St Joesph: More than a Real-Estate Wizard

Southern Texas, as you may be aware, is a hot place. We're solidly into fall, but the high still hits an easy 90 every day. Towards the end of last week, the compressors for the air conditioner that cools the sisters' sleeping quarters, living room, chapel, and dining room, as well as the school cafeteria and pre-K rooms, went down. Being in actuality a large lizard in disguise, I wasn't bothered by the break down, but that's real easy for me to say because the air in my hall was fine. The sisters, however, were suffering, and the kids who ate and had class in that part of the building were melting. The entire school went into adaptation and shuffling mode for the week, trying to keep the little ones comfortable and the sisters from getting heat stroke, but what we really needed was to get the air fixed.

As you might imagine, the air conditioning system that cools a space three or four times bigger than the average house is not cheap. Costs for parts, labor, and the crane to bring in the three new compressors we ended up needing went into the tens of thousands of dollars. We are not the stereotypical rich private school whose parents can tap their friends on the shoulder for a chunk of cash, and this wouldn't even be easy for them to cover. As a small school lacking deep-pocketed patrons, this was frightening. Where do we get that kind of money in a really hot and humid pinch?

For sometime now, at least for a while before I got here, the sisters and the faculty have been saying the St Joseph prayer, asking him to intercede for us and for the families of the school. We ask for the resources needed for St. John Bosco School to provide a quality education and for the parents of our students to be able to keep sending their children here. Already, we were pretty convinced he's been helping us out, but this air compressor business cemented it, at least for me.

As soon as the compressors broke, Sr Roseann had them replaced because it was dangerous for the children and the sisters to be in that kind of heat. We had a thirty-day window to pay the gargantuan bill. At the same time, the people in the finance office started flinging grant applications left and right. Everyone was hopeful, of course, but the situation was still edgy. Meanwhile, you started hearing the St Joseph prayer muttered by the teachers up and down the halls.

Then yesterday, a mere three days after the compressors were replaced, we got word that our grant had been approved for above the amount we were asking. Sr. Roseann said, "St Joseph feast day is going to be a big deal here."

The Prayer of St. Joseph

O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power, I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers.
O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us.

This prayer was found in the fiftieth year of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In 1500's it was sent by the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle.

Whoever reads this prayer or hears it or carries it, will never die a sudden death, nor be drowned, nor will poison take effect on them. They will not fall into the hands of the enemy nor be burned in any fire, nor will they be defeated in battle.

Make this prayer known everywhere.

Imprimatur
Most Rev. George W. Ahr
Bishop of Trenton