As Catholics, we are urged to look to the Holy Family for they are examples of perfection and goodness. Christ shows us how to love thy neighbor and die to self while mama Mary shows us unconditional love and trust in the Lord. Mary and Joseph are models of a true and good marriage, but St Joe wasn’t perfect. What can he show us? He shows us true humility and docility to the Lord. It is because St Joseph is imperfect that I love him so much; he shows us how to be in community with Jesus and Mary.

It is often assumed that St Joseph was just an old man from Bethlehem, but as you may have read in the Consecration to St Joseph by Fr Donald Calloway, old men don’t walk to Egypt! So who was St Joseph? How can we come to know a man whose  words are never mentioned in the Bible? Take a moment to reflect on the person of Jesus Christ. While Christ, in His divinity, was one with God the Father, he was still accompanied by an earthly father. We can infer that St Joe taught the child Jesus carpentry work and the fundamentals of being a gentleman.  His marriage to Mary is even more telling of his goodness and virtuous persona . Early church doctrine states that St Joseph, from an early age, had taken a vow of virginity prior to his betrothal to the Virgin Mary. What a blessing it is that the Lord was moving St Joseph’s heart in preparation for the Holy Family! The way in which St Joseph served and sacrificed for Mary throughout  their marriage truly inspires awe.

By man’s human nature, he is meant to be the protector and provider in a way that is respected and honored. Fatherhood is not a hierarchy or an animal kingdom, it is not a place of competition or fear. Fatherhood allows a man to be humble, obedient, and loving. He is meant to mirror God in his abundant fatherhood of love, passion, and protection. A man does not only provide by putting food on the table, he should grow and learn in a way to feed his children spiritually as well. Edith Stein articulates the role of fatherhood as one in the same as Christ’s role to us. She says “If the man is to be the leader, (“the head”) of his wife-- and we can add accordingly, likewise the head of the entire family-- in the sense Christ is the head of the Church, so is it the duty of the man to conduct this microcosm of the great Mystical Body in such a way that each of its members may be able to develop his gifts perfectly and contribute to the salvation of the entire body, and that each may attain his own salvation.” Fatherhood is not to simply protect and provide physically, the real challenge is to protect the dignity of his children while providing a faith that is known and manifest in his home. As the role of the wife is to submit to her husband, her husband must be a man of dignity, obedience, and trust, just as St Joseph was. The Holy Family is the model family because St Joseph treated Mary with dignity, and respect while upholding complete and total obedience and trust in the Lord. Mary is a woman of dignity and grace, she was intune to the emotions, and worries of her husband, as well as her son. St Joseph was a man Mary was willing to submit to because Mary was a woman St Joseph was willing to protect and provide for. Having a dynamic such as this, Mary and Joseph were ready to receive Jesus in a way that provided a full and loving environment where they could grow, learn, and serve together. We are to be a living mirror of the Holy Family.

For each of us, a different title of St Joseph may pierce our hearts. For the phase of life I am in right now, St Joseph, Mirror of Patience hits me to the core. Take a few minutes  to read and reflect on the Litany of St Joseph. Which title strikes you?  Why do you think that is?

The Litany of St Joseph

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,       have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit,                                   have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,                               have mercy on us.

Holy Mary,                                                    pray for us.

Saint Joseph,                                              pray for us.

Noble Offspring of David,                     pray for us.

Light of Patriarchs,                                 pray for us.

Spouse of the Mother of God,              pray for us.

Chaste Guardian of the Virgin,             pray for us.

Foster-Father of the Son of God,         pray for us.

Zealous Defender of Christ,                  pray for us.

Head of the Holy Family,                         pray for us.

Joseph Most Just,                                    pray for us.

Joseph Most Chaste,                               pray for us.

Joseph Most Prudent,                              pray for us.

Joseph Most Courageous,                       pray for us.

Joseph Most Obedient,                             pray for us.

Joseph Most Faithful,                                 pray for us.

Mirror of Patience,                                     pray for us.

Lover of Poverty,                                          pray for us.

Model of Workmen,                                     pray for us.

Glory of Domestic Life,                               pray for us.

Guardian of Virgins,                                     pray for us.

Pillar of Families,                                           pray for us.

Comfort of the Afflicted,                            pray for us.

Hope of the Sick,                                            pray for us.

Patron of the Dying,                                       pray for us.

Terror of Demons,                                          pray for us.

Protector of the Holy Church,                    pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,                     Spare us, O Lord

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,                    Graciously hear us, O Lord

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,                    Have mercy on us.

Marinate in the goodness and works of St Joe. He will protect your heart. He will comfort you in sorrow. He will show you true docility and patience in the Lord's  words. All you have to do is ask his most Chaste Heart.

Immaculate Heart of Mary,  Pray for us!

Chaste Heart of St Joseph,  Pray for us!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,  Have Mercy on us!