March 19, 2015 – Solemnity of St. Joseph
It’s St. Joseph’s Day today. Having celebrated St. Patrick two days ago, the contrast of how people engage with the two saints is hard to miss. Public revelry in the name of the Patron Saint of Ireland seems to be more exuberant and more global each passing year.
The Solemnity of St. Joseph is more staid, more dignified, and I suspect, the devotion runs deeper. Yet as familiar as his name and role in the life of Jesus are, we know very little about Joseph. He is not quoted in the Gospels. He is a carpenter by trade. He is descended from the line of David. He married Mary, the Mother of God. He took the paternal role in raising her son, which included naming the boy. He appears to be deceased by the time Jesus turns 30 and begins his public ministry.
Not only is today St. Joseph’s Day, it’s also the anniversary of Pope Francis’ Mass of Installation as Pontiff. In his homily two years ago, the Holy Father reflected on St. Joseph as a model of the protector, entrusted with the safekeeping of Mary, Jesus, and the Church itself. In speaking of the vocation of “protector”, Francis urged us to the protection of all creation and respect for each of God’s creatures, protection of all by showing loving concern for each and every person, and protection of one another in trust, respect, and goodness.
Apparently, Pope Francis also has a small statue of St. Joseph in his room at the Vatican and he writes prayer requests and places them under the statue. Francis says of his special devotion: “You have to be patient with these carpenters: they tell you they’ll have a piece of furniture finished in a couple of weeks and it ends up taking a month even. But they get the job done and they do it well! You just need to be patient…”
Joseph is humble, tender, attentive, faith-filled, in the background, and, though silent in Scripture, speaks to us. We learn from him how to hear God’s word, how to act on what God is calling us to do and be, how to work with dignity, how to strive for the safety and well-being of family.
Today as I sat at Mass in our Chapel, Joseph spoke to me in recollection of two experiences from my childhood. More than 45 years ago, I chose Joseph as my Confirmation name. I was asked to do one of the readings. I remembered how we all wondered how hard Bishop Sneddon would tap us on the cheek. I am pretty sure I did not do much actual thinking about how to be like St. Joseph.
Even earlier, my first day of primary school was at St. Joseph’s School in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. It would have been 1963. My first teacher was a Sister of St. Joseph, Sister Justina. Since then, I have taught alongside several SSJs – strong, inspiring women.
I am grateful for two lovely, unexpected memories today. St. Joseph, pray for us.