Virgin-Mother of God Protectour and Preserver both of her and her Son nay even of the Son of God himself in Aegypt O Name above all Names â—ext to JESUS and MARY â—â—t it be a constant Comfort to â—ny Heart and from the abundance of Heart let my Mouth frequently repeat the sweet â—ame of Joseph joyning it to â—â—ose Delicious Names of JESUS â—nd MARY The Colloquie O most Holy and Royal Infant O most Blessed Joseph be to me a Joseph that is â—otain for me such Encrease of sanctity such a Love of Poverty â—nd Angelical Purity with such 〈◊〉 true Humility as rendred you â—â—uly great and such a Devotion to your dear self that the â—ery pronouncing your Blessed Name may creat such a Joy and Comfort in my Heart as may move you to interceed for and consequently to obtain anâ— Increase of all Vertues in it II. MEDITATION Of the humble Vocation and Sanctity of Saint Joseph Preparatory Prayer TO beg of God to let us set why Saint Joseph follow'd so humble a Profession as that of a Carpenter and after what manner he practic'd it Increasing at the same time in all sorts of Perfection I. Prelude IMagin your self at Nazareth beholding Saint Joseph a most comely Youth of eighteen Years of age learning and exercising the laborious and humble trade of a Carpenter II. Prelude BEG of God to teach you by S. Joseph's Example how Profitably to joyn an Humble Active aÌ„d Passive Life that thereby the less you are esteem'd upon Earth by Creatures the more you may be Esteem'd and Lov'd by your Creator in Heaven I. Point Consider first that Providence ordain'd that Saint Joseph tho' of a Royal extract shou'd learn and exercise so mean a Trade as that of a Carpenter first to avoid Idleness so vety dangerous to the Virginal Purity he had Vow'd to him Secondly that the Humble exercises of this Trade might ballance the Dignities he design'd to bestow upon him of being Spouse to the Mother and Foster Father to the Son of God That no Ostentation or Vanity might take any place in his Humble Heart Thirdly that by the Labour of his Hands and Sweat of his Brows he might gain wherewithall to Exercise the greatest of Charities by nourishing and maintaining the Mother and Son of God
feelings one to another occasion after these most Joyful Tydings The Colloquie O Infinite Goodness that thus triest and rewardest even thy best Servants let all Saints and Angels praise thee for this thy Bounty to thy dearest Mother and her dearest Spouse and cry out with Saint Paul †Non sunt Condignae Passiones hujus temporis ad futuram gloriam quae revelabitur in nobis Rom. 8.18 That all the Afflictions and Iribulations of this World are nothing in comparison of the Glory they will Cloath us withall in the next Grant us O God that with Patience Courage and Conformity we may suffer those thou shalt vouchafe to send us as they did rather to please thee than for any other Reward that can be hop'd for O Pious Joseph O Amiable Virgin Interceed to obtain this Favour for us by your powerful Intercessions in all perplexing Difficulties V. MEDITATION Of the Vertues Saint Joseph exercis'd at the Birth Circumcision and Presentation of the Son of God Prepratory Prayer BEG Grace of God profitably to consider the Examples Saint Joseph gives us in these three Mysteries I. Prelude IMAGINE Saint Joseph after his tiresome Winter Journy of thirty Miles with our Blessed Lady who had now almost accomplish'd her ninth Month ariv'd at Bethleem whither he came to comply with the Emperours Edict to enrole himself and his Consort Behold him with Solicitude seeking a place for her to retire into but finding none he is forc'd to lead her into a poor ruinous Stable where the Son of God is Born There behold him Adoring him newly Born Then Circumcising and giving him the Name of JESUS And lastly accompany them with their Divine Infant to the Temple where they are met by Simeon and Anne who had long expected this happy hour and attend to what pass'd in this meeting II. Prelude BEG Grace to understand and profit by those Pious Thoughts wherewith Saint Joseph's Heart was replenish'd whilst he Contemplated these wonderful Mysteries I. Point Consider how promptly Saint Joseph Obey'd the Emperours Edict chearfully quitting in the circumstance his Spouse was in those conveniencies they had at Nazareth to expose himself and her to the inconveniencies of a long Winter Journy to go to a strange place where by reason of his Poverty he cou'd expect none wanting wherewithall to purchase ' em O wonderful Love of Poverty and Mortification O blind Obedience O admirable Confidence in the Divine Providence He knew the Emperours Edict was God's Command who cou'd and wou'd take care of 'em and support 'em to comply with it O! What Heavenly Discourse past in the way upon this Subject O! What Acts of Resignation to the Inconveniencies and usage they met withall Being deny'd place in an Inn and forc'd to lodge and and bring forth her Son in a Stable O! What Joy was it to him to become a Victime of Obedience and feel these sensible effects of Poverty O! What Love what Compassion what sorrow fill'd his tender Heart to see