Saint Joseph, the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Guardian of Jesus Christ was declared Patron or Protector of the Universal Church on December 8, 1870 by Blessed Pope Pius IX. As he protected Jesus Christ with his life so he protects us with his powerful prayers since we are the Body of Christ.
Saint Joseph was chosen by God to be Jesus’s father on earth. God knew that Jesus would need a foster father to raise him and teach him. The Bible tells us that he was a ‘just man.’ That means he was a good man, honest, fair, and God-loving. According to the Gospels, Mary, a virgin betrothed to Joseph, conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit – and therefore Christians consider Jesus the Son of God. However, most Christians understand Joseph to be a true father in every way except biological, since Joseph was the legal father who raised Jesus.
18 The birth of Jesus Christ occurred in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came to live together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph was a just man and did not wish to expose her to the ordeal of public disgrace; therefore, he resolved to divorce her quietly.
20 After he had decided to follow this course of action, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to receive Mary into your home as your wife. For this child has been conceived in her womb through the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you shall name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:18-21)
Being a Catechist, Mary and the Saints by Darcy Osby
St. Francis of Assisi is often attributed as saying, “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” This quote is very fitting for the life of another saint whose actions spoke louder than his words: St. Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus. In fact, St. Joseph does not say one word in the Gospels. Yet he speaks volumes. What can catechists learn from the life of this holy man?
1. Silence
We tend to fill up most of our class time with words. But as the story of St. Joseph shows us, we can communicate through our actions. Many mysteries of our faith cannot even be put into words. Rather they must be experienced, such as the Eucharist. Take a look at how your actions are teaching the children in your class. How do you greet and dismiss your class? How do you show each child that they are beloved children of God? How do you react to children who misbehave? Remember that when Joseph found out Mary was pregnant with a child who was clearly not his, he planned to divorce her quietly instead of publicly shaming her.
2. Trust
Joseph was a man who placed complete trust in what God was calling him to do. His marriage to Mary risked causing a scandal. His flight to Egypt uprooted his family from their home to live as refugees. God spoke, and Joseph acted. God has called us to be catechists, and so we place our trust in God and act. What is God calling you to do in your ministry? Is it time to trust God and step out of our traditional lessons and engage our children in prayer, service, cooperative learning, or learning centers? We may feel like others are judging us, or we may feel uprooted, but like Joseph we place our trust in God and act.
3. Apprenticeship
While the Gospels do not state this explicitly, there is a general belief that since Joseph worked as a craftsman, Jesus probably learned this trade from him. The General Directory of Catechesis states: “comprehensive [faith] formation includes more than instruction: it is an apprenticeship of the entire Christian life” (67). Our classes would look very different if we approached them as apprenticeships. We can model and demonstrate discipleship and allow children the opportunity to practice the skills and techniques of discipleship. Catechesis calls us to go beyond teaching doctrine and terminology. Catechists have to demonstrate how fully to embrace a Catholic life.
Courtesy of Joe Paprocki’s, Catechist’s Journey
“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.” ― Saint Thomas Aquinas
Memorare to St. Joseph
Remember, O most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, my great protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection, or implored your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding therefore in your goodness, I come before you. Do not turn down my petitions, foster father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.
March 19th is the Feast of Saint Joseph
For more on Saint Joseph, please read Pope Francis’, Catechesis on Saint Joseph
Who is St. Joseph? | Meet the Saints (3:15)
Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. On Devotion to St. Joseph (6:33)
Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. On the Silence of St Joseph (1:38)
Story of Saint Joseph | Stories of Saints (13:35)