The Glorious St. Joseph
Today is the feast day of the foster father of Jesus, St. Joseph. He almost seems to disappear out of our thoughts as if he isn't really important. How shameful of us. He is the official guardian of the Church, of families, of the sick and the dying, of fathers, etc. He is ranked above even the angels who guard us each, because he guarded the Son of God Himself. This is much more important, at least to me. It is of the opinion of all the saints and theologians that he was preserved from sin in his mother's womb, though not at conception as Our Blessed Mother was, but more like Jeremiah and St. John the Baptist. But, probably his inner womb cleansing was even better than theirs. It only makes sense if you stop and think about it. He is the one who gave the holy Name of Jesus at His presentation in the temple. I'm willing to bet that Jesus even looked like St. Joseph, too.
He is regarded as being of the 'old rite', but he helped bring in the new. He, and him alone, protected God Himself, Jesus, when he protected his wife, Mary, the human ark of the New Covenant. He never got to see the Church with the Apostles get going, but never the less knew of it happening. It is said that Jesus came to St. Joseph, probably when he was ill, and foretold what was to happen in the near future. He was given insight into the 'promise'. He was, after Jesus died and Ascended, the first to enter heaven after Our Lord, and has a very prominent place there, for sure.
Two years ago, I resolved to read the entire set of 'The City of God' by Mary of Agreda. In the 3rd volume, 16th chapter, St. Joseph has died, and Our Blessed Mother made the following statements regarding St. Joseph. She said that because of the privileges bestowed upon St. Joseph, his intercession is most powerful, especially for these causes:
1. For attaining the virtue of purity and overcoming the sensual inclinations of the flesh;
2. For procuring powerful help to escape sin and return to the friendship of God;
3. For increasing the love and devotion to the Most Holy Mary;
4. For securing the grace of a happy death and protection against the demons in that hour;
5. For inspiring the demons with terror at the mere mention of his name by his clients;
6. For gaining health of body and assistance in all kinds of difficulties;
7. For securing issue of children in families.
St. Thomas Aquinas, who was an early devotee of the glorious St. Joseph, taught the same. He wrote: "Some Saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking."
Decree Proclaiming St. Joseph
Patron of the Catholic Church
To the City and World:--Just as God had made Joseph, born of the Patriarch Jacob, governor over the whole land of Egypt that he might save the grain for the people, so also, when the fullness of time being near, he was to send His only begotten Son to this earth that he might be the Saviour of the world, he chose another Joseph, of whom the former was only a figure, and made him the master and ruler of His house and His possessions, and appointed him the keeper of His most precious treasury. For his Spouse was the Immaculate Virgin Mary, from whom by the Holy Ghost is born Jesus Christ our Lord, who deigned to be held by men, as the son of Joseph, to whom also He was subject. Whom kings and prophets desired to see, Joseph did not only see but conversed with Him and with fatherly affection embraced and kissed Him; with skillful care he nourished Him whom the faithful people, in order to obtain life everlasting, were to eat as their Bread came down from heaven. On account of the sublime dignity, which God has bestowed on his most faithful servant, the Church has always after his spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, offered special honor and praise to Blessed Joseph and implored his intercession in all her anxieties. In the present very sad times, the Church, persecuted on all sides by her enemies, is oppressed by terrible calamities that godless men try to believe the gates of hell will at last prevail against her.
Hence the venerable bishops of this whole Catholic World have presented to the Supreme Pontiff their own petitions and those of the faithful entrusted to their charge praying that he would appoint St. Joseph the Patron of the Catholic Church. Later, when at the holy Ecumenical Council of the Vatican the same petitions and requests were urged with new vigor, our holy Father and Pope Pius IX, moved by the recent mournful state of affairs, agreed to comply with the wishes of the Bishops, and to place himself and the faithful under the most powerful patronage of the holy Patriarch Joseph, therefore, solemnly proclaimed him Patron of the Catholic Church, and ordained that his feast, on Mar. 19th, should be celebrated in future with the rank of a double of the first class, though without octave on account of Lent. He also commanded that this proclamation should be made public by this present decree of the Congregation of Sacred Rites on the day dedicated to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and Spouse of the chaste Joseph. Everything to the contrary notwithstanding. On the 8th Dec., 1870.
Let's not forget about St. Joseph. Let us ask for his help in our daily needs. He's there waiting to bring us home, just as he did with Mary and Jesus from Egypt.
Read on. Some thoughts on this glorious saint by Fr. John Hardon, S.J.
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