what the Divine Infant and his Mother suffer'd at his entrance into the World What Acts of Love what Congratulations and Thanksgiving did he the give him And with what Joy and Comfort did JESUS fill his Heart pierc'd with Sorrow for what he and his Mother Suffer'd by his Heavenly Smiles and Carresses And how did the Angels by their Heavenly Canticles endeavour to Comfort and Rejoyce his sad Heart as they had done the Shep-heards whō they brought to Adore him And what occasion did the sight also of the Offerings and Adorations of the three Kings give him to Bless Admire and Love the Divine Providence Procuring these Honnour 's to the Divine Infant and his Mother O the Charming Beauty of Poverty O the Dignity of Humility O unspeakable Pleasure of Suffering Mortification for God in God and with God! O Divine Lessons taught us and practis'd not only by S. Joseph but by no less than God himself yet how are these admirable Virtues thus esteem'd by God contemn'd by Men O Blessed Joseph obtain for me such a Love Esteē and Practice of 'em as may constantly replenish all my Thoughts and Actions influenc'd by those that were Communicated to your Heart from the Heart of the Divine Infant JESUS II. Point Consider Saint Joseph performing that hard task of Obedience in Circumcising this Divine Infant Imagine how the Pain he caus'd him pierc'd his own Heart consider how the Divine Infant by his Smiles and Interiour Inspirations encourag'd assisted and even provok'd and help'd him to performthis great Pledge of his Divine Love by this early shedding of his Sacred Blood Consider what a strife of Joy and Sorrow were rais'd in Saint Joseph's Heart first by beholding him shedding his Precious Blood and Contemplating this Fountain and Stream of Mercy as a certain Pledge of Mans Redemption and secondly by feeling himself the Pain he occasion'd by the Wound he gave him Consider also the Joy with which Saint Joseph gave and the Divine Infant receiv'd the Holy Name of JESUS Beg Saint Joseph's Intercession to pronounce it with such a tender Affection and Devotion as may render it essential towards the Salvation of your Soul O JESUS be to me a JESUS OH Joseph beg of him to be to me a JESUS for Love he bears to his most Blessed Mother and your dearest self III. Point Consider that forty Days after his Birth Saint Joseph led the Blessed Virgin Mother with her Divine Infant to the Temple carrying a pair of Turtles in his Hand for his Redemption where Saint Simeon and the Holy Prophetess Anne after many Years Expectation of this Happy Day were Inspir'd to receive them at the Gate Joyn your self to this pious Procession behold with what a transport of Joy Saint Simeon takes the Divine Infant out of his Mothers Arms into his own and how willingly the Blessed Virgin parted with what was dearer to her than her Life to make an Oblation of him to his Eternal Father Hearken to Saint Simeons Prophecy in this transport and consider with what Affection he Offers his Life to the God of Life Behold Saint Joseph's Heart pierc'd whilst Saint Simeon foretold the piercing of that of his Spouse Behold also the Joy Saint Joseph felt in hearing that JESUS was to be the Light and Salvation of the Gentil's as well as of the People Israel Behold Saint Joseph Offering the Turtles to Saint Simeon to Redeem his Beloved JESUS O wonderful Riches of Poverty Acceptable to God for the Purchase and Redemption of an inestimable Treasure O what a mutual Joy pass'd between JESUS and Joseph at this Reception into his Arms And between him and his Mother in in being restor'd to her's O Powerful Joseph obtain for me such a disposition as his Mother your self and Saint Simeon had as often as I Receive him and obtain for me such a Disposition of Heart for his Reception as may cause a Joy in him to be Receiv'd by me The Colloquie O Divine Infant
Body decently Enterr'd in the Valley of Josaphat by our Saviour and his mournful Spouse and after our Saviour's Resurrection rais'd to Life Which also Ascended with him to Heaven where he plac'd him in the Seat next to that he had ordain'd for thâ— Blessed Virgin his Mother II. Prelude BEG Grace of God so to Livâ— as to enjoy the Assistance of JESUS MARIA JOSEPH at our Death and their Company also in Heaven I. Point Saint Joseph according to Cedrinus dy'd a little before the Baptisme of JESUS at seventy Years of Age Assisted by JESUS and MARY Consider with what Joy and Resignation he suffer'd the Incommodities of Sickness and the Pang's of his approaching Death knowing they wou'd put an end to all his Labours and Miseries in this World and open to him the Gate of Happiness in the next Imagine what Comfort he Receiv'd from those Pious and Fervent Acts our Saviour suggested to him Consider what thanks our Saviour and Blessed Lady gave him for all the Care and Pains he had taken of them Congratulating with him for the great Reward he was ready to receive for them all Consider also what thanks Saint Joseph Return'd for their constant Affection towards him begging as the last Favour their powerful help and Intercession for a happy passage to Eternity