This is from Fr. Ripperger’s talk on St. Joseph (see the full video here, see my notes here). I thought this part about increasing devotion to St. Joseph was interesting enough to give it its own post. All words below are Fr. Ripperger’s, and I left his example of St. Joseph:
“There are different ways of increasing devotion. There are the standard ones which we can use in increasing any devotion to any saint – for example:
Obtain a picture of St. Joseph or a statue of St. Joseph and place it in a place of prominence in your home.
We can pray to him frequently and ask for his intercession, and ask for his intercession with faithfulness – with faith – that is, knowing that he can provide these things if our devotion is sufficient.
We can light votive candles in front of his statue and ask him to pray for us.
We can entrust ourselves to his care like the Blessed Virgin Mary did.
We can pray the Litany of St. Joseph and the prayers that are offered to St. Joseph, and the prayers that are offered in his honor.
And for priests, they can offer votive Masses of St. Joseph, which will actually benefit the faithful because of the graces that St. Joseph is able to bestow.”
In the Q&A period at the end of his talk on Rule of Life, Fr. Ripperger spoke about the qualities, especially virtue, children should have by certain ages.
I had never thought about what I wanted my children to know by the time they turn 14 or 18 – I just thought, “My child is growing up, they will be whoever they are going to be. I will do my best to educate them and show them skills that will help them in life. Then they’ll go off to college or begin working. There is no real goal per se. Just get them to 18 yrs old healthy and educated in the basics.” I was wrong. Much thanks to Fr. Ripperger for going over the milestones in a child’s life. And he does it in his typically beautiful way:
At 6 yrs old “When they are young – up to 6 years old, you’re setting up training for the kid. He doesn’t have virtue yet. Once he gets to the age of reason – when he can start committing sin. Then he can start making choices, true choices, he can begin to develop virtue. But they need the external structure because they don’t have enough intellectually.”
At 14 “Once they go through puberty it all shifts and what they need (after the structure has been given to them) is council because at that stage the virtue is only voluntary – you can’t impose it. The kid has to make a choice if he is going to do it or not. The parent can’t impose it because then the kid is not developing virtue, he’s just getting good at compliance. They need council and encouragement to get them to develop virtue on their own.”
At 18 “Get them to develop virtue. The goal is to get them totally self sufficient (in their faith) without any input of your own (the parents) at the age of 18. By the time a guy reaches 18 he should be on his feet in his masculinity, in his virtue and in his catholicity to where he can assume all of the obligations of marriage at that age.”
In modern America, wealth is made to be the greatest of goals. To be rich will make you happy, so they say. But St. John Chrysostom says the opposite, that if you see a rich person you should weep for them. For the man with a thousand acres of crops will fret that he doesn’t have two thousand acres. But the man who is hungry and has enough to fill him is “crowning himself and leaping for joy and giving thanks to God”. For “It is not luxury that causes our pleasure, but a self-controlling mind”.
When you see an enemy of God wealthy, with armed attendants and many flatterers, do not be downcast, but lament, weep, call upon God, that He may enroll him among His friends. And the more he prospers being God’s enemy, the more you should mourn for him. For we ought always to weep for sinners, but especially when they enjoy wealth and good time, even as one should pity the sick when they eat and drink to excess.
But some who hear these words are made so unhappy that they sigh bitterly and say, “Tears are due to me. I have nothing.” You said it well – “I have nothing” – not because you lack what another has, but because you think that things will make you happy. For this you are worthy of infinite lamentations. It is as if a healthy person should call “happy” a man who is sick and lying on a soft couch.
As I said, the rich do not reap as much pleasure from what is present as they endure sorrow for what has not yet been added. For he who has had numberless quantities of wheat grieved and lamented more than he who suffered hunger. And while the one, on merely having his necessary food, was crowning himself and leaping for joy and giving thanks to God, the other who had so much was fretting and thought he was undone.
It is not luxury that causes our pleasure, but a self-controlling mind, since without this – even though one should obtain and have everything – he will feel as if deprived of everything and will mourn, like the man of whom we are now speaking…So these men, by how much more they have grasped, find themselves in greater poverty, and they who gain more than others are the very persons to be the most in want.
St. John Chrysostom, copied from The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina
This video shows the global population change from 1800 to 2100. What I find interesting is the religious makeup of the most populous countries by 2100. Christianity is the majority in 4 of the top 10 – the US, Congo, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
Percent of Christians in the 10 most populous countries (using 2022 data):
Devotion to St. Joseph is among the most powerful of all the devotions. If for no other reason because he is called St. Joseph most powerful.
Christ, who, seeing His mother, in fulfilling the 4th commandment will deny her nothing. So also with St. Joseph, but to a lesser degree, He will deny him nothing.
