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What is the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker?
To foster deep devotion to Saint Joseph among Catholics, and in response to the “May Day” celebrations for workers sponsored by Communists, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955. This feast extends the long relationship between Joseph and the cause of workers in both Catholic faith and devotion. Beginning in the Book of Genesis, the dignity of human work has long been celebrated as a participation in the creative work of God. By work, humankind both fulfills the command found in Genesis to care for the earth (Gn 2:15) and to be productive in their labors. Saint Joseph, the carpenter and foster father of Jesus, is but one example of the holiness of human labor.
Jesus, too, was a carpenter. He learned the trade from Saint Joseph and spent his early adult years working side-by-side in Joseph’s carpentry shop before leaving to pursue his ministry as preacher and healer. In his encyclical Laborem Exercens, Pope John Paul II stated: “the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated, and to help to guide [social] changes so as to ensure authentic progress by man and society.”
Saint Joseph is held up as a model of such work. Pius XII emphasized this when he said, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Savior of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with Him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work.”
To capture the devotion to Saint Joseph within the Catholic liturgy, in 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph the patron of the universal Church. In 1955, Pope Pius XII added the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. This silent saint, who was given the noble task of caring and watching over the Virgin Mary and Jesus, now cares for and watches over the Church and models for all the dignity of human work.
![What is the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker?
To foster deep devotion to Saint Joseph among Catholics, and in response to the “May Day” celebrations for workers sponsored by Communists, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955. This feast extends the long relationship between Joseph and the cause of workers in both Catholic faith and devotion. Beginning in the Book of Genesis, the dignity of human work has long been celebrated as a participation in the creative work of God. By work, humankind both fulfills the command found in Genesis to care for the earth (Gn 2:15) and to be productive in their labors. Saint Joseph, the carpenter and foster father of Jesus, is but one example of the holiness of human labor.
Jesus, too, was a carpenter. He learned the trade from Saint Joseph and spent his early adult years working side-by-side in Joseph’s carpentry shop before leaving to pursue his ministry as preacher and healer. In his encyclical Laborem Exercens, Pope John Paul II stated: “the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated, and to help to guide [social] changes so as to ensure authentic progress by man and society.”
Saint Joseph is held up as a model of such work. Pius XII emphasized this when he said, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Savior of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with Him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work.”
To capture the devotion to Saint Joseph within the Catholic liturgy, in 1870, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph the patron of the universal Church. In 1955, Pope Pius XII added the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. This silent saint, who was given the noble task of caring and watching over the Virgin Mary and Jesus, now cares for and watches over the Church and models for all the dignity of human work.](https://olmercy.com/wp-content/plugins/custom-facebook-feed-pro/assets/img/placeholder.png)
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Donut Sunday 5/5
Stop by the PLC THIS Weekend after the 8am and 10am Masses on Sunday, May 5th for Yummy Donuts, Good Coffee & Wonderful Fellowship.
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A look back on our Divine Mercy Feast Day Celebration at OLM.
“𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 . . . 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦.”
In 2000 Pope John Paul II used these words to inaugurate Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast to be celebrated every year on the second Sunday of Easter.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.
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Who is Saint Pope Pius V?
St. Pius V was born in 1504 to poor parents of noble lineage. He worked as a shepherd until 14 when he encountered two Dominicans who recognized his intelligence and virtue. He joined them and was ordained a priest at 24. He taught philosophy and theology for 16 years. He was known for his austere penances, his long hours of prayer and fasting, and the holiness of his speech.
He was elected Pope on January 7, 1566, and took the name Pius V. He immediately put into action his program of reform by getting rid of many of the extravagant luxuries then prevalent in his court. He gave the money to the poor whom he personally cared for, washing their feet, consoling those near death, and tending to lepers and the sick. He spent long hours before the Blessed Sacrament. He was dedicated to applying the reforms of the Council of Trent, raising the standard of morality and reforming the clergy.
His six year pontificate saw him constantly at war with two massive enemy forces; the Protestant heretics and the Turkish armies who were advancing from the East. He encouraged efforts to battle Protestantism by education and preaching, and giving strong support to the newly formed Society of Jesus, founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola.