And then consider with what a Peaceful Resignation and with what a Joyful and Smiling Countenance he render'd his Soul to God his Creator by the Hands of JESUS his Redeemer Consider our Saviour Closing his Eyes and Composing his Sweet Countenance with his Sacred Hands Behold his Blessed Mother recommending his Soul to the Eternal Father of JESUS O most happy Death The certain Reward of a most Pious Life O Happy Joseph Dying in the Merciful Armes of JESUS and MARY Obtain for me by your Pious Intercession that I may so serve them during my whole Life that I may enjoy your and their Comfortable Assistance at my Death II. Point Consider a great Company of Angels sent by God to Conduct his Soul to Limbo Consider the Joyful tydings he brought thither of their Speedy Deliverance he having for thirty Years continually Converst with and Serv'd the Messias Consider also what care our Saviour and our Blessed Lady took in Burying his Precious Body according to Saint Hierom in the Valley of Josaphat between Mount Olivet and Mount Sion in the self same place where the Virginal Body of his Spouse was afterwards for some Days to Repose Thrice Happy Soul thus Dear to God and his Angels O most Precious Relicks Thus taken care of by the Son of God and Queen of Angels Oh how estimable in God's sight is whatsoever belongs to his Saints and Servants O Holy Joseph obtain by your Intercession that in Body and Soul I may so serve the Amiable JESUS here that they may be Lov'd and Esteem'd by him hereafter III. Point Consider that after our Saviours Resurrection he took Saint Joseph and several others his special Servants out of Limbo Rais'd his Body to Life after his own and carried him to Visit and Comfort his Blessed Mother O what Joy What Comfort And with what Reason Consider our Saviour afterwards carrying him with him in Triumph at his Ascension into Heaven placing him there next to the Seat prepar'd for his Blessed Mother giving him power to obtain all Favours for his Clients together with a tender Heart of a Father and a tender Affection of a Spouse towards them Consider also the Part he had in the Mystery of the Incarnation his bearing the Dignity of Spouse to the Mother and Foster-Father to the Son of God Consider that the Labours Pains and Dangers he underwent in their thirty Years Service requir'd such a speedy Reward in Heaven The Truth of which was Verified by the Glory that appear'd about the Head of Saint Bernardine when in a Sermon he declar'd this Truth Where he receives the Reward of Virgins for his Fidelity to the Vow of Virginity the Reward of Doctours for Reducing so many Idolaters in Aegypt to the Worship of the True God Of Martyrs and Confessours in the Labours and Dangers he Suffer'd for JESUS And therefore he deserves the Crown of Virgins Doctours Confessours and Martyrs and to be Honour'd by all above all next to JESUS and MARY The Colloquie O Powerful Joseph Foster-Father to JESUS and Spouse to MARY who hast the Heart of a Father and Affection of a Spouse for thy true Clients and hast also the Power of JESUS and MARY joyn'd with thy own for their Assistance in all their Necessities Obtain for me such a Filial Confidence in thee and such a tender Affection for thee as JESUS and MARY had that I may obtain their and thy Powerful Assistance in all the exigencies of this Life and the happy enjoyment of their and thy Company in the Life to come Amen FINIS THE TABLE OF THE DEVOTIONS TO Saint Joseph Spouse to the B. V. Mary Mother of Jesus THE Office of Saint Joseph Pag. 3. The Litany of Saint Joseph P. 15. The Hymn in Honour of Saint Joseph Pag. 20. A Votive Oblation to Saint Joseph to choose him for our Patron Pag. 25. The Beads of Saint Joseph Pag. 28. Seven Prayers or Devotions Containing the seven Dolours and Joyes of Saint Joseph Pag. 30. The I. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Ibid. The II. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 32. The III. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 33. The IV. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 34. The V. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 35. The VI. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 36. The VII Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 37. Eight Meditations for the Octave of Saint Joseph Pag. 41. I. Med. Of the Sanctification Birth and Name of S. Joseph Ibid. II. Med. Of the Humble Vocation and Sanctity of S. Joseph P. 48. III. Med. Of the Marriage of Saint Joseph Pag. 56. IV. Med. Of Saint Joseph's Journey with the Blessed Virgin to Visit S. Elizabeth P. 66. V. Med. Of the Virtues Saint Joseph exercis'd at the Birth Circumcision and Presentation of the Son of God Pag. 76. VI. Med. Of the Virtues Saint Joseph exercis'd in the Flight of JESUS into Aegypt his Return from thence and at his Loss of him in Jerusalem Pag. 87. VII Med. Of Saint Joseph's eighteen Years Conversation with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth Pag. 96. VIII Of Saint Joseph's last Sickness Death and Glory in Heaven Pag. 109.
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