Wednesday, March 5, 2014

March 5: Saint John Joseph of the Cross

St. John Joseph of the Cross

History

People used to say that John Joseph always acted like a saint, even when he was a small child. When he was 16, he became a Franciscan, and very soon after his profession, he was sent to start another monastery in Piedmont. He worked very hard to help the people he served learned penance (confessing sins and changing one’s life) and contemplation (spending time prayerfully thinking about what Christ has done for us).

Activity

Saint John Joseph of the Cross is an ideal saint for Ash Wednesday, because Lent is a season of penance and contemplation. Today, make a commitment to spending at least five minutes a day thinking about the Lord’s sacrifice for you. Try to do this in the morning, because it really makes a difference in your whole day. Also, commit to examining your conscience every night before you go to bed. If you don’t know how to do that, Catholic Parents Online has a great little primer for examining your conscience, based on the 10 Commandments. 

Saint John Joseph of the Cross, pray for us!

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