St Joseph

May 1, 2010

What a day! Today is the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, the First Saturday of the month on which we honor the Blessed Mother. It is also the first day of the month of May in which we honor Our Blessed Mother for the entire month.  What a model we have in Joseph. Here is a man who faced many uncertainties and trials in his short life time. Right from the beginning, he relied on his faith in God. When he found that Mary was with child, he thought he would be doing the ‘right’ thing by divorcing her quietly, that is by breaking off their relationship and keeping her out of the spotlight so as not to cause a scandal. How often does this happen now in our society, that the very structure of a family is dissolved before it can even begin? Joseph ultimately did the right thing… he listened to the voice of God!

What Faith Joseph must have had, to trust and know that God would provide and this from only hearing the stories that were passed down to him from those who went before him. He had been told of the promised Messiah, I’m sure, more than likely from his youth. Now he was to become the caretaker of that promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. What a responsibility that must have been, knowing that your foster son was going to be the one to set us free from sin and death and to raise us up to new life. Joseph, a simple man, like us.

Hardships were soon to follow: traveling from home with your wife soon to give birth and not being able to find shelter adequate for her and your soon to be born child, having to flee in haste and leave all of your family and possessions behind, in order to preserve the life of your wife and child, having to start anew in a foreign land, having again to leave that foreign land and yet again start anew, and finally having your only child become lost so far from home. Through all of this, Joseph never lost his faith in God, it only became stronger as he saw how God provided for them and kept them safe.

Joseph is definitely the one saint who we need to turn to for our own family needs. He experienced everything that we face while we are raising our families. He is the one to pray to for intercession when we have lost our job, when we have financial difficulties, when we are struggling with our children or our relationship with our spouse. When our children may be ‘lost’ in their faith, we need to pray to Joseph, after all, Joseph had searched for Jesus and found him when He was lost.  Joseph is a man and a saint for all. Joseph knows our pains and struggles as he himself went through them.

As Patron Saint of Workers, we can pray to Joseph for his intercession daily. We can ask him to offer all of our works, those of our hands and those spiritual works that the Lord gives us, to Jesus.  I can tell you first hand that when you do this, all of the day’s tasks are taken care of. Joseph has also taught me to rely on God, during this time of unemployment, that he will provide for myself and my family. Yes! this is true. The Lord has provided and will continue to provide in these difficult times and in the better times. So, if you are having difficulties with work, you are unemployed, you have financial difficulties or a strain in a family relationship, pray to Joseph and he will bring your petitions to Jesus.

Memorare to Saint Joseph

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that any one who asked

for your help or sought your intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I commend myself to you

and beg your protection.

Despise not my petition, dear foster father of our Redeemer,

but hear and answer my prayer.

Amen.

taken from: St Joseph

Help for Life’s Emergencies

Pauline Books and Media

Peace be with you,

Kerry