By Tom Thomas –
I was astounded to know a couple of days ago that the Holy Father Pope Francis has dedicated the whole year (8 Dec 2020 – 8 Dec 2021) to St Joseph and also brought a Apostolic letter Patris Corde – With a Father’s Heart – on the topic. You can view the same here.
As a Catholic Dad and husband, I have learnt so many things from St Joseph’s example over the years and his practical and simple ways of doing things have helped me when I emulated him. Although a lot is mentioned about St Joseph in the Bible, he is never heard uttering a word. (After many years of married life, only now I am learning the wisdom of following this practice!).
We do know that he was a just and honourable man. When he was wondering what to do about Mary in a situation not of his own choice (even then trying to do the right thing by not disgracing her publicly), instead of gossiping about the matter to others or trying to find other ways to solve the matter, we are told that he slept over the matter, maybe after praying about it, and a solution came to him in his dreams.
He promptly followed what was told to him in dreams, unconditionally accepted Mary and moved forward in his life after that, without any complaint. The obedience in which he followed the messages, revealed to him in his dreams, considered by him as the Divine Plan was translated into every aspect of his life. This aspect was what Jesus grew up observing and emulating – even obedient to the ultimate sacrifice of offering up his life for all of us on the Cross, as per the will of his heavenly Father.
Surely, St Joseph’s life was not without its own challenges and travails. As a humble carpenter, he must have had ups and downs, yet he lived by the sweat of his toil and provided for his family too. Not even once, can we hear of his murmuring or complaining, even though situations for him sometimes might have been hard. For instance when a heavily pregnant Mary was about to deliver, finding even a place was so difficult, they had to settle for a lowly manger and also when Jesus was lost at age 12, to search all over the city for three days and nights must have been incredibly frustrating, sad and angry, all at the same time. Yet we did not have any record of him expressing any of these emotions, when Jesus was found in the temple. We are told that only Mary spoke then.
So, the very ordinariness of the life of St Joseph, as the Holy Father put it so well in the Apostolic Letter, is also the same ordinariness we see in the life of Doctors and other essential workers in the frontlines of the COVID pandemic battle that has been waged for most of the year. By dealing with crisis by taking responsibility, adjusting routines they are emulating the example that St Joseph set for us, rooted in prayer, simplicity and hard work, staying true always to the responsibilities entrusted upon.
The various subtitles in the Apostolic letter: A beloved father, A tender and loving father, An obedient father, An accepting father, A creatively courageous father, A working father, A father in the shadows are really wonderful facets of the great St Joseph that are brought out in the Apostolic Letter.
It is really a must read for every Catholic Dad, to read in this Apostolic Letter the various facets of St Joseph and as to how we can strive also to be all these things to our children. Please do check it out this Christmas season and reflect on the life of this great saint who surely had an influence on Jesus, Mary and that influence extends to all of us today. A special feature of the Apostolic Letter is also the Plenary Indulgence that can be gained by satisfying certain specific conditions throughout the year.
Dear St Joseph,
Each time I am tempted to shirk my responsibilities and duties as a father towards my children in nurturing them and providing for them,
Each time I might not be understanding of their needs or patient of their small antics, each time I am not an understanding spouse as you were to Mary,
Each time I am bored by the ordinariness of the mundane daily life,
Each time I am impatient with life situations,
Each time I am tired and discouraged at the toil and sweat required of me to feed my family,
Each time I want to just speak out with whatever is on mind – no matter the consequences to the other- please help me be strengthened by your example of perfect ordinariness, humility and hard work. You are the perfect example of what a Dad should be, help me to be like you.
In summary, I would like to end this article with the prayer that the Holy Father would like us to say to St Joseph:
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.