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The Consecrated Knight her, and served her most faithfully, she would undoubtedly point to St. Joseph. He is the Saint Joseph sweetly and continuously stimulates us to love, serve, and imitate the Queen of his heart, prototype, blueprint, and model for how to live a the Immaculate Mother of Jesus.1 life of total consecration to Mary. — Blessed Gabriele Allegra The various forms of Marian consecration promoted by saints down through the centuries Saint Joseph is the most Marian of all saints. — for example, those of St. Louis de Montfort, His love for Mary is greater than that of St. Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, St. , St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Servant of God Joseph , St. Maximilian Kolbe, and Kentenich, and others — all find their St. John Paul II combined. There has never fulfillment and perfection in the person of St. been a greater Marian saint than St. Joseph, and Joseph. there never will be. Saint Louis de Montfort’s program of Marian Saint Joseph is the model for total consecration teaches people to be slaves of consecration to Mary. Long before , Jesus and Mary; Blessed William Joseph when Jesus commanded all of his disciples to Chaminade teaches people to act as the heel of take Mary into their hearts and homes (see Jn Mary, crushing the head of Satan; the Servant of 19:26-27), St. Joseph had already taken Mary God Joseph Kentenich instructs people to into his heart and into his home. She is his become an “apparition” of Mary; and St. heart; she is his home. Everything he did was Maximilian Kolbe’s method of Marian done for Jesus and Mary. He lived and died for consecration instructs people to be the property Jesus and Mary. of Mary. All of these forms are wonderful ways Like Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary into your of describing the one fundamental dimension of home.2 all Marian consecration: Be another Joseph for — Benedict XVI Mary. Saint Joseph is the first human person to All the great Marian movements (the Militia have been totally consecrated to the Blessed Immaculatae, Schoenstatt, the , Virgin Mary. If you were to ask Our Lady who is the former Blue Army [now called the World the one human person in all of Christianity who Apostolate of Fatima], and so many others), has loved her most, been the most devoted to have Marian chivalry at their core. To be

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have Marian chivalry at their core. To be many others, the stories tell us that knights set chivalrous toward Mary is to be on the path of out on quests in search of the lost Holy Grail, sainthood. A person who is chivalrous is noble, believing that if they drank from the chalice, well-mannered, courageous in battle, and a they would be given eternal life. Their heroic refuge for the weak. Saint Joseph is the most quests were noble and well-intentioned, but chivalrous of all Christians, and he teaches us unnecessary. All Catholics in a of grace that everyone, including women and children, who receive the Body of Christ at Mass are can be spiritual knights of the Queen of Heaven. assured everlasting life, even if they don’t drink He is, in fact, the first consecrated knight of the from the chalice; they must, however, remain in Holy Queen. a state of grace, observe the 10 Commandments, For centuries, Christians have referred to the and obey the teachings of the Church. The Virgin Mary as “Our Lady.” It’s a term that storied quests of the medieval knights were acknowledges the great love, respect, honor, and unnecessary for another reason as well. All they reverence that is owed to Mary. It is a term that had to do in order to find the true chalice of our bespeaks chivalry. It should come as no Lord’s Precious Blood was to look to St. Joseph, surprise, then, that St. Joseph is the first man to the first and greatest knight of Our Lady! He speak of Mary as his lady. Mary is St. Joseph’s knows where to find the living chalice woman. Before her feminine wonder and containing the life-giving blood of Jesus Christ. beauty, he bows in loving reverence. His The Holy Grail that St. Joseph possesses has not mission is to have all hearts bow before her in been lost. Saint Joseph stands ready to give this love. For this reason, St. Joseph is the greatest chalice to all his spiritual children. knight of Our Lady. What St. Joseph teaches his children is that During the Middle Ages, there were many the Virgin Mary is the Holy Grail! She is what stories and legends of knights traveling far and every Christian knight seeks. Unlike the chalice wide on heroic quests in search of the Holy used at the Last Supper, this vessel has not been Grail, the chalice that held the Blood of Jesus at lost. Mary, the Holy Grail, is easily found. Those the Last Supper. During the age of chivalry, no who find her find Jesus because those who find one but the drank the Blood of Jesus from her find Catholicism and its greatest treasure, the chalice at Mass. For this reason, as well as Jesus in Holy Communion. Mary desires to lead many others, the stories tell us that knights set all souls to Holy Mass where they can receive

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all souls to Holy Mass where they can receive WONDER 4 the Lamb of God and attain eternal life. All who imitate St. Joseph will discover Mary and the VIRGINAL FATHER OF JESUS saving mystery of Holy Mass. Since there is nothing on record that he [St. Joseph] ever had any other spouse than the Virgin Mary, it is Mary, my mother, Joseph, my father, give me your also certain that he remained a virgin all his life. eyes to contemplate Jesus; give me your hearts and — St. spirits to understand him, and to be impassioned for him.3 — Venerable Nguyễn Văn Thuận Feast of the Holy Spouses From heaven, St. Joseph continues his quest No husband and wife ever loved one another so to lead all souls to Jesus through Mary. From much as Joseph and Mary.1 heaven, he looks for souls who are willing to be — Venerable Fulton J. Sheen knights of the Holy Queen. He desires to raise up loving defenders and heroic champions of Did you know there is a liturgical feast that Jesus, Mary, and the Catholic faith. He wants celebrates the marriage of Mary and Joseph? men, women, children, , and nuns who It’s called the “Feast of the Holy Spouses” will serve Mary and lead others to the Kingdom (sometimes also referred to as the “Feast of the of Heaven. Valiant souls are needed today, Espousals of Mary and Joseph”). Joseph-like souls, who zealously strive to lead The Feast of the Holy Spouses has a long others to the fountain of everlasting life. history going all the way back to the 15th century. To Jesus through Mary and St. Joseph! The day traditionally designated for the feast is He [St. Joseph] always favors with special especial January 23. In a few countries, the feast is protection those souls who are enrolled beneath the celebrated on January 22 or November 26, but standard of Mary!4 those dates tend to be exceptions. Nobody is — St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi exactly sure why January 23 was chosen as the When the Holy Virgin and St. Joseph intercede together it is very powerful!5 day for the feast, but we are given a fascinating — St. André Bessette insight into the date in the mystical visions of Grant that according to your example [St. Joseph] Blessed (1774-1824). we may keep our eyes fixed on our mother Mary, In the accounts we have of her visions, your most sweet spouse.6 Blessed Anne Catherine claims to have been — Venerable Pope Pius XII transported to the marriage of Mary and Joseph

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