We have always seen and experienced the help and protection of Saint Joseph. I had to introduce music and dance activities into the school and I didn't know how to do it or who could help me. I started asking for the intercession of Saint Joseph, sure that he would help me. After a few days a young lady showed up asking my permission to do some volunteer work in our school. I immediately accepted and speaking with this lady I learned that she was a music and dance teacher. I was moved and I immediately thought of how much good she could have done for our children. I presented the program I had thought up to her and she immediately happily accepted to teach our little ones, all for free. I learned that the lady is not of our religion but Hindu. Attracted by our mission she has become more than a cooperator, moreover it is she who makes others aware of our school. This lady is continuing her volunteer work for 3 years and has become everyone's "friend". I really want to give thanks to St. Joseph because he listened to my prayer and that of the children in our home.
With love, Sr. Malini – FSMP Principal of the school
The powerful hand of Joseph
Reverend Director, in August 2012 my son, having not been feeling well for some time, decided to undergo gastric endoscopy, which resulted in gastric lymphoma. You can imagine his concern and with him all of us. While my son underwent chemotherapy treatment, I did not lose heart and turned to Saint Joseph with great trust and hope, praying to him continuously for the entire duration of the treatment, even offering him my life. Saint Joseph obtained the grace of healing for my son! After six long months of chemotherapy my son was cured at the gastric endoscopy scheduled for the check-up, to the great joy and satisfaction of everyone, including the doctors. In a year he will have to undergo a new medical check-up. What to say? Saint Joseph obtained for us this great grace of healing. Thank you, thank you very much my dear Saint Joseph, I will be grateful to you all my life; but I don't stop praying to you because I need many graces: with five children, eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren I have a lot to pray for!
Anna
Fraternal table in the name of Saint Joseph
Reverend Director, last March 17th we celebrated the 15th anniversary of the "St. Joseph's Table", set up in honor of the Saint at our church "Our Lady of Joy Catholic Parish" in Carefree Arizona, United States. This was possible thanks to the generosity of all the participants who made their time and skills available for the preparation of the Saint Joseph table. As many as 400 people collaborated on this initiative and, once again, it was a success. Saint Joseph is the adoptive father of Jesus, and therefore protector of children and families. We will allocate the sum collected from the devotees to you for the needs of the children assisted by your Pious Union of Saint Joseph.
Lorraine H. Romanow Head of St. Joseph's Table
Thanks for a healing
On the occasion of the canonization of Don Guanella I was in Brazil, but I had organized some of my friends from Itri (Lt), my hometown, to participate in the ceremony and then report back to me. The day after the auspicious event, my friend Anna called me. She told me about the beauty of the ceremony, about the multitude of countries in the world that referred to Don Guanella, about the richness of emotions and prayers experienced. Then she told me that while returning from S. Pietro to Termini station, they had met a group of people on the bus who were not from Itri and who spoke with great enthusiasm and emotion about Don Guanella. Having understood that they were not people who knew the Guanellian congregations, she asked them how they had met Don Guanella. Then a lady, who was from a town near Frosinone (whose name she did not remember), demonstrating immense satisfaction and unique joy for having participated in the canonization of Don Guanella, told her that this saint had healed her from a serious cancer. In fact she was very ill due to the illness and was in hospital and she doesn't know if it was a vision or a dream, she saw a man dressed in black, accompanied by some children, holding a very ancient missal who approached her and she she asked who he was and he replied that he was Don Luigi Guanella, but she understood "Granella". The next night the same thing happened to her, he appeared to her in the same way, with the children and with the missal in her hand, whereupon she asked him: "What do you want Granella?" And he smilingly said to her: "I am Don Luigi Guanella and you are healed!" Having woken up and immediately felt well, she asked the hospital staff if they knew this saint named Luigi Guanella but they, who did not know him, advised her to contact the nuns in the town to find out more. One of the nuns told her that she thought she had seen an image of Don Luigi Guanella at the sanctuary of Civita. The woman then immediately went to the sanctuary and asked a priest about Don Guanella, whereupon he, very happy, told her she introduced some relics into the chapel where she herself recognized the saint who had healed her in the painting on the altar. The same priest informed her that Don Guanella would be canonized on October 23rd. This is why she had gone to Rome that day and, when the painting of Don Guanella was discovered at the time of the canonization, she felt a very strong emotion, because he was the very saint who had healed her! Don Guanella has now been canonized, but I like to report what happened and I thank the Lord for it. The Lord works wonders and also works them through our dearest Founder.
