A Digital Bridge to Tradition
The Catholic prayer platform Hozana will facilitate devotees from various countries to send their petitions on the occasion of the Solemnity of Saint Joseph on March 19. These intentions will be physically taken to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces in Cotignac, France, a pilgrimage site with a unique spiritual history linked to the Holy Family.
A Sanctuary with a Dual Supernatural Legacy
According to tradition documented by the sanctuary, in August 1519, the Virgin Mary appeared alongside the Child Jesus to a woodcutter, requesting the construction of a church at that site. More than a century later, in June 1660, Saint Joseph manifested alone to a shepherd named Gaspard Ricard. The saint, seeing the young man exhausted from thirst, instructed him to move a heavy rock, after which a spring of water gushed forth. This event is considered the only recognized apparition of Saint Joseph without the company of Jesus or Mary.
Celebration and Channeling of Petitions
On the day of the solemnity, a special Mass will be celebrated at the sanctuary where all received intentions will be presented. Local faithful will gather to pray and light candles for these petitions, entrusting them to the intercession of Saint Joseph, whom popular devotion calls «the saint who knows how to care.» The initiative repeats the format from the previous year, when over 14,000 petitions in four different languages were raised from this same place.
A Global Novena in Preparation
Simultaneously, Hozana has organized an international novena to Saint Joseph, which already has approximately 9,600 participants. This nine-day spiritual exercise aims for the faithful, even dedicating a few minutes daily, to honor the saint during the month especially dedicated to him. The platform thus continues its work of connecting personal piety with the global ecclesial community, using digital means to strengthen traditional devotional practice.
Original source: www.aciprensa.com (published on March 10, 2026)