What this means is that St. Joseph is clearly aware that he is as not as great a mediator with God as Our Lady is. But, he also knows, that should a person fulfill the requirements and it be a holy intention that if he, St. Joseph, go to Christ, Christ will deny him nothing. This devotion therefore is very powerful because if we cultivate a strong devotion to St. Joseph, and if we become dear to him because of that, then he will often grant to us things which other people may not receive.
This is a powerful devotion for fathers. It teaches a man how to be a man, in seeing the strong and yet silence of St. Joseph, who always acted properly and with prudence. In having a strong devotion to St. Joseph, St. Joseph bestows an increase in virtues to a man. He becomes more chaste, and prudent, and faithful and patient, just as St. Joseph is called the most chaste, the most prudent, faithful and patient.
It is a good devotion for the intercession for all of the virtues to be particularly in relation to being a man. Things like fortitude and courage, which we see St. Joseph manifesting when he would flee at the proper times, knowing the proper discretion and following the angel he did what he was told. When he turned to Nazareth, he had actually done so at the command of the angel, not fearing the fact that before his life and the life of our lady and the life of the child could be taken, but rather, he did so because that it was the right thing to do and he did it.
It is also a powerful intercession for fathers to beg St. Joseph to supply the needs for his own family. St. Joseph was the head of a family so he recognizes the actual need that people have to fulfill the temporal and the spiritual requirements of life. And so if a father fosters a devotion to St. Joseph, St. Joseph will help him fulfill those needs. He will help him fulfill the need for getting a job if he’s looking for a job, or that he finds that his job doesn’t fulfill the requirements, the financial requirements for his family he can pray to St. Joseph to help him to find a better job.
He can also pray to St. Joseph that in the execution of his daily duties in relation to his work that all goes well. This is why we call St. Joseph the model of artisans.
He can also pray to St. Joseph for the sake of his wife and his children.
Selling or buying a home It is also good if we are looking to sell a home or for buying a home. They should have a miraculous medal placed on the property that they want to acquire. If you want to sell your home, purchase a statue of St. Joseph, put it in a prominent place and pray a novena to him, so that he will help you to sell your home.
Women Devotion to St. Joseph is also very important to women. St. Joseph is the chaste guardian of the Virgin.
The unmarried For those who are unmarried they should foster devotion to St. Joseph so that he will protect them, and protect their honor. After all he is not only the guardian of the Virgin but he is also called the guardian of virgins.
Marriageable women Marriageable women should also pray for anybody they should be dating, pray to St. Joseph so that the person that they are dating will have the fortitude and the chastity in order to protect the honor of the woman he is marrying. I find it quite sad that one of the principle manifestations of a marriageable man – that is someone who is capable of being married is self discipline in relationship to chastity as well as a willingness to fall into battle to protect the honor of the woman that he is to marry. And yet, guys aren’t looking to protect the honor of their possible upcoming spouse, they’re looking to in fact degradate their honor by committing acts of unchastity with her. So she should pray that she will find a chaste man, that is a man who has self discipline and self control. They should pray just simply to find a good spouse.
Married women St. Joseph was the spouse of the mother of God. Married women should pray to St. Joseph to help their husbands to be men, to be a good father and to be a good provider.
How to increase devotion to St. Joseph There are different ways of increasing this devotion. There are the standard ones which we can use in increasing any devotion to any saint – for example, obtain a picture of St. Joseph or a statue of St. Joseph and place it in a place of prominence in our home. We can pray for him frequently and ask for his intercession, and ask for his intercession with faithfulness – with faith – that is, knowing that he can provide these things if our devotion is sufficient. We can light votive candles in front of his statue and ask him to pray for us. We can entrust ourselves to his care like the Blessed Virgin Mary did. We can pray the litany of St. Joseph and the prayers that are offered to St. Joseph, and the prayers that are offered in his honor. And for priests, they can offer votive Masses of St. Joseph, which will actually benefit the faithful because of the graces that St. Joseph is able to bestow.
Again, this is a most powerful devotion, because St. Joseph is a most powerful intercessor.
I love this sentiment from St. John Damascus. He writes how a person will go to great lengths to meet a king, or secular famous person – a movie star, politician, or athlete. But he says that the saints, who are infinitely more powerful than politicians and stars, have true powers. They can help you in your life. You can appeal to them at anytime. If you would go to such great lengths to meet a secular star, who has no power and can’t really help you, why wouldn’t you just get down on your knees and pray to those saints who are so much more powerful?
As All Saints Day approaches on November 1st (the vigil is Halloween) let us remember and pray to the saints.
This is such a beautiful sentiment:
How, therefore, are demons driven off by them, diseases dispelled, sick persons made well, the blind restored to sight, lepers purified, temptations and troubles overcome, and how does every good gift from the Father of lights come down through them to those who pray with sure faith? How much labor would you not undergo to find a patron to introduce you to a mortal king and speak to him on your behalf?
