Today is the Feast of St. Joseph. We know him to be the earthly father of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin, a just and wise man, a man of obedience to the Divine Will, the patron of good and holy death, and the patron of the Universal Church. He is the patron saint of fathers. One priest said, St Joseph “provides the example of caring for God’s people on earth – that with a quiet patience and devoted obedience of service and love to those under his care.”
When it comes may we, too, die in the arms of Jesus and Mary with Joseph holding our hand. By example we strive to follow St Joseph to our Savior.
Let us recall what St. Alphonsus Liguori taught:
“We should, indeed, honor St. Joseph, since the Son of God himself was graciously pleased to honor him by calling him father. The Holy Scriptures speak of him as the father of Jesus. ‘His father and mother were marveling at the things spoken concerning Him’. Mary also used this name: ‘in sorrow your father and I have been seeking you’. If, then, the King of Kings was pleased to raise Joseph to so high a dignity, it is right on our part to endeavor to honor him as much as we can.”