Category Archives: Saints

Often in life, things happen whose meaning we do not understand. Our first reaction is frequently one of disappointment and rebellion. Joseph set aside his own ideas in order to accept the course of events and, mysterious as they seemed, … Continue reading →

Pope Francis reflects on (a)n accepting father: Joseph accepted Mary unconditionally. He trusted in the angel’s words.  “The nobility of Joseph’s heart is such that what he learned from the law he made dependent on charity. Today, in our world … Continue reading →

Saint Luke weighs in, first with Saint Joseph’s observance of civil authority–the census: The evangelist Luke, for his part, tells us that Joseph undertook the long and difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered in his family’s town … Continue reading →

The annunciation was only the beginning for the dreams of the New Testament Joseph. The man’s attentiveness to the messages of angels continues, and the Holy Family is guided to safety thanks to the obedience of the heir of the … Continue reading →

In section 3, Pope Francis offers his reflection on Joseph’s obedience. Sometimes we shy away from that virtue. But in the Gospels, we have concrete examples of the man as attentive to God and in compliance with religious duties as … Continue reading →

As I looked over the second half of section 2, I was thinking of that passage from Sirach, “The sum of a person’s days is great if it reaches a hundred years: Like a drop of sea water, like a … Continue reading →

In section 2, Pope Francis looks at Joseph as “a tender and loving father.” This portion of the document is Scripture-heavy. While not quoting the saint or in association with him directly, many of these passages cited are something of … Continue reading →

Wasn’t feeling up to posting this on Father’s Day as I had planned. An octave, maybe? In a way, Saint Joseph was a “first father” of Christianity. Not an apostle, bishop, or any exalted figure. Just a plain working man … Continue reading →

The greatness of Saint Joseph is that he was the spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus. In this way, he placed himself, in the words of Saint John Chrysostom, “at the service of the entire plan of salvation”. … Continue reading →

Pope  Francis reminds us of the popularity of the Patron of the Church (since 1870), and more: the regard of Joseph as Patron of Workers and Guardian of the Redeemer. After Mary, the Mother of God, no saint is mentioned … Continue reading →

You remember the occasion for Pope Francis’ apostolic letter Patris Corde, which, by the way, you can read here? That 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as patron of the universal Church? I’ve missed two liturgical cues for … Continue reading →