He worked hard to unite the Christian armies against the Turks, and perhaps the most famous success of his papacy was the miraculous victory of the Christian fleet in the battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. The island of Malta was attacked by the Turkish fleet, and nearly every man was killed in battle. The Pope sent out a fleet to meet the enemy, requesting that each man on board pray the Rosary and receive communion. He also called on all of Europe to recite the Rosary and ordered a 40 hour devotion in Rome during which time the battle took place. The Christian fleet, vastly outnumbered by the Turks, inflicted an impossible defeat on the Turkish navy, demolishing the entire fleet.
In memory of the triumph, he declared the day the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary because of her intercession in obtaining the victory. He has also been called ‘the Pope of the Rosary’ for this reason. Pope Pius V died seven months later.
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The Justice & Peace Ministry is hosting their Annual Green Fair in celebration of Earth Day and all are invited to the PLC from 9am to 2pm on Sunday May 5th.
Learn about ways we can help care for the environment and improve the quality of life for future generations. Learn about recycling, repurposing, clean water, renewable energy, solar power, electric vehicles, incredible creatures, gardening & more. Ten Thousand Villages will have fair trade items for sale- Support artisans around the world who will earn fair wages for their craft!
It is Donut Sunday, so stop by and enjoy the donuts and the Green Fair!
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First Friday and Saturday Devotions 5/3 & 5/4
𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!
This Friday and Saturday, all are invited to join the First Friday of Reparation and the Communal First Saturday!
-Extra Friday Confession immediately following the 8am Mass
-Respect Life 1st Friday Devotion: The Respect Life Ministry invites you to stand and silently pray in front of Waterleaf Women’s Center on May 3rd. Prayer warriors are needed for one hour shifts 7 am – 4 pm to change hearts and save lives. For more information, please call Lisa at (630) 236-3310
-ADDITIONAL FRIDAY MASS AT 12PM
-First Saturday Devotion after the 8:30AM Mass
-Saturday Confessions immediately following the 8:30am Mass and also at 1:30pm to 2:30pm
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Who is Saint Catherine of Siena?
Born in Siena, on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 1347, Catherine was the 23rd of 25 children. She exhibited an exceptionally intense prayer life as a child. When she was seven years old she had the first of her mystical visions, in which she saw Jesus surrounded by saints and seated in glory. In the same year she vowed to consecrate her virginity to Christ. When, at the age of 16, her parents decided that she should marry, she cut off her hair to make herself less appealing, and her father, realizing that he couldn’t contend with her resolve, let her have her way.
She joined the Dominican Tertiaries and lived a deep and solitary life of prayer and meditation for the next three years in which she had constant mystical experiences, capped, by the end of the three years with an extraordinary union with God granted to only a few mystics, known as ‘mystical marriage.’ St. Catherine suffered many intense periods of desolation alongside her mystical ecstasies, often feeling totally abandoned by God.
She ended her solitude and began tending to the sick, poor, and marginalized, especially lepers. As her reputation for holiness and remarkable personality became known throughout Siena, she attracted a band of disciples, and together they served Christ in the poor with even greater ardor.
The Lord called her to a more public life while she was still in her 20s, and she established correspondences with many influential figures, advising and admonishing them and exhorting them to holiness, including the Pope himself who she never hesitated to rebuke when she saw fit.
Great political acts which are attributed to her include achieving peace between the Holy See and Florence who were at war, to convince the Pope to return from his Avignon exile, which he did in 1376, and to heal the great schism between the followers of the legitimate Pope, Urban VI, and those who opposed him in 1380. She achieved this while on her deathbed.
Her Dialogues, one of the classics of Italian literature, are the record of her mystical visions which she dictated in a state of mystical ecstasy. She died in Rome on April at the age of 33.
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𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗝𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗦 @ 𝗢𝗟𝗠 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗟𝗬 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦. 𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. — 𝘑𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘢𝘩 29:12-13
The modern life and business of daily living can weigh us down, leave us feeling disoriented, restless or tired. The things of this world will never deeply satisfy, truly only Jesus does. Battle back the weariness and the restlessness, live a set-apart life, by encountering Jesus at Our Lady of Mercy (OLM) through any of the following.