Below is an excerpt from The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina. In it, he discusses the life of St. Benedict, who lived during Rome’s collapse. I just wanted to highlight the similarities between Rome and America:
Advanced stage of moral and cultural decadence
The desire among the population to ‘head for the hills’ as the empire falls. We see this today with the flight from American cities, the rise of preppers, prepping and off-grid living. People in Rome knew something was wrong, just as the people of America know it.
In Rome, “Once the imperial government had vanished, what could take its place?” Mr. Aquilina says the Church took its place, through Pope St. Gregory I. The Church was perfectly suited for this because it “possessed laws, an educated hierarchy respected for fairness, and an impulse toward charitable works”. Let us hope that the same thing happens if and when America falls.
On Saint Benedict of Nursia
He studied in Rome, which was then at an advanced stage of moral and cultural decadence. In short order, Benedict grew disgusted with life. With a a trusted servant, he headed for the hills.
His flight was not so extraordinary. Amid the societal disorder following the empire’s dissolution, the contemplative life appeared oddly attractive to more men and women. It was more stable and secure, certainly, than life “in the world.” So, many took to the wilderness, some living in community, some in isolation. For a growing number, this “flight” was merely an escape from responsibilities and hardship. Some communities were little more than leisurely clubs, replete with servants to handle all manual work.
But, once the imperial government had vanished, what could take its place?
In a word: Gregory
With the breakdown of the Roman army and court system, the Church alone survived as a unified, multi-national force for order. The Church possessed laws, an educated hierarchy respected for fairness, and an impulse toward charitable works – what today we might call social justice.
It is fascinating to live when a great empire is falling. One can read of the fall of other empires…but it doesn’t compare to seeing the degradation and destruction blooming in technicolor right in front of your eyes.
It is almost as if everything is following a script, as events happen steadily to further the decline.
As an empire becomes rich – usually through falsifying money – it grows decadent and immoral, leading to its certain decline. This process takes many years…generations. But those with eyes can see the destruction long before the grand collapse. Such is the case with Babylon. And Rome. And now with America.
At what time will it happen? No one knows. But we can look at the cracks develop, the bricks falling from the structure, the people being fed lies and loving it. We can look at all these things not with an air of sadness…but with an air of joyfulness. Joyfulness for a few reasons. Because that which is degrading and immoral cannot last…it is joyful to watch it perish. Joyfulness because the yankee empire has destroyed so much – so many people, so many cultures.
It is unfortunate those who might be harmed in the fall. But that is why one must understand history and try to get out of the way of the toppling behemoth.
I remember hearing a story about Murray Rothbard years ago. I forget who told it but they said that Mr. Rothbard, if he was asked to go out to dinner with whoever he was with, would always go to the closest restaurant to them. Why he did this the teller didn’t know, but I always thought it an interesting viewpoint, and in many cases I tried to follow it.
Once, while traveling, I needed to find a Catholic Church to go to. I had decided earlier to drive into the city to go to the grand Cathedral downtown. Like I was going as a tourist, to see the grandiosity of it, rather than as a parishioner going to worship God. But, at the last minute, I remembered the story of Mr. Rothbard and decided to go to the nearest Church. It was a good decision. It was a beautiful church, but more importantly, it fit my state of life at the moment, it was what I needed. To this day, I try to follow Mr. Rothbard’s example.
This note by St. Augustine is similar in spirit. He is discussing the customs peculiar to each church. This is true today, as every Mass will have the same structure, but each will recite prayers in different ways, use different metres in songs, etc.
So he says, go to the church where you are at, conform to the practice you find prevailing in the church where (you) happen to be:
“In regard to these and all other variable observances which may be met anywhere, one is at liberty to comply with them or not as he chooses. There is no better rule for the wise and serious Christian in this matter, than to conform to the practice he finds prevailing in the Church where he happens to be. For such a custom, if it is clearly not contrary to sound faith or morals, should be seen as something indifferent, and ought to be observed for the sake of fellowship with those among whom we live.“
St. Augustine, from The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina
Maybe this has something to do with why Mr. Rothbard chose the closest restaurant – because you are in a community, and to stay in that community – to eat, work or go to church, is to build it up, for the “sake of fellowship with those among whom we live.”
Fr Ripperger is a great genius of our time. I know he would dismiss this, but the fact remains. In this talk (embedded below) he discusses why you should actually strive for the good life:
“Aristotle said – the reason we develop virtue is because once we have the good habits, the moral life becomes easier. In addition to making us good through that process it also makes things a lot easier.”
