Joseph Naval Girbes was born at Algemisi in the Archdiocese of Valencia,

Spain, on December 11, 1820.  As a very young woman she consecrated herself

to the Lord by a perpetual vow of chastity.

Josepha's life was simple.  She stood out for her ardent love, and she made

progress along the way of prayer and evangelical perfection while dedicating

herself generously to apostolic works in her parish community.  In her own

home she opened a school where she taught needlework, prayer, and the

evangelical virtues.  She formed many young girls and women and shared with

them her wisdom and spiritual understanding. She was a member of the Third

Order Secular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Teresa of Jesus and had a

special love for the Virgin Mother of God.  Her holy death took place on

February 24, 1893.  She is buried in her parish church of St. James in her

native city.

 

From the Common of Virgins

 

Office of Readings

 

Second Reading

>From the Decree regarding the heroicity of the virtues of

the Servant of God, Josepha Naval Girbes.  January 3, 1987

 

Since parishes "in a certain way represent the visible Church established on

the earth" (cf. Sacrosanctum Con- cilium, 42), Josepha, the Servant of God,

regarded her parish as her Mother in faith and in grace, and as such she

loved her and served her with humility and with a spirit of sacrifice.  And

for that reason she showed her parish priest sincere veneration and

entrusted herself to his spiritual direction.  She looked after the making

of liturgical furnishings and she saw that they were kept clean and well

cared for, and the altars as well.  Each day she went to the parish church

to take part in the Eucharistic sacrifice.  But she was especially notable

for her intelligent and fruitful apostolate which she always carried out

with the consent of her pastors, to whom she professed absolute respect and

obedience.

 

Convinced as Josepha was that Christians ought to be the salt of the earth

and the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13-14), she was not content to practice

the virtues at home.  Rather she wanted to fulfill completely the command of

the Lord Who said, "Let your light shine before men in order that they may

see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Mt 5:16).  And

so she sought every opportunity to proclaim Christ by word and deed both to

non-believers, in order to draw them to the faith, and to the faithful, in

order to instruct and confirm them and encour- age them to live more

fervently (cf. Apostolicam Actuos- itatiem, 6).  With that in view, she

taught the poor and counselled all who came to her.  She restored peace in

broken families.  She organized meetings for mothers in her own house in

order to help them in their Christian forma- tion.  She brought back to the

way of virtue women who had gone astray, and she prudently admonished

sinners.

However the work on which she most focused, her care and energy was that of

instructing young people in the things of life and in the faith.  For their

sake she opened in her house a free embroidery school which was well

attended.

Her workshop became a place of fraternal gatherings.  It was a center of

prayer where God was praised and where the Sacred Scriptures and eternal

truths were explained and developed.

 

Like a loving mother, the Servant of God watched over her followers and

prepared them for life.  She was a model of fervent love for God.  She was a

lamp that gave forth light and warmth and a shining example in so many ways

of a living and contagious faith, of unflagging love, and of joyous

submission to the will of God and of her superiors.

Josepha is remembered for her unbounded solicitude for the salvation of

souls.  She stood out for her singular prudence, and for the humility,

poverty, silence and patience that she always practiced, even amidst

setbacks and difficulties.  The fervor with which she cultivated the

interior life of prayer and meditation and her patience under trial were

well known, as was her love for the Eucharist and for the Virgin Mary and

the Saints.  In this way, the Servant of God helped to build up her parish

community.

 

Responsory

R/.  Put into practice all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that

is honest, pure, admirable and worthy of praise:  * and the God of peace

will be with you.

V/.  Direct your thoughts wholly to what is decent and meritorious, * and

the God of peace will be with you.

 

Prayer

O God,

through the new leaven of the Gospel,

You call men and women and empower them

to serve You faithfully in secular life.

Grant that they may fervently imitate

the example of Blessed Josepha,

and, through her intercession,

work tirelessly as true Christians to build up Your kingdom by fulfilling

their duties in the world.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns

with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

********************

for Mass

 

Prayer

(see above)

 

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord,

we see the wonder of Your love

in the life of the virgin Josepha

and her witness to Christ.

Accept our gifts of praise

and make our offering pleasing to you.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

 

Communion Antiphon

The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord.

 

Prayer after Communion

Lord God,

may this Eucharist renew our courage and strength.

May we remain close to You like Bl. Josepha by accepting in our lives a

share in the suffering of Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with You for

ever and ever.

 

First Reading

1 Corinthians 1: 26-31

For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to

worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but

God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is

weak in the world to shame the strong,  God chose what is low and despised

in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.  He is the source

of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness

and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, "Let him who

boasts, boast of the Lord."

 

Responsorial Psalm

R/. Keep my soul in peace before You, O Lord.

 

Lord, my heart is not proud

nor haughty my eyes.

I have not gone after things too great

nor marvels beyond me.  R/.

 

Truly I have set my soul

in silence and peace,

A weaned child on its mother's breast,

even so is my soul.  R/.

 

O Israel, hope in the Lord

both now and forever.  R/.

 

Gospel

Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and

earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding

and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.

All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son

except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to

whom the Son chooses to reveal him.  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy

laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."