Dear Friends,
We will celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph this upcoming Friday, March 19. As a solemnity, it belongs to the highest class of liturgical celebrations—other solemnities include Christmas, Easter, every Sunday, All Saints Day, Immaculate Conception, Assumption of Mary, and there are more. As such, this is a true feast for some. St. Joseph is a patron saint of Italy, and the Solemnity of St. Joseph is celebrated with what is called a St. Joseph Table: a table filled with breads and pastries, with the home opened to neighbors, friends, and the poor to enjoy the food on the table.
At the same time, St. Joseph has been often forgotten. There are no spoken words of his recorded in the Gospels, and while he is mentioned in a genealogy in St. Luke's Gospel, he is only given significant mention in St. Matthew's Gospel—all the more reason that St. Matthew has the best gospel! Thankfully, St. Joseph is increasingly given more attention. Pope St. John XXIII included St. Joseph in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I) over 50 years ago, and Pope Francis decreed to include St. Joseph in all of the Eucharistic Prayers. St. Andre Bessette, a brother from the Congregation of the Holy Cross, served as a porter, a doorkeeper in Canada. As he listened to visitors, St. Andre encouraged devotion to St. Joseph and told them to “Go to Joseph” (“Ite ad Joseph”), echoing the words of Pharaoh to the Egyptians during the years of famine (Genesis 41:55). St. Andre eventually built, in the face of many obstacles, a shrine dedicated to St. Joseph in Montreal; now known as St. Joseph Oratory, it is the largest shrine dedicated to St. Joseph in the world.
With many popes and saints, I believe now is an important time to foster devotion to St. Joseph. St. Joseph was the (foster) father of Jesus and husband of Mary; he was a protector and provider, and so he is the best model for husbands and fathers now and is our protector and provider. Because he was near Jesus and Mary throughout his life, St. Joseph will draw us nearer to Jesus and Mary. After the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph is the greatest saint and therefore will guide us to ascend to greater heights in the spiritual life. The name Joseph means “increase.” St. Joseph will help us experience an increase in virtue. Particularly, we can look to the Litany of St. Joseph, in which he is described as most just, most chaste, most prudent, most courageous, most obedient, and most faithful. St. Joseph will help us to increase in the virtues of justice, chastity, prudence, courage, obedience, and faith and fidelity. Lastly, St. Joseph is called the Terror of Demons and Guardian of the Church.
Of course, worship, adoration, and praise belong to Almighty God alone. At the same time, we can also turn to our family in Heaven (the Church Triumphant). There are many prayers to St. Joseph, but I recommend the Litany of St. Joseph. I also highly recommend and urge you read the book Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Fr. Donald H. Calloway, MIC. The book will help you better know and understand St. Joseph.
We are saints under construction, drawing nearer to Jesus and Mary, ascending to greater heights in the spiritual life, and increasing in virtue and holiness through the protection and intercession of St. Joseph. Ite ad Joseph—Go to Joseph! Have a great week!
In Christ,