Saint Joseph Patron of the Church

In a meditation, Father Judge* suggests, “Saint Joseph has made glorious the station of the lowly and common folk, of the poor working man and woman, making them the envy of those more endowed with temporal goods. The holy poverty of the Holy Family has become a pattern for those of ardent spiritual ambition. It is the eagerly sought heritage of every true servant of God.” St Joseph did not ask for accolades nor did he seek the limelight. With serene acceptance, he was aware of his circumstances and attentive to his family, and thus, showed the way to please God with holy simplicity and blessed humility.

In 1870, Quemadmodum Deus (According to God) by Pope Pius IX recognized that because of the “sublime dignity which God conferred on His most faithful Servant, the Most Blessed Joseph, the Church implore his intercession in all necessities.” The Pope emphasized, “Now in this most sorrowful time, the Church is beset by enemies on every side and is oppressed by heavy calamities, so much so, that impious men imagine that the gates of hell are at length prevailing. It is fitting and right that the bishops of the world, along with the faithful turn to St. Joseph, and declare him ‘Patron of the Catholic Church’.”

The lesson here is that holiness is not indicated by success in the workplace, or power in the world, but rather by sharing the harmony that accompanies doing God’s will. We are faced with many challenges, today, both personal and public just as was the case when Pius IX wrote his decree. The solution will not be found in individual triumphs, it will be found in being one with our neighbor. The spirit of St. Joseph a patron exemplifies these behaviors.

As Father Judge suggests, St. Joseph gives us a model for spiritual ambition, and how it is bought to fruition through service. In today’s environment, goodness tends to be defined transactionally. However, virtuosity is not a quid pro quo. Holiness is “Pay it Forward” like paying for a stranger’s cup of coffee, getting the next person’s toll, donating blood, contributing to a worthwhile cause, or providing pro-bono services. Holiness, too, is “Random Acts of Kindness” like holding the door open, a friendly nod at a stranger, donating clothes to charity, checking in with a friend, writing an encouraging note, or complimenting a loved one in the morning.

Pope Francis offers this prayer: 

Saint Joseph, you who have always trusted God, and have made your choices guided by his providence, teach us not to count so much on our own plans but on his plan of love. You, who came from the peripheries, help us to convert our gaze and to prefer what the world discards and marginalizes. Comfort those who feel alone, and support those who work silently to defend life and human dignity. Amen.

*Father Judge is the founder of the Shrine of St Joseph.