Path to Purple

The other day, I was driving on the freeway with the sun in my eye. However, I have driven this path multiple times in the past so I knew I would be fine and eventually make it to my destination. I thought I should visit the church since I was a little bit early, but decided against it to just focus on my destination. The sun dangerously blinded me. When I came to, I realized I had missed my exit and was heading up north.

When I parked at the church, I knew God had led me here. He has never failed to lead me here, especially when I most need it.

I never thought I would go through the First Spiritual Exercises, especially under these circumstances, but somehow God knows what is best for you.

These past three months have been extremely difficult. However, somehow, God placed me in a small group with wonderful individuals to go through the First Spiritual Exercises with.

There were many gifts that God has sent me in the past months. I share with you a few of them:

🟣 Give me strength and be humbled enough to lean myself onto you, God.
🟣 Be my protection, St. Michael the Archangel
🟣 Cover me and protect me with your veil, Mother Mary

“How is a Father supposed to be like?” I wondered.

My friend, IG @meekandlowlyheart , recommended that I consecrate myself to St. Joseph. And I am so glad I finished the 33-day Consecration, ending on All Saints Day. Throughout this journey, I have learned so much more about St. Joseph and have put all my trust in him as my Spiritual Father.

The 33rd day, which is the day I consecrate myself to St. Joseph, was the day that my father followed through with his words and showed that he loved me. God does indeed work miracles.

🙏🏻 𝔄𝔠𝔱 𝔬𝔣 ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔢𝔠𝔯𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔱𝔬 𝔖𝔱. 𝔍𝔬𝔰𝔢𝔭𝔥 𝔟𝔶 𝔖𝔱. 𝔄𝔩𝔭𝔥𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔲𝔰 𝔏𝔦𝔤𝔲𝔬𝔯𝔦 🙏🏻

O Holy Patriarch, I rejoice with you at the exalted dignity by which you were deemed worthy to act as father to Jesus, to give him orders and to be obeyed by him whom heaven and earth obey.

O great saint, as you were served by God, I too wish to be taken into your service. I choose you, after Mary, to be my chief advocate and protector.

I promise to honor you everyday by some special act of devotion and by placing myself under your daily protection.

By that sweet company which Jesus and Mary gave you in your lifetime, protect me all through life, so that I may never separate myself from my God by losing his grace.

My dear St. Joseph, pray to Jesus for me. Certainly, He can never refuse you anything, as He obeyed all your orders while on earth. Tell Him to detach me from all creatures and from myself, to inflame me with His holy love, and then to do with me what He pleases.

By that assistance which Jesus and Mary gave you at death, I beg of you to protect me in a special way at the hour of my death, so that dying assisted by you, in the company of Jesus and Mary, I may go to thank you in paradise and, in your company, to praise my God for all eternity.

Amen.

You told me that this was a blessing in disguise. Your confidence reassured me that I am on the right path. However, I am a weak and flawed human.

I feel so lost.

I feel like God is so far away.

Actually, I don’t know where God is in all this.

I finally voice out how I am truly feeling. You answer something but I forgot what exactly you said. However, right before our phone call ended, you reminded me. Your gentle, but firm voice reminds me what I need to do. Pray. Attend Mass (in person if that is available to me), Confession, etc.

Another person told me, “I’m concerned about you, but I’m not worried about you. You’re going to be okay. Because that’s how you always are.”

Lately, I have been feeling like I do not have a father, a protector of the family. How is a father supposed to be like, I wonder.

Last night, I was attempting to pray at Our Lady of Peace. It was difficult. At some point, I was finally able to hear the quiet. And somehow, my eyes wandered over to the right side of the church and I saw St. Joseph. Sometimes, it is the small moments like this in which God speaks to us.