Then he mentions one of the great goals (if not the greatest) of spiritual life:
“In order to enter the visible contemplation you can’t be neglecting God. You can’t reach the Transforming Union which is a constant mystical contemplation of God while still fulfilling your duties. You can’t do that without prior habits. And that comes through recollection. Recollection – constantly remembering God. Constantly coming back to God. The habit of always keeping your focus on God. Little prayers said throughout the day.”
So many times in life we wonder, what is the goal, what are we striving for? Money, fame, pleasure? The answer is none of those. It is interesting that what society holds up as the great goals of life are truly irrelevant. We are striving for the Transforming Union – “Constant mystical contemplation of God while still fulfilling your duties.” Now you know. The way to get there (I believe) is through the 9 levels of prayer.
Below are the full notes I took from Fr. Ripperger’s talk on The Rule of Life. I couldn’t get the formatting for the numbers to work so I just posted it all. All words are Fr. Ripperger’s:
Aristotle – the reason we develop virtue is because once we have the good habits, the moral life becomes easier. In addition to making us good through that process it also makes things a lot easier.
Rule of life Any criteria or rule you use to lead your life. A series of things you use in order to determine how you are going to proceed in your spiritual growth, development, overcoming defects etc.
Its good to have a rule of life because it gives you focus and direction. Convents and monasteries have codes of conducts – this is how we are going to pursue virtue and holiness.
Parts of the rule of life 1 – Must take into consideration any private vows you are under. Consecration to Our Lady is a form of private vow.
2 – Regimen – an Horarium (Latin word meaning “the hours”. – Defines what you going to do during certain times of the day. Consistently engaging in a particular series of activities each day in the same way.
Why a regimen? There are certain things we just want to do. We don’t want to tie up our free time. They want to feed their appetites. This means they have basically dedicated their life to spiritual dissipation because they don’t want to do the ardor and grind of becoming perfect because that means you gotta give up even that little thing. You should be committing yourself to a regimen to overcome spiritual dissipation and get a consistency in your prayer life and in your spiritual reading. Consistent sleep – our prayer is more consistent, its less distracted, our spiritual warfare is easier.
1 – Prayer proscription (prayer life). Consistency in the prayer life. Morning offering 6 am – Angelus Rosary 15m of meditation Spiritual reading – even just 5 minutes Mass 12 pm – Angelus 6 pm – Angelus Before bed – Examination of Conscience. Compline.
In order to enter the visible contemplation you can’t be neglecting God. You can’t reach the Transforming Union which is a constant mystical contemplation of God while still fulfilling your duties. You can’t do that without prior habits. And that comes through recollection.
Recollection – constantly remembering God. Constantly coming back to God.
The habit of always keeping your focus on God. Little prayers said throughout the day. Maybe on the hour.
2 – Go to bed and get up at a specific time. Your day is very consistent so that you develop the habits that makes the spiritual life easier.
There are 2 reasons why the spiritual life advances then it pans out. 1 – Dissipation – they get distracted by worldly considerations. 2 – Not a consistency in the prayer life.
3 – What are you going to do to root out your defects? Need a systematic approach. A little prayer to the Lord – help me to be more truthful. (if you want to quit lying, for instance).
4 – The building of virtue. Not just the consistency of life that comes through a regimen. But the perfecting of specific virtues in your life. Choosing a specific virtue and working on that.
If we’re not regimented and structured in our spiritual life we will not achieve habituated virtue. It is through the structure that we end up becoming habituated.
You’re not going to be consistent in your spiritual life, you’re not going to advance until there’s a dying to self in relationship to just doing whatever you want to do when you want to do it.
Questions from the Audience
How to find a spiritual director? Once you reach the prayer of simplicity to make the transition to the passive purgation you are going to need a spiritual director.
Examples of private vows? Private vows – can be for a short time. Prefer to do it for a positive thing. Chastity Any virtue – charity Fasting, abstinence
How long should the family pray together? 15-30 minutes a day for family prayer
What you want your children to develop by 18 years old “Get them to develop virtue. The goal is to get them totally self sufficient without any imput of your own (the parents) at the age of 18.
By the time a guy reaches 18 he should be on his feet in his masculinity, in his virtue and in his catholicity to where he can assume all of the obligations of marriage at that age.
When they are young – up to 6 years old, youre setting up training for the kid. He doesn’t have virtue yet. Once he gets to the age of reason – when he can start committing sin. Then he can start making choices, true choices, they can begin to develop virtue. But they need the external structure bc they don’t enough intellectually.
Once they go through puberty it all shifts and what they need (after the structure has been given to them) is council bc at that stage the virtue is only voluntary – you can’t impose it. The kid has to make a choice if he is going to do it or not. The parent can’t impose it bc then the kid is not developing virtue, he’s just getting good at compliance. They need council and encouragement to get them to develop that on their own.
