Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Known and unknown Saint
We know about him from the Gospels, although they only devote a dozen or so sentences to him. We worship him twice a year: on March 19 - as the Spouse of the Mother of God, and on May 1 as the patron saint of working people. He is called the Guardian, the Bridegroom ... Saint Joseph has always fascinated Christians who had great devotion to him. Today He is rediscovered as a model of fatherhood, love and care for the family, diligence, listening to the voice of God and acting following this voice. Therefore, especially today we can speak of him as a "Saint for the Third Millennium," a Saint for our time.
We know so little about him from the pages of the Gospels. He appears suddenly, without prior introduction, we do not know his place of birth, we know nothing about his youth or the circumstances of his death. The evangelists did not record a single word he said. Therefore, most often we think about Joseph, as old man leaning on a long cane, wrapped in a brown coat, necessarily with a long gray beard and his head hanging in the pose of a plaster figurine, staring at the radiant face of Mary or at the Child placed in a manger. Meanwhile, it is worth considering who he was when he accepted God's will, but also who he is today for the Church community.
He listened to God
To go beyond the rigid framework of thinking about Joseph, you can imagine him not only as a loving and devoted husband, wandering with his beloved Mary pregnant across Palestine to the census, but also as a brave man who saves his family by taking those closest to him wandering through the desert to Egypt, or an extremely wise, patient father who, according to the custom of the time, at a certain moment in the life of a child-boy takes over the responsibility for his upbringing. Joseph was able to give up his plans for life and listened to God's voice, accepting what He was saying to him, allowing Him to interfere in his life. Hence, it was no coincidence that John Paul II called him not so much silent but a listener! Perhaps this is the reason for the rediscovery of the person of St. Joseph. When we look at his life, constantly overshadowed by Jesus and Mary, his person takes on a surprising dimension, as it becomes indispensable in God's plans. Listens to God and Works! That is why this "old and good-hearted" Joseph turns out to be a "young provocateur", especially in the face of the present times of rebellion, unbelief and indifference. He is not some paper hero, but a real model of action in our difficult contemporary times.
A name that says it all
In one of the old publications about St. Joseph, there is a beautiful analysis of the name Joseph (in Latin, Joseph), where each letter is assigned one of the saint's virtues.
J - (justitia), justice
O - (oboedientia), obedience
S - (silentium) silence,
E - (experientia), experience
P - (prudentia), prudence
H - (humilitas) humility.
Looking for signs in the letters of someone's name can bring a smile, it cannot be denied that these virtues filled Joseph's life and soul, and the Latin (not only linguistically) tradition of the Church lists and emphasizes them all.
They arranged in Joseph an inner harmony, which resulted in a peace from which seemed to emanate love and wisdom. Someone once aptly said: "Joseph did not know where God was leading him, it was enough that he knew that God was leading him ... ". He never uttered this obedience to God, he did not bargain, did not oppose, did not expect an explanation, did not rebel. He always followed God's will. He fulfilled his duties to the end, not discouraged in any way, aware that he was the depository of the mystery of the eternal God.
Patron of our times
So, you cannot look at Joseph as an old-fashioned Saint from a provincial town who worked centuries ago in a dark workshop and who has nothing to say to modern man. He has a lot to say to the people of our time who sometimes lack with prudence, courage, bravery, modesty, obedience to God ... and other virtues.
In the world of rush for money, pleasures and fame, where the crisis of masculinity and paternity becomes so visible, Joseph is a model of bold decisions, taking responsibility for another human being, for the family he has established. Joseph teaches that the true greatness of man is service to God and to others, and that a worthy life in God's eyes consists in fulfilling daily duties with love and faithfulness. Finally, Joseph teaches us that it is not important to achieve success in life, to gain new titles, but to live each day doing what God expects of us.
Joseph's life is a constant reminder, so relevant during our time, that it is worth to open up to God's suggestions, to God's plan for our lives. This may bear more fruit than anything you do on your own. Even more so today, as Pope Francis said, "we must cry out to St. Joseph, to watch over the Church and each of us, just as he once watched over little Jesus". In various difficulties and life experiences, the intercession of the Saints is a great comfort for us.
How great is St. Joseph? How powerful is his intercession? How important is it that we turn to him with our prayers? Let us listen to the testimony from Saint Teresa of Avila "Doctor of prayer," regarding the glorious St. Joseph: “I wish I could persuade everyone to be devoted to the glorious St Joseph, for I have great experience of the blessings which he can obtain from God. I do not remember that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I am astonished at the great favors which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which he has delivered me, both in body and in soul. To other saints, the Lord seems to have given grace to help us in some of our necessities. But my experience is that St Joseph helps us in them all; also, that the Lord wishes to teach us that, as he was himself subject on earth to St. Joseph, so in heaven he now does all that Joseph asks. This has also been the experience of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to the saint. I only request, for the love of God, whoever will not believe me will test the truth of what I say, for he will see by experience how great a blessing it is to recommend oneself to this glorious patriarch and to be devout to him. […]" (Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila, chapter 6)
At the greatest times and the most trying times of my life, St. Joseph has been there as the " Pattern of patience”, the " Terror of evil spirits” and the " Comfort of the troubled", making up for my failings through his most generous and powerful intercession. St. Joseph has always, always been there. For me, he is not only the holiest human after his wife but also an all-enduring, never tiring, forever-loving spiritual father and friend. For this, I could never offer him proper thanks and praise.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george
Day of Consecration to St. Joseph
Dear St. Joseph,
On this day, before God and your Immaculate Spouse, Mary, I ___________________ choose you as my spiritual father forever. I formally entrust myself to your fatherly care. I love you, and I trust in your prayers for my life. As your spiritual child, I give you full permission (and in fact, I am begging you) to please act in my life, especially by...
Praying for me constantly in a special way, Bringing me even deeper into the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Providing for me and all my loved ones, Guarding and protecting me from bodily and spiritual evil, Guiding me to always do God's most perfect will, Helping me to suffer with love and without complaint, Giving me purity of body and of soul, Forming me into a person of peace and joy, Preparing me for a beautiful and happy death.
From this day forward, St. Joseph, you are my spiritual father, and I am your child. I trust you and love you, and I look forward to meeting you someday in heaven. I ask all of this in Jesus' name and for the glory of God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.