ST. JOSEPH, Our Patron Saint

(Note: The following story, excerpts from an unknown source considering a rotten scratch paper picked-up by the unknown writer, which seemed to be a paper wrapper thrown out along Magsaysay St., of Barangay Lungsoda-an in which, some parts of it were no longer readable having been terribly wet and tear-off.)

Joseph is a Jewish working man. He comes from the tribe of Judah, the family of David. The Bible calls Joseph a just man, for he spends his life in conformity with the will of God.

His great faith in God is shown when he accepts without question the role that God gives him. God assigns him to be the head of the family, for whom Jesus is a member. As head of the family, he becomes the protector and provider for Jesus and his mother.

The humble, obedient faith of God’s great servants like Moses and Abraham, is found also in Joseph. Because of his concern for others, he heeds the call of God to be of service to the people.

Today, as Patron of the Universal Church (Pope Pius IX proclaimed him in 1870), St. Joseph still continues his role as guardian of Christ in the Church. He continues his mission of service to the people. According to Matthew (13:55), Joseph was a carpenter. It is almost certain that he died before Jesus’ public ministry began. He is never named during this period when other relatives are mentioned. Moreover, when Jesus was dying on Calvary, he entrusted Mary to the care of St. John, indicating that she was then a widow…(this was the portion no longer readable having been wet and tear-off).

Husband of Mary.

Joseph and Mary, being truly married, possessed full marriage over each other like any other husband and wife, although by common consent they abstained from use of those rights. The ultimate theological reason why Jesus was to be born of a virgin mother was that, as the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, He had been generated from all eternity by God the Father. However, God wanted Jesus to be born within human family. Joseph though not his father the physical senses, was linked to Jesus by spiritual bonds of fatherly love, authority and service. Jesus belonged to Joseph’s family and the relationship is expressed by describing Joseph as the foster father, the virginal father or the legal father of Jesus.

After the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph is our most powerful intercessor before God. St. Joseph faithfully cared for his family, Jesus and Mary. No sacrifice was too great for him. Now Jesus shows him His gratitude by granting our requests through St. Joseph’s intercession.

The Great Silent One.

Joseph is called the man of deep silence. He came and went did his work, and gave orders in his home in a kindly way, with a purpose which had matured in him after he had learned the divine will, after he had tried to study what the Lord wanted. His way of giving orders was to make a slight sign, to give a slight hint of what seemed to him to be the will of God. This man of deep silence occupies as first among the saints, and what an amount of wisdom his mind contained!

In an inexpressible manner, St. Joseph was and is a faithful cooperator in the redemption of the world. He is the foster father of Jesus and His provider, the defender of the Virgin Mother of God, the rescuer of the threatened life of the Savior, the protector of the Universal Church, the confident and hope of innumerable souls who have recourse to him.