Objective:
Through the life and prayer of St. Joseph, the middle school youth will develop a deeper understanding of intercessory prayer.
Overview:
St. Paul reminds us that we are all one family in Christ: “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). As believers we share in the body of Christ not only with those alive today, but all the holy men and women who have gone before us. We are family with the saints that are in heaven, and we can call upon them to pray for us.
We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers (CCC 962)
The prayer to St. Joseph is more than 1,900 years old and is one example of a prayer that intercedes with a special saint. St. Joseph, the human father of Jesus, was a just and humble man who was obedient to the call of God. He followed in faith, unsure about how God would provide for him and his family. Praying with St. Joseph can help us to follow in his footsteps as we look to his faithfulness as an example.
Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness… They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus… So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped (CCC 956).