Association Of Catholic Bloggers

Today, I welcome Janice Lane Palko, who will tell us all about her new book,  Our Lady of the Roses . Janice, I turn over the website to you. How a Short Story Becomes a Novel Many writers look upon their books as their babies. If so, then my latest novel,  Our Lady of the Roses , was an unintended pregnancy. I didn’t set out to write this book, but as the late painter, Bob Ross, used to say, I’ve come to regard it as a “happy accident.” One of the marketing tips the experts advise authors to employ is to offer a free short story to readers to introduce them to the author’s writing style and entice them to purchase their other books. I’ve written many different things—articles, press releases, speeches, novels–but for some reason the short story eludes me. My short story always explodes into a novel. I don’t know why, but my main character soon acquires a best friend, backstory and complex story arc. Therefore, I wasn’t surprised when Janetta, who appeared as a secon...

Saint Joseph is so special to the Catholic faithful, that we have two feast days set aside each year to honor him: March 19 th and May 1 st . Typically, on March 19 th , we honor Saint Joseph as husband of Mary, and foster father to Jesus. We thank him for being such a good role model, as a faithful husband and father. Today, we honor Saint Joseph, the Worker, a carpenter, by trade. He worked diligently to provide for his family. Humble in nature, compassionate in heart, he remained ever faithful to God, and Mary. Beyond his humility and compassionate nature, there is so much to admire about this beloved saint. He truly was a virtuous man in every respect. To this day, he continues to serve as an exemplar of virtue for men to follow. Saint Joseph expressed his faithfulness to God, through his obedience in following God’s will. He took Mary, as his wife, and adopted Jesus as his son. He showed his caring nature, by protecting them from Herod. At the angel’s warning, Joseph hurri...

Today is the feast day of one of my favorite saints – Saint Joseph. I claim him as one of my favorites, because he was such a virtuous man; a man for anyone to emulate. Saint Joseph, A Man of Patience Saint Joseph exhibited patience, a virtue that seems to elude me! With patience, he quietly persevered through many trials and tribulations. For example, he didn’t seem to get flustered, or annoyed, when told to quickly take Jesus and Mary to Egypt, and to remain there for several years, before returning to his homeland. No, he patiently waited for the sign that it was safe to return. A Man of Humility, Simplicity and Obedience Saint Joseph, known for his humility, always placed the needs of Jesus and Mary ahead of his own. In his humility, he... Read more...

Saint Joseph is so special to the Catholic faithful, that we have two feast days set aside each year to honor him: March 19 th (unless this date falls on a Sunday like it did this year, then it’s March 20th), and May 1 st . Typically, on March 19 th , we honor Saint Joseph as husband of Mary, and foster father to Jesus. We thank him for being such a good role model as a faithful husband and father. Today, we honor Saint Joseph, the Worker, a carpenter, by trade. He worked diligently to provide for his family. Humble in nature, compassionate in heart, Saint Joseph remained ever faithful to God, and Mary. Beyond his humility and compassionate nature, there is so much to admire about Saint Joseph, as he truly was a virtuous man in every respect. To this day, he continues to serve as an exemplar of virtue for men to follow. Read more...

Saint Joseph, a man of few words; no – make that no words –had a huge impact on salvation history. He is portrayed in the Bible, without ever having spoken one word. All mention of him is in the third person. Yet, silent Saint Joseph was one of the most important instruments of Christ’s salvific action. Had Joseph refused to take Mary as his wife, Mary would have been placed in a tenuous situation, and so would the safety of her child, Jesus. You see, in Mary’s day, if a woman was caught having relations with a man out of wedlock, she could have been stoned to death. Because Mary was pregnant with Jesus, everyone else would have assumed that Mary was having relations with a man. Therefore, no one would have understood that Mary’s pregnancy was a result of the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing of Mary. Saint Joseph’s silent “yes,” – his own “fiat,” to taking Mary as his wife – paved the way for fulfilling God’s plan for salvation. Thus, Jesus could be given a safe and secure means to gr...

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Was St. Joseph free from original sin? Yes, I do believe he was.  This is only logical.  Since Mary was immaculate at her birth, and Jesus was of course free from all sin as He was God, why would God put in place a husband, stepfather, and protector of the Virgin Mary and Jesus that carried original sin? This doesn't make sense.  That which stained by sin does not oversee and protect the pure, therefore at some point Joseph must have been immaculate also. St. Joseph was not just the member of the Holy family, but he  led  the holy family, and what we forget is that while Joseph lived, Mary and her son Jesus were  obedient   to him.  As God is  never subject to sin , then logically St. Joseph was immaculate also. The only question is when? When did God make Joseph immaculate.  I don't think at birth, because I feel strongly that he had a family and was a widower when he was chosen to be with Mary.  So not at birth, ...