Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today’s celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph is even more significant this year since Pope Francis declared it the Year of St. Joseph. In his apostolic letter on Dec 8, 2020, Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart), Pope Francis describes several characteristics and values of St. Joseph that we can all take to heart as a model for our own lives. In particular, he identifies the rather countercultural qualities of tenderness, obedience, acceptance, creative courageousness, and selflessness (or as he states, “in the shadows”). I don’t know about you, but I often witness a world placing too much value on assertiveness, ambition, dominance, toughness, guts, glory, determination, and strength, especially when it comes to the qualities of men. There is so much beautiful content and insight shared by Pope Francis. I would just like to highlight a few pieces and encourage you to read the letter in full.
First, I am struck by the image of Saint Joseph as a tender and loving father. Through the fatherhood exemplified by Joseph, we witness the tender love of God. He accepted the responsibility and, much like Mary, he said “Yes,” to raise the son of God; to care for him, protect him, teach him, and love him unconditionally. As we have welcomed our daughter, Cecilia, into our family recently, we have a renewed opportunity to reflect this same tenderness and love to our children: showering our newborn with hugs, kisses, and affection; singing the ABCs with our 2-year-old; working on sight words, practicing math problems, and learning Spanish words with our boys; and taking time to pray together and share stories about Jesus and the saints. Though he spends most of the gospel story “in the shadows”, Saint Joseph shows us that we have a powerful ability to make a difference in the lives of others through our relationships.
Pope Francis’ letter also points to our readings today. “As a descendant of David (cf. Mt 1:16-20), from whose stock Jesus was to spring according to the promise made to David by the prophet Nathan (cf. 2 Sam 7), and as the spouse of Mary of Nazareth, Saint Joseph stands at the crossroads between the Old and New Testaments.”
Finally, toward the end of the letter, Pope Francis insightfully shares the essence of our vocational call; that is, when we give our whole selves in our relationships and actions--a fruitful gift of self, fulfilling the very meaning of our being and existence. “Joseph found happiness not in mere self-sacrifice but in self-gift…Every true vocation is born of the gift of oneself, which is a fruit of mature sacrifice.”
During this year of St. Joseph, may he guide our hearts to a life of fruitful self-gift. Let us follow Pope Francis’ example, with the prayer he includes at the end of his letter:
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil. Amen.
Blessings,
Brandon Meyer