3/19/08

St. Joseph

St. Joseph - Patron of Universal Church and of Working Men - March 19th

St. Joseph is a great saint, the foster-father of Jesus Christ, and the husband of the Blessed Mother. He was given the great privilege of taking care of God’s Son, Jesus, and His Mother, Mary. Joseph was poor all his life, even though he came from a family of kings. He has to work very hard in his carpenter shop, but he did not mind. He was happy to work for his little family, the holiest family there ever was.

Whatever the Lord wanted him to do, St. Joseph did at once, no matter how hard it was. He was humble and pure; he was gentle and wise. Jesus and Mary obeyed his perfectly. What an honor for St. Joseph to see the Son of God Himself obeying him and helping him, as a good son!

St. Teresa chose St. Joseph as the protector of her Order of Sisters. She had great trust in his prayers. "Every time I ask St. Joseph for something," she said, "he always obtains it for me."

As Jesus obeyed and helped St. Joseph in his hard and humble work, let us, too, willingly help our parents with the work to be done at home.