SAINT JOSEPH THE
GREAT!!!
Ornament of the Domestic Life, Patron
of Spouses, Patron of fathers, Patron of the family, Patron of the Universal
Church, Patron of Purity, Patron of immigrants, Patron of the Interior Life,
Patron of Courtships, Patron of those in trial, Patron of workers, Patron of a
holy and happy death—all of these most glorious titles the Church applies to
the Glorious Saint Joseph.
Saint Joseph as a saint stands in a
class by himself. The theological term is that of PROTODULIA. Latria attributes to God adoration; to Our
Lady hyperdulia, the highest veneration; to the saints dulia, veneration.
However, Glorious Saint Joseph is given protodulia—meaning the first in
veneration among all the saints.
GRACE OF OFFICE—CORRESPONDING GRACES.
(St Bernardine of Siena—Doctor of the Church expounds upon tis theological
concept) Theology teaches that God
bestows graces according to the specific office of the individual. The Sacrament of Matrimony imbues the couple
with the grace to be faithful, to be open to children and to grow in love. Holy
Orders capacitates the man to be faithful to his priestly duties for the
service and salvation of the People of God.
Therefore, Glorious Saint Joseph,
second only to Jesus and Mary in dignity honor and holiness, was given the most
sublime office or mission in the history of the world. He was entrusted with a
double mission and responsibility: to be the Spouse of the Mother of God and
even more important Saint Joseph was called to be the Foster-Father of Jesus,
the Son of the Eternal Father. How noble, lofty, sublime was the mission, the
purpose and the responsibility of Glorious Saint Joseph. It is for this reason that he was given
special and signal graces so as to be able to carry out this mission with the
greatest perfection for the honor and glory of God and for the salvation of
souls!
Being such a powerful intercessor
before God and man, let us have frequent and trusting recourse to this greatest
of all saints; we might even call Saint Joseph, the “King of all saints”. We will offer five specific areas in which Saint Joseph can help us as we strive
as soldiers of Christ, fighting the good fight and running the demanding race
to reach heaven where Saint Joseph is exalted on high!
1.
PATRON OF THE INTERIOR LIFE. Saint Teresa of Avila whose life was saved
through the powerful intercession of Saint Joseph proclaimed his praises
constantly, so much so that upon founding a new house or convent she would name
it in honor of this great saint—SAN JOSE! However, most especially, Saint
Teresa of Avila, the Reformer of the Carmelite Order, dedicated especially to
prayer, penance and for the sanctification of priests insisted on our calling
upon the great and glorious Saint Joseph to help us to go deeper and deeper in
our spiritual life, especially our prayer life. As astounding as this might
seem: Saint Joseph actually taught Jesus to pray—His first vocal prayers and
the praying of the Psalms. If Saint
Joseph was chosen to help Jesus to call out to God the Father and pronounce
“Abba” Daddy and to pray those beautiful hymns of praise and thanks that we
call the Psalms, then how much more will Saint Joseph be willing to help us to
desire to pray, love prayer, grow in prayer and learn that what air is to our
lungs so prayer is to the soul!
2.
PATRON OF PURITY. Our Lady of Fatima stated close to 100 years
ago that many marriages are bad, that many immodest fashions would enter the
world that would gravely offend God, and that most souls are lost for all
eternity due to the sins of the flesh, the sins against the virtue of
purity. Then in October in addition to
the miracle of the sun and the apparition of Our Lady of Sorrows, good Saint
Joseph appeared with the Child Jesus in his arms blessing the world. Being dead
honest, we must admit that we live in a pornographic world, a world dominated
by the lust of the flesh, power and greed.
Most especially the devil of impurity is running rampant and having a
hey-day! Therefore, families should
consecrate themselves to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, to the most pure and
Immaculate Heart of Mary, and finally to the most pure person and heart of good
Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph and Our Lady
lived a life of absolute purity and made, inspired by the Holy Spirit, a vow of
perpetual virginity in their marriage. Their
love for each other was human, noble, and sublime but did not have the least
traces of lust that dominate so many courtships as well as marriages today. Frequently,
Saint Joseph is depicted with a lily or rose in his hand; this symbolizes his
absolute purity of mind, heart, affection, intention and body. Indeed he is the
patron of purity. Let us consecrate our purity of body, mind, heart, soul,
affection, and even intention to the most pure heart and person of Glorious
Saint Joseph. Never was it known that
anyone who fled to his intercession was left unaided. Never has there even been
an onslaught and deluge of temptations against our teenagers as in the modern
world. In a special way let us consecrate our teenagers to the purity of good
Saint Joseph.
