From pastor’s desk on May 1st, the Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker
On Sunday, May 1st, we celebrate our patron’s feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. Hence, it would be good to get more acquainted with this great saint, to whom has been entrusted the care of the Holy Family. Unfortunately, beside the fact that Joseph was the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a carpenter, many of us know nothing else about him. There is very little written about Joseph in the gospel, but what is written speaks volumes. The most important fact about Saint Joseph is that God had so much trust in Joseph that God put this man in charge of the Holy Family. It was not without Joseph’s cooperation though. It is believed, and has been revealed in some private revelations to some saints, that Joseph wanted to serve God alone, but he agreed to do whatever God would request of him. So, Joseph similarly to Mary, had his annunciation too. When God asked him to fulfill his fatherly mission Joseph willingly said “yes” to the role of a foster-father to the Son God.
Who was Saint Joseph and what kind of man was he? Thanks to popular paintings, most of us imagine Joseph as an older bearded man next to a young girl from Nazareth and Her blessed baby Jesus. Joseph in those depictions looks more like a grandpa than a husband of a young woman. Perhaps the artists painted Joseph in this way because it was a common belief that it would be impossible for a young man to stay chaste while living under the same roof with a young and beautiful woman (we must note that, yes, Most Holy Mary and Saint Joseph never had sexual relations, for Mary has remained forever Virgin and Joseph was the guardian of Her purity). Saint Joseph most likely was a young man, older than Mary, but still young and full of vigor; probably he was between 25 and 30 years of age. If Joseph were older it would be difficult for him to work as a craftsman and embark on perilous journeys such as the one when he took his expectant wife Mary on the trip to Bethlehem, or later after the birth of Jesus on a quick escape to Egypt.
Joseph was a man of prayer and of dreams. We have no doubt that Joseph was immersed in contemplative prayer, but regarding his dreams, however, we know they were of a different nature than ours. Joseph’s dreams reveal what kind of character Joseph was: pure, innocent, loving, obedient, and just. He was a man who learned to suffer in silence and patience. As evident from his dreams, Joseph centered everything on keeping God’s commandments and love of neighbor. Since he had a pure soul, perhaps the purest next to Mary, he was able to communicate with the angels. In return, the angels advised him on matters of faith and morals and Joseph listened to them.
Though Joseph could speak with angelic beings and had a mystical knowledge, he was not free of worry. We read in the gospel that Joseph suffered an inner conflict when he discovered Mary’s pregnancy. His suffering was even greater due to his pure love and admiration for the Blessed Virgin Mary. In all of this, Joseph wanted only to fulfill the will of God and was afraid to offend God in any way, so he waited. At the time of the archangel’s Annunciation to Holy Mary, Joseph did not understand everything that was happening to Mary or him. Joseph still needed to grow in faith. For that, he had to undergo a test and experience his dark night of the soul, when nothing seemed to be obvious, but everything led to confusion. Since Joseph “was a just man”— a man who had God’s law and love in his heart—he did not react the way an average man of his times would react. Rather, Joseph showed patience and willingness to suffer for the sake of Mary and trust God rather than his senses and mere appearances. From the gospel we know that for his part, Joseph eventually took really good care of the Immaculate Mary and of Jesus, Son of the Most High while protecting them and providing for their living.
Saint Joseph certainly is a great model for modern men so often confused about their masculinity and the role they have to play in the world. The life of Saint Joseph shows us that each man is called by God to a great mission and adventure that is beyond himself. Like Saint Joseph, every man must be first connected to God through prayer and following the Commandments. In such a way each man can obtain wisdom and right judgment, hence, becoming a just man—a man of God and a man of heart for others. Saint Joseph can inspire courage and decisiveness while protecting his Holy Family and fighting for the right cause.
These are just a handful of thoughts on our Blessed patron Joseph. I strongly recommend delving into more reading regarding Saint Joseph in order to learn more about him. As we are facing more changes and challenges in our parish, let us invoke the intercession of Saint Joseph that we too may discover and understand the will of God for us, that we may not be afraid, but trust that everything will be alright, though at times it may appear differently than what we humanly expect or imagine.
Saint Joseph and Most Holy Mary, protect us and pray for us!
Have a blessed and beautiful first week of May. Fr. Janusz Mocarski, pastor