by Fr. Roger A. Synek

From time to time, usually when an anniversary of some event happens, the Pope will ask Catholics to take a year and ponder upon the influence this anniversary has had on the Church or on the World. Last year, in his Apostolic Letter titled Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”) dated December 8, 2020, Pope Francis declared December 8th, 2020 through December 8th, 2021 a year to reflect upon St. Joseph, the Husband of Mary. The anniversary he had in mind was the 150th anniversary (December 8, 1870) of when Blessed Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph to be the Patron Saint of the Universal Church. (“Patron” here means St. Joseph will pray for and watch over the Church Jesus established.) Pope Francis, hunkered down under the Covid-19 pandemic along with the entire world, saw this as an opportunity to give “ordinary” people, “those who appear hidden or in the shadows” hope in time of darkness. “Each of us can discover in Joseph … a support and a guide in times of trouble.” 

Very little is known about St. Joseph. Scripture records no words from St. Joseph’s mouth but does reveal how he responded to God’s grace. God could speak to St. Joseph in dreams and he unquestionably responded “yes” and took Mary to be his wife and Jesus to be his son. As a husband he said “yes” to protect Mary and Jesus from King Harrod, accepting hardships and a long trip into Egypt and back. As a Foster Father he said “yes” to raise Jesus as his own, just as any father would do in the first century who taught his son all the necessary skills to function in society – manners, social skills, a work ethic, business practices, prayers, worship, reading, writing and the like. 

Other characteristics about St. Joseph can be inferred from these actions. Traveling to Egypt and back, St. Joseph probably was young, strong and robust. To be able to hear God in dreams, St. Joseph had to have a strong close relationship with God. To be willing to promptly say “yes” after he woke from his dream, St. Joseph had a strong faith in and love for God. By following the census initiated by King Harrod, St. Joseph was a righteous law-abiding citizen. By following Jewish traditions of presenting Jesus to God in the Temple and offering a pair of Turtle Doves as their offering to God, St. Joseph was a pious and righteous man. His love for God enabled him to greatly love his wife and her son. His obedience to God allowed him to suffer silently and willingly accept his role. His silence in scriptures reveals St. Joseph’s humbleness. 

There are so many more characteristics we can infer from his actions. It’s up to you to discover them. Take some time to ponder what kind of a man God would call to be the husband to Mary, the Mother of God, the Foster Father of His Only Begotten Son. Reflect on what it would be like to live with the Mother of God, to talk with someone so pure and holy, so beautiful, to hear her voice, to see her smile, to observe her prayerfulness, to feel her genuineness. Reflect on what it was like to touch the face of God, to cradle the Father’s only begotten Son in your arms, to experience the first time he took a step, to hear the first words out of his mouth, to watch him explore the world as a toddler, to help him navigate the teenage years. 

Take serious this “Year of St. Joseph” that Pope Francis has initiated. As you learn more about St. Joseph you will learn more how to courageously handle today’s world just as St. Joseph courageously handled his world.