"A Christian who does not fast is like a one legged soldier in battle-easy for evil to pick off"                                                                                                           -  Medjugorje via Ivan Dragicevic

"The Mass is the greatest prayer of God. You will never be able to understand its greatness"

                                                                                                                -  Medjugorje  1983 

Today is the feast of St. Joseph, our patron and namesake, the one man from all of history chosen to protect the Christ child. In his honor we are feasting rather than fasting today and we will fast another day this week in light of this celebration. If you are already fasting today – kudos to you and thank you for your efforts for the kingdom.  Here is a reflection from one of our colleagues as we begin the wonderful month of May…

As we head into May we take time to recognize the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in our lives.

It is quite providential that May is known for rebirth and beautiful flowers. All to the Glory of God!

As I reminisce about the fond memories that I have of May processions in honor of Mary as Mother of God, I am compelled to dwell on how she represents Motherhood and some of the lessons we can learn from her faithfulness. Catholics are formed to love Mary and to respect and honor her as she leads us to her son, Jesus. The songs that we will always have on our hearts and in our minds from the Marian formation are engrained in us  a beautiful tapestry of a beautiful Mother and her Love.

Unending love, Holy mother full of grace, highly favored pray for us.

Obedience:

Obedience, Mary was obedient to the request that God had for her life. Perhaps, she didn’t understand the magnitude of her Yes or how it would unfold but she Obeyed with trust. She was the first disciple of Christ.

So many times, we are faced with challenges that seem obscure or unmanageable. Learn from Mary, Trust that God will show you the path to follow.  And pray for Mary’s intercession to untie any knots that may seem to be obstacles to doing the will of God.

Kindness: (brings Joy to others)

Mary showed kindness by visiting her cousin Elizabeth in Elizabeth’s last trimester as a woman is typically vulnerable physically and emotionally in these months. The baby in Elizabeth’s wound leapt with Joy at the presence of Jesus in Mary’ s womb.

How many opportunities does God provide for us to be kind and compassionate.  We should follow her example and take the time to be present to others it was the first lesson she taught us after her Fiat. Visit the sick, check on a neighbor ,call the housebound. Bring the Jesus in you to your neighbor. Simple way to do the Lord’s work.

Dependence on God:

Mary sets an example to have total reliance on God. The courage she had to give birth to the Incarnation in a stable not sure of how she would provide for Jesus in that stable but Sure that God would provide all that she needed.

How many times are we wretched with anxiety over things that we don’t have. God provides what you need (not what you Want) in His timeline.

Encouragement:

Mary was a great encourager.  She encouraged Jesus to perform his first miracle and to step into the ministry that God had planned for Him.  And she encouraged the servants to listen to Jesus. Her last spoken words in the bible were “ do as He tells you”.  Such a gentle nudge led to Jesus’ Salvific Ministry.  We are always given the opportunity to follow Mary’s example of encouragement. 

The goal is to encourage people with gentle good council.

Suffering:

Mary taught us to have courage during our sufferings and to trust that God is with us even through dark times.  Her suffering through the crucifixion of her Son must have been immense yet she stayed strong by the foot of the cross and continued her ministry of disciple after his death waiting for the Pentecost. She led the apostles in the first novena to the Holy Spirit in the upper room while faithfully waiting for the Descent of the Holy Spirit. She was a gentle mother to them continuing to increase their faith.  Mary brings us comfort in our dark times as we ask her intercession for relief.

Flowers:

Mary was assumed into heaven and crowned with flowers as queen of heaven and earth. What mother doesn’t love flowers. God has set the example of the gift of flowers by adorning his Mother with them. He has provided us with an abundance of beautiful flowers with sweet aromas. Of course, it brings us joy to crown Mary with flowers in a May procession.  So many honorable songs and beautiful flowers!  We have such gratitude for Mary the first disciple and are honored to sing from our hearts and crown her with flowers.

A personal testimony to the magnitude of being formed in a love for Mary:

My sister was at the later stages of early onset Alzheimer’s, when she pointed to our statue of Our lady of Guadalupe and said “The Lady Needs Flowers.”  This was literally one of the last coherent sentences that she spoke.  Mary got her flowers that day!  She got lots of flowers. As some of you may relate to taking a sister with Alzheimer’s shopping you don’t get one of anything! but you have the opportunity to be kind, dependent on God, encouraging,  and brave through the suffering. The Joy of being Jesus to someone is abundant. Thank you, Mary, for teaching us all of that.

Why We Fast – Our Core Fasting Intentions

1) We add the new fasting intention of taking back the church from evil. We submit the three-step process to achieve this victory is 1-Repent, 2-Prayer & Fasting and, 3-Imitate our Savior by throwing the evil leadership from the church. We will seek to emulate the Savior in our effort to End the USCCB, an organization that has been devastating to the church.  (“You shall know the spirit by the fruits” - Matt. 7:16)

2) For the Holy Spirit to reign down upon America, renewing our land as the Christian, capitalist meritocracy we were founded to be.

3) For the protection of our police, firefighters, military and their families from harm and that the Lord bless their courageous generosity on our behalf.

4) For the protection of the families who fast with us, and for God’s blessings of abundance upon them and that true to His word, we will be able to witness that He prospered us in famine.

Would you like to learn more about fasting?

We maintain a repository of ideas and information we have learned over the last decade while fasting weekly for America. From scientific studies on the benefits of fasting, to the differences between intermittent dieting vs intermittent fasting, to scriptural references regarding the power of fasting to the history of first century Christians who stated believers are obligated to fast weekly, we hope you will find numerous insights with our free resource located here.

Together let us also implore Heaven while fasting for intentions you have highlighted:

4) For all patriots who put themselves on the front lines in combatting evil and for all of the warriors who are stepping up around the nation to fight for the gospel – May The Father cover them in the blood of our savior,  protect them and their families from evil and bring victory to their endeavors.

5) For priests, ministers and all who aspire to lead others to the Lord, that the Holy Spirit will reign down upon them as at Pentecost filling them to overflowing. 

6) For the Americans jailed after January 6th who were admitted to the Capitol building by the police, and who were not found to have destroyed any property at the capitol yet who have been held captive ever since on our own soil - That God's Spirit will move quickly to bring justice back to this land and free them.


Who We Are
St. Joseph Partners is a for-profit business that has funded Fast for America for over ten years. To the extent you support our work to renew America and if you understand why gold and silver protect believers' wealth in this world, please consider us or recommend us when you or someone you know buys or sells gold and silver. From our website www.StJosephPartners.com you can buy and sell dozens of types of precious metals. We close on Sundays to honor the Sabbath. Click here for a link where you can view a brief video about our firm and a brief video about why all investors and families should have some gold and silver in their portfolios.