Sr. Elda Soscia, FSMP
A caress to life
Most Rev. Don Mario, we warmly thank you for the prayers raised to the Lord and for the intercession of Saint Joseph on behalf of our daughter Francesca, who after a long hospital stay has finally returned home without consequences following her cardiac arrest.
Four doctors, including the head doctor, spoke of a miracle as his situation was very critical and gave no hope. But nothing is impossible for God and for those who turn to Him with trust.
In the meantime, we ask you to remember her in your prayers so that her recovery is total.
Letter signed by Cannobio
Dear ones, what a wonderful joy it is to respond to your letter with such gratitude in my soul. I truly join in your satisfaction to express gratitude to God through the intercession of Saint Joseph.
I really saw come true for you the words of the prophet Isaiah that the liturgy made us proclaim in today's mass, the 14th Sunday: «You will be nursed and carried in your arms, and on your knees you will be caressed. As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you."
God bless you and may Saint Joseph watch over your family with constant and paternal love.
Courage and physical and spiritual well-being for all of you. We remain united in prayer and wait for you in Rome.
An incessant hymn of blessings
Most Reverend Director, in thanking for the wonderful gift of the parchment depicting Saint Joseph, his wife and some saints, represented in it by the genius of the sculptor Pietrogrande, I wish to unite my hymn of praise and joy to the joy of the loving hearts of the Pious Union . The "Portal of Faith", which makes the Basilica even more illustrious, fills us with joy and hope, lifting our spirits to the founding Saint, Don Luigi Guanella who cultivated this dream so much, which has now come true. The thought of feeling close and wrapped in the protective mantle of Saint Joseph instills energy and courage for the future life - not free from trials and dangers - and increases, in faith, meritorious resolutions and actions in the presence of God. As I described to you in one my previous testimony, on the day of my second hip surgery, Saint Joseph was present, certainly not due to a random coincidence: in fact it was the seventh day (which reminds us of the seven sorrows and joys of the Saint) and on Wednesday, his day dedicated. Thanks to his intercession, the same professors who operated on me expressed amazement and satisfaction at my rapid motor rehabilitation. Even though I am not worthy of it, I consider myself miraculous, so much so that I still marvel at it, crying, with my heart, moved. I wish you to receive copious extraordinary gifts from the Holy Family. Renewing the promise of my prayer to you, every day, in the Holy Mass and in the recitation of the Holy Rosary, I pay my respects to you with gratitude and affection.
Maria Luisa
The miracle of reconciliation
Reverend Don Mario, I received your welcome letter and subsequently the small Gospel. Thank you very much for your words and for the very welcome gift. Now that Gospel sits on my bedside table and I intend to read a small passage from it every evening. The offering I sent is a concrete sign of my gratitude to Saint Joseph who implored the Father to obtain a grace in favor of my nephew. Years ago, following a profound crisis, this boy distanced himself from his wife and their little daughter. It was a time of great suffering for all of us. It seemed like a situation destined to gradually worsen: he paid great attention to his wife so that she would not have any difficulties in managing the family, he spent as much time as possible with her little girl, but there was nothing to give hope that she would return to the heart of the family.
We trusted in Saint Joseph, who as guardian of the family would enlighten the mind of this boy, bringing him back to his rightful role as husband and father. And it really was like this: despite what human perspectives were, everything was resolved within a year. The boy returned with his wife and, shortly thereafter, another child arrived to bless their family. Every time we return in memory to that painful period, we do not fail to thank Saint Joseph for having guarded our family with care and love, helping us to obtain grace.
Letter signed
Dear and kind lady,
I join the chorus of his praise to thank Saint Joseph for having obtained from the goodness of God the precious gift of serenity and peace in the family. Jesus delivered the fullness of the gift of peace to the apostles and to the Virgin Mary on the very day of his Resurrection and sent the apostles into the world to be builders of peace and sow the joy of living in harmony with God, with one's own conscience and with brothers.
Let us continue to pray that we all feel a profound nostalgia for the peace offered by the risen Jesus to the world. May the Word of Jesus be daily nourishment in nourishing the gift of peace to be experienced in your family.
