March 19 2024 - St. Joseph - Guardian, Model, and Universal Patron

 In the midst of the season of Lent, we celebrate today the great solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary. Devotion to St. Joseph stretches back to the earliest Christians.

Depictions of St. Joseph can be found in early Christian artwork, particularly in catacombs and frescoes dating from the early centuries of Christianity. These images often portray Joseph alongside Mary and Jesus, highlighting his importance within the Holy Family.

The 3rd century, theologian Origen wrote about Joseph's righteousness and obedience to God. And, St. Jerome, in the 4th century, referred to Joseph’s sanctity in his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew.

The Church honors St. Joseph with a solemnity because of his importance to the Holy Family and to all of us. His example of deep faith, obedience and humility is to be imitated by all Christians. When faced with the extraordinary circumstances surrounding Mary's pregnancy, Joseph trusted in God's plan and took Mary as his wife, despite the challenges and uncertainties that lay ahead. His unwavering fidelity to God's will serves as a powerful reminder to us, especially during this season of Lent, to place our trust in the Lord and follow God’s path, even when it may be difficult or unclear.

As the guardian of the Holy Family, Joseph protected Mary and Jesus from the threat posed by King Herod, and so many of the threats which face poor and vulnerable families. We often think that God must have provided some divine shield around mary and Jesus, but no, Joseph was that shield. Or we imagine that food and clothing and shelter just appeared for Jesus, but no, Joseph was the provider. 

Joseph was faithful to God with the great responsibility of caring for Jesus and Mary, and he models for us the faithfulness we are to exhibit in caring for our families and the vulnerable among us.

Today’s feast reminds us that Joseph is not just a role model, but the universal patron of the Church, meaning it is always and everywhere fitting, in whatever threat we face, in whatever need we have, to “go to Joseph” . We invoke today and all days his guidance, protection, and assistance in our family challenges, in our work, in our illnesses, in our fight against evil and temptation and for our general spiritual growth. 

St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us, that we may become worthy of the promises of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That St. Joseph, “Patron of the Universal Church” may guide and guard our Holy Father, all bishops and clergy, religious and lay faithful from all evil and error. 

That St. Joseph, “diligent protector” of the Christ Child, will help protect all children from violence and evil, especially the unborn.

That St. Joseph, “Guardian of Virgins” will help eradicate perversion and immodesty from our culture.

That St. Joseph, “Pillar of Families”, will be an example for all Christian families.

That St. Joseph “terror of demons” will help to deliver all those in sin, and all those under demonic influence, to be open to the saving mercy of Christ. 

That St. Joseph “patron of the dying” will help all the dying to know the tender peace of God.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

March 19 2018 - St. Joseph - Pillar of Families and Universal Patron

Buona festa di San Giuseppe. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus.

The value and importance of men looking to and following the example of St. Joseph in our modern times cannot be overestimated. As St. Joseph guarded the Holy Family from violence and evil, modern fathers must protect their spouses and children from the evils that fill our country.

The United States leads the world in the number of fatherless families. Most households below the poverty line in the U.S. are fatherless; most young men serving prison terms in our country were raised without a father in their lives. I’d venture to say most of the gun violence is perpetrated by people who did not have a healthy relationship with their father.
Many adults trace their emotional and psychological problems to a broken or unhealthy relationship with their father, a father who was missing either physically or emotionally or spiritually, as a spiritual leader in their families.

Now, there's nothing magical about having a man living with the family. Fathers can be abusive, and a bad example of fidelity to the vows of marriage. But a father who is faithful to God, faithful to his vows, and faithful to his children is a blessing beyond measure.

As our collect this morning stated, “God entrusted the beginnings of our human salvation” to the “faithful care” of St. Joseph. We certainly pray today that present fathers and future fathers may exercise that same “faithful care” in their families.

Pope Pius IX proclaimed Saint Joseph who was chosen by the Heavenly Father as protector of all that is holy and precious in the human family to be the patron of the Universal Church.

In times of temptation, in communities which seem riddled with selfishness or wickedness, we do well to invoke St. Joseph, who was not a man of lip-service, but a man of action, to guide and protect us from all evil.

Saint Joseph, “Diligent protector of Christ, Guardian of Virgins, Pillar of families, patron of the dying, terror of demons,”, pray for us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That St. Joseph, “Patron of the Universal Church” may guide and guard our Holy Father, all bishops and clergy, religious and lay faithful from the wiles and machinations of the Enemy.
That St. Joseph, “diligent protector” of the Christ Child, will help protect all children from violence and evil, especially the unborn.
That St. Joseph, “Guardian of Virgins” will help eradicate perversion and immodesty from our culture.
That St. Joseph, “Pillar of Families”, will be an example for all Christian families.
That St. Joseph “terror of demons” will help to deliver all those in sin, and all those under demonic influence, to be open to the saving mercy of Christ.
That St. Joseph “patron of the dying” will help all the dying to know the tender peace of God.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.