+ APOSTOLATE OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO MEETING + The Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste (320) + Our Lady of the Vine, Italy WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021 [3rd Week of Lent] (POPE FRANCIS 8TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY + March 13th) + COMFORT TO THE AFFLICTED + STRENGTH TO THE BURDENED + + HOPE TO THE UNWANTED + “BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO PRAY AND BLESS OUR APOSTOLATE” + + + + Begin the meeting with the Saint Michael’s prayer and bless the area with Holy Water. + Recite the Come Holy Ghost prayer. “Glory be to the Eternal Father Who has created me, glory be to the Eternal Son Who has redeemed me, glory be to the Eternal Holy Ghost Who has sanctified me.” March is Dedicated to Saint Joseph + Patron Saint for the Sick and Dying and The Catholic Church “Blessed Be Saint Joseph, Her Most Chaste Spouse.” GRANT, O Holy Joseph, that, ever secure under thy protection, we may pass our lives without sin. [Indulgence of 300 days, once a day. – Leo XIII. March 18, 1882] The Virtue for March is - Mortification “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Saint Luke 9:23 “No one can pass through this life without a cross (D1 132). “The more the soul endures, the more she shows that she loves Me. (D1 38). “No pain will be so much rewarded, as mental pain and labour of the heart; for these are the greatest pains of all and therefore worthy of the greatest fruit. (C48) God to Saint Catherine of Siena, Sermon in a Sentence, Volume III page 99&100 PRAYER O God, strength of those who hope in Thee, be propitious to our prayers; and because without Thee human weakness can do nothing, grant us the assistance of Thy grace, so that we may be pleasing to Thee by the fulfillment of Thy commandments both in desire and in act. Through Christ our Lord. Amen The Light of the World, Volume 2, Benedict Baur, O.S.B. - B. Herder Book Co. 1 Prayers to the Holy Family and to Saint Joseph: Saint Joseph, Foster-Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and true spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, pray for us. Jesus, Mary, Joseph I give you my heart and soul. Jesus, Mary, Joseph assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, Joseph may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. Jesus, Mary, Joseph I love you, save souls, save the consecrated. SEVENTH DAY OF THE NINE DAY NOVENA OF BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO + O Blessed Margaret of Castello you could have so easily became discouraged and bitter; but, instead, you fixed your eyes on the Suffering Christ and there you learned from Him the redemptive value of suffering how to offer your pains and aches, in reparation for sin and for the salvation of souls. Obtain for me the grace to learn how to endure my sufferings with patience. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God. + Blessed Margaret had a deep strong devotion to Saint Joseph. It begins with God’s love to the Incarnation, and then to Mary and Joseph. When little Margaret had to sleep in a stable when she was homeless and forgotten; she reflected on the scene at Bethlehem when Christ was born. So vivid was her meditation that she felt as though the Savior was really present along with His Mother and St. Joseph. Blessed Margaret had a favorite subject regarding Saint Joseph and would pursue a conversation of him at great length to all those who were willing to listen to her. The Life of Blessed Margaret of Castello When Blessed Margaret was living she would speak to people that she had something in heart. After little Margaret death there was three small white pellets discovered within her heart. Each one had an engravement upon them. One was Infant Child Jesus, second pellet was Blessed Mother and the third pellet was St. Joseph and Blessed Margaret by his side. BLESSED MARGARET’S MORTIFICATIONS: Little Margaret imitated the penance practices used by Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order. Little Margaret’s penances went unnoticed until after her death. One reason she didn’t want to be known is because she would be limited in her practice of penances. + Scourged herself and had scars on her shoulders. + She wore a haircloth under her Dominican’s habit. + On a voluntary term situated herself to live in environments that would be frigid in the winter months and in intense heat in the summer months. + Began to fast in September and would continue to April, after Easter. + Carried out for long hours prayers that would begin at midnight and continue throughout the entire night. + Attended to two or three Masses each day. + When given permission received Holy Communion daily. + Always made short visits in Holy Churches when she would pass by to adore Our Lord Jesus and say some prayers. + Confession was done daily. + The acquaintances that were close to little Margaret’s heart were the sick, the dying and the prisoners. She would provide to others Catechism of the Catholic Faith, especially to those who did not understand God’s will or those who had had lost hope because of life’s trials. She would bring these poor sinners back into trusting 2 God again. Little Margaret secured many souls to experience a holy death. She would go to all who called upon her assistance at any time of the day and night and in all kinds of weather conditions. Long hours in Churches praying before the Holy Tabernacle and through-out the night hours of prayers to secure salvation for those who put their petitions before little Margaret as well their great trust in her great charity for all souls. + Spreading the devotion to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary was Little Margaret’s way to give great hope to those who lost it and were despairing. She would see that they pray and that the afflicted poor sinner’s soul would find their way back to God through Our Lady’s rosary. Blessed Margaret was truly united in the spirit of mortification and self-denial. Her zeal action and great charity corresponded to the Words of God to Saint Catherine of Siena “Souls…were bought with Christ’s blood. No one can pass through this life without a cross. The more the soul endures, the more she shows that she loves Me.” (God to Saint Catherine of Siena, Sermon in a Sentence, Volume III page 99,100 [Self-Denial] Discussions of Sacred Scriptures on Mortification, Self- Denial, Penance, Example of Penitents, Sacrament Penance, and Extreme Unction. Information of the Association of the Pious Union of Saint Joseph to be promoted to others: A holy crusade for the Dying THE PIOUS UNION OF ST. JOSEPH Patron of a Happy Death. About founder Fr. Guanella motive’s for promoting this Pious Union of St. Joseph: Fr. Louis Guanella, founder of The Association of the Pious Union of Saint Joseph…see handout for enrollment information for Pius Union of Saint Joseph and a Happy Death. Fr. Guanella wanted the whole world to be saved from the clutches of the devil. Discussions and Notes of Saint Joseph’s Life and the devotion we have for him. Notes of Saint Joseph; discussion on Blessed Margaret devotion to St. Joseph. Additional information about different parts of his life and the graces that bestowed upon us through him to all those who have a devout devotion to glorious Saint Joseph, patron of the Catholic Church. “Blessed Be Saint Joseph, Her Most Chaste Spouse” … the handout regarding Blessed Margaret’s devotion to him. Discussion about this handout and information about Saint Joseph’s life and the blessings he received. This was taken from “The City of God by Mary Agreda” and by the book “Joseph the Just Man”. The Eternal Father stated that if He was to go into a man’s heart & soul, it would have to be Saint Joseph because he represented God the closest out of all the men He had created. Accepting the calling to Matrimony of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Saint Joseph was age 33 when selected to be spouse of the Blessed Mother. Adam was age 33 when formed by God. The lily, associated with Saint Joseph with the meaning and description: This flower represents purity and heaven’s flower. The inner three petals represent The Holy Trinity. The outside three petals represent the Holy Family. Lily’s Pistils are shaped like a shamrock clover of three for the Most Holy Blessed Trinity. When something is concealed to us about others, we must trust in God to reveal it at the correct and proper time. This refers to the Blessed Mother’s Virginity and how/when it was revealed to Saint Joseph. We must follow Saint Joseph’s example of always trusting in God by praying for guidance and living a peaceful holy life and believing 3 that God’s will is in all matters of life. We must ask our Guardian Angel for guidance as Saint Joseph did and he received four apparitions of an Angel counseling him to carry out God’ mission. No room for Mary and Joseph in the inn at Bethlehem represents how man does not make any room for God in his heart. Let us place Saint Joseph before our hearts to protect the love we have for The Holy Family. Saint Joseph always prayed for guidance. We should follow Saint Joseph’s example.