Novena to St Joseph

In my desperation and anxiety over our financial situation, I turned to St. Joseph’s intercession through the Novena to St. Joseph.

Throughout the nine days of prayer, I reflected deeply on St. Joseph’s life, especially during his feast day. He was a simple, humble, and introverted man, living in the shadow of Mary, yet entrusted with the immense responsibility of protecting and providing for the Son of God and His mother.

It’s incredible how St. Joseph lived his life. He had no clear knowledge of God’s plan—only dreams as guidance—yet he obeyed without hesitation, following God’s instructions with unwavering faith.

When Mary told him she was with child by the Holy Spirit, he must have struggled to comprehend it. As a man of logic, he might have thought she was imagining things or even delusional. Yet, after receiving a message in a dream, he chose to believe her, take her under his care, and embrace his role in God’s plan.

As a human, he might have assumed that the Son of God would be born into a comfortable life. Instead, he faced the harsh reality of struggling to find a place for Mary to give birth, ultimately settling for a stable. Imagine his thoughts—why would a King be born in such humble conditions?

Then came another dream—flee to Egypt to escape danger. He must have questioned why this child was bringing so much upheaval, forcing them to leave behind their home and the life they knew. Yet, despite any confusion or uncertainty, he continued to trust in God’s providence until the end of his earthly journey.

After completing the novena, our financial situation remained unchanged. Our income was still insufficient to cover our expenses.

But what changed was my perspective on life.

When I lost contact with my husband for 24 hours, the fear of losing him made me realize what truly matters.

While he was away hiking, I spent time with our children and saw how mature and close they had become. My eldest took on the role of a provider, paying for our meals using his Apple Wallet—though the credit card was ours, the gesture touched me. My middle child, always caring, looked after his younger brother. And my youngest, with his confidence, navigated and guided me during our billiard games.

Meanwhile, seeing my parents’ joy as they embarked on their pilgrimage to Europe filled my heart with gratitude.

I realized I already have more than enough—my family is healthy and united, and that is priceless.

By worldly standards, we may be in financial deficit, far from being “rich.” But through this imperfection, I see the daily miracles of God’s provision. Though human calculations say we don’t have enough, in God’s hands, we have more than enough.

As long as we live simply and frugally, any financial struggles are reminders to depend on God’s providence.

In the end, I am deeply grateful that through St. Joseph’s intercession, God has granted me the grace to accept life’s uncertainties and trust in His divine plan.