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P.S.
🙏 Set aside time in silence with Jesus anytime during the week at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel; dial down from the business of life, and take a brief or long respite by having conversations with Jesus. Bring before Him whatever is on your mind and heart. Then, and most importantly, give the Lord the space to respond speaking to you in the silence.
🙏 Feel free to share this.
🙏 Need more details on any of the encounter gatherings below? Proceed here for more info www.bit.ly/HangingOutatOLM
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𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿. The early Church was “at peace,” and “being built up.” “With the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.” Only one thing can account for such astounding well-being and prosperity: the presence of the risen Christ. “The way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he gave us.” Jesus warns, “Without me you can do nothing.” Yet we live always with the confidence that comes from knowing “God is greater than our hearts.” That greatness showed itself by transforming Saul into a disciple and apostle who “spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.”
You can also view livestream by subscribing to our YouTube channel here www.youtube.com/ourladyofmercyaurora
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\_For those who are able, please consider supporting our efforts here at OLM, the offertory can be made through our secure online platform located here www.osvhub.com/olmercy/giving/funds.
Thank you for supporting Our Lady of Mercy, your generosity continues to create more opportunities for OLM to keep our family connected and bring people to Jesus, form them as disciples and send them on mission.
\_For those at the livestream; make an act of Spiritual Communion Prayer bit.ly/SpiritualCommunionPrayer
\_Livestreaming from the following, please share; this is a wonderful opportunity to share our faith with one another and family and friends from afar. olmercy.com/ www.facebook.com/olmercy/ www.youtube.com/ourladyofmercyaurora
\_Find community in the following
Grow Groups
olmercy.com/amothersheart/
olmercy.com/consumingfire/
olmercy.com/saltandlight/
olmercy.com/vineandbranches/
\_Spend your days at Our Lady of Mercy
bit.ly/HangingOutatOLM
\_Share your heart with Jesus at Eucharist Adoration
olmercy.com/eucharisticadoration/
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Living With Grief – “What We Can Learn from Mary While Grieving” 5/7
Experiencing the loss of a loved one is a difficult journey. Our Lady of Mercy is offering a monthly supportive place for participants ages 18 and older living with grief to be together in a faith community to find healing and hope.
Come to our session “What We Can Learn from Mary While Grieving” on Tuesday, 5/7 from 1pm to 2:30pm in Room 217
Registration is requested- Connect with Jolene Leroy at 331-707-5380 to RSVP or for questions.
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𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 @ 𝗢𝗟𝗠!
𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 3 𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘵 last Friday looked at how couples can increase their intimacy by expressing appreciation to each other, recognizing their differences, learning to negotiate disagreements, and supporting each other. There is value in seeing each other's differences as complementary if couples are to work effectively together as a team.
Below is a pictorial recap of the edifying evening. Let's continue to be in prayer for all the couples taking part at 7 Great Dates @OLM as they continue to invest in their marriage; Come Holy Spirit to all the couples!
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Although each date night builds upon the previous night, 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚. Each date night is also designed to be enjoyed independently from the previous date night.
Take this opportunity to invest in the flourishing of your relationship. Secure your place now and prioritize the enrichment of your marriage.
Discover more and register at the following link olmercy.com/m4m/
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𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆? OR 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions. In those moments, hope can feel far away. The great thing about prayer is that it shifts our perspective toward the One who stands ready to listen. No matter what you’re facing, we’d love to pray with you. Submit your prayer requests at this link olmercy.com/prayerforme/
🙏 Prayer Ministry takes place monthly at MAGNIFY and on the last weekend of the month Mass times.
🙏 Prayer ministry is an opportunity for those in need of physical, emotional, or spiritual healing or with a specific intention. Come as an individual, as a couple, or as a family and receive prayer for yourself or request prayers for someone in need. Listen and receive the prayers while being open to the Holy Spirit’s movement.
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