A story for every day...
Saved from shipwreck.
Pious souls, meditating on the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt, had the happy inspiration to honor Saint Joseph as the patron saint of travelers. Here is an example in which this thought was wonderfully rewarded.
A young man, engaged in the merchant navy, was leaving his native town to go from Le Havre to Marseille. His pious sister, in bidding him farewell, had placed in the pocket of his habit a statuette of Saint Joseph, and had prayed to this great Saint to bless the voyage and to bring back his beloved brother safely.
When the ship was about in front of Cadiz, the captain ordered the young man to go and tighten the rope of a mast which unfortunately was rotten. While he was carrying out the order given to him, the rope broke and he was thrown into the abyss. He remained there for a whole hour, always trying, by swimming and fighting against the waves, to reach the ship, which seemed to flee as he approached it. Already his hands were paralyzed and his exhausted strength was lost without return, when he remembered the little statue of Saint Joseph and the prayer of his sister. At that moment, his courage was revived; he invoked with faith and confidence his blessed Protector, and promised to have a mass said in his honor if he saved him from this imminent danger. Immediately his prayer was answered, he felt supported on the waves by an invisible hand, and he managed to reach the ship by means of a rope thrown to him by the captain. Saved by a visible protection of Saint Joseph, our grateful young man hastened to fulfill his vow. He attended the thanksgiving mass with all his family; and he prayed to the Spouse of Mary to preserve him and deliver him in the future from all danger.
If Saint Joseph listens to such a short prayer, what will he not do for those who honor and pray to him every day!