3.
PATRON OF MEN. Among the many crises in the world is that of
manhood—what it really means to be a
man! Many men have fallen into the trap of the homosexual lifestyle because
upon growing up they never had a male-figure upon which they could model their
masculine identity. If fathers really lived out what it means to be a strong,
virile and responsible man, then there would most likely be many less boys and
men that would head down the erroneous path of the homosexual or gay
lifestyle. Saint Joseph was a true man in
the full sense of the word MAN! What were some of these characteristics of
manhood that he displayed? Saint Joseph
was strong, virile, a hard-worker, masculine. When confronted with problems he
did not play the coward, become the chicken and abandon the ship. Saint Joseph
manifests his true manliness in being with Jesus and Mary in the really tough
times, going before them and confronting the trials, difficulties and even what
appeared to be failures. The long and arduous trip to Bethlehem with Our Lady’s
pregnancy and the rejection—“No room for them in the Inn”; the arduous flight
into Egypt, saving Jesus and Mary from the malicious intent of King Herod, then
the return; the loss of Jesus for three long days—in all of these Saint Joseph
was present! He suffered intensely, but
hung in there and did not give up. One of the most evident signs of manliness
and masculinity is the readiness and willingness to undergo trials,
tribulations and sufferings for the loved ones. In Glorious Saint Joseph we see
this quality to the most exalted degree! May the strong and manly Saint Joseph
inspire men to follow courageously in his most noble footsteps! Strong men need
a model and they can definitely discover it in the strong and manly presence of
Saint Joseph, the Patron of men.
4.
PATRON OF WORKERS. Due to the sin of our first parents, Adam and
Eve,(Gen 3) man is called to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow—in other
words, the call to hard work. However, due to Original Sin also we all tend to
be lazy and to shirk the demanding responsibilities of our duty and state of
life. Most clearly do we see Glorious
Saint Joseph in the carpenter shop of Nazareth as the hard, faithful, ordered,
methodical, systematic worker. Try to imagine yourself present a typical day in
the carpenter shop beside Jesus and Saint Joseph working. Contemplate their
effort, their sweat, their order, their discipline, their love in carrying the
humble task of making tables, chairs, windows, and other works of wood. They
were never lazy; nor did they ever cut corners. They were punctual; they were
well-ordered in all of their actions. Their work was done to please the Eternal
Father, to serve others, to sustain the family and as a splendid example for
all of us who are called to work hard in this life so as to rest for all
eternity in heaven. Saint Paul reminds us clearly: “Work out your salvation in fear and
trembling.” Saint Alberto Hurtado, S.J. offers this challenging maxim: “There are two places to rest: the cemetery
and heaven.” May Good Saint Joseph inspire to utilize all of our talents, work
hard and live with our minds focused on heaven our eternal home.
5.
PATRON OF A HOLY AND HAPPY
DEATH. The great mystic, stigmatic, and
woman Doctor of the Church, Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) states: “The two most important moments of our life
are now and at the hour of our death.” (Sounds like the last part of the Hail
Mary). The most sober reality and the
moment of truth is the moment we die and
how we die. This will determine our
eternal destiny; either we will be saved and go to heaven or we will be
condemned and go to hell. There is no other possibility. Glorious Saint Joseph is the Patron of a Holy
and Happy death. Indeed, Saint Joseph died in the arms of Jesus and Mary. They
were there during his last moments as Saint Joseph breathed forth his spirit.
Without fear or anxiety, we should constantly be aware of our impending death
and to be constantly preparing our souls for that most important moment that
will determine our eternal destiny. Many saints experienced the power of the enemy
the devil, especially in those last hours preceding death. For that reason we
should call upon the holy name of Saint Joseph. Another one of his titles is
that of TERROR OF DEMONS. When the devils come launching their last attack,
upon hearing the holy name of Saint Joseph, they will most assuredly take to
flight. Let us close with a prayer to Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart
and my soul. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, make my heart like unto thine. Jesus Mary
and Jesus assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I breathe forth
my soul unto thee. O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and
all thanksgiving be every moment thine.
