March 18, 2010: St. Joseph Academy School Mass

Ladies, you know that meeting the right guy is very important. Since this is the Feast of St. Joseph, who in the scripture was the Mr. Right Guy for Blessed Virgin Mary, I'd like to ask you what qualities of a guy makes him the Right Guy. I simply want you guys to say "Yes" or "No." Should Mr. Right guys be:

1. Humorous or funny?
2. Kind or sweet?
3. Honest or sincere?
4. Intelligent?
5. Respectful or considerate?
6. Keeps commitments?
7. Trustworthy or dependable?
8. Mature?
9. Good listener?
10. Attractive or good looking?

Ladies, of all the boys you dated in the past have any of you truly dated a guy who met all these criteria I called out? (Raise your hands) How long did that relationship last? (1, 3, 6 months, 1 year) Ladies, I also know that some of the boys you dated didn't quite meet all the criteria. You may have dated a guy who was inconsiderate, crude, foul-mouthed, unfaithful, undependable, selfish, unchaste, or untruthful. And some of you have been hurt from relationships like that. Right? It's times like that I get asked, "Fr. Paul, what can I do to overcome these hurts? I really don't want to date anymore. I fear I will meet a jerk like that previous one." So what advice do I give them?

Let me tell you in another way. Many men young and old come into my confessional. And inevitably they tell me that they fall short of being a good husband, a good father, or a good boyfriend. Do you know what I tell them as a penance? I tell them to go over to the statue of St. Joseph in the church, put their hand on his feet and ask St. Joseph to help them become the husband, the father, and the man that God the Father called them to be. Ladies, all of us men, including this priest, in someway fall short of Heavenly Father's calling for us to be holy, trustworthy, kind, humble, and loving men. What are we as men to do, other than be discouraged, give up, or continue to be men who fall short? That's where St. Joseph comes in.

Ladies, have you ever prayed to St. Joseph to help you to meet godly men? You should. He really does help. Ladies, have you ever prayed to St. Joseph to help make your present boyfriend more godly and more holy? You should. Many women who are married pray to St. Joseph to help their husband become better father, better husband, and better men. And they say St. Joseph's intercession is powerful. It's for that reason that the sisters here have asked St. Joseph to be the patron for their order.

What kind of qualities did St. Joseph have that made his marriage to Mary special? Let's read the most popular wedding reading from the First Corinthians. We can say that St. Joseph's love for Blessed Mother was: kind, patient, not jealous, does not boast, not proud, not rude, not seeking self-interest, not easily angered, and does not brood over injury. St. Joseph always protected Mary, trusted her, hoped in her, and persevered.

Ladies if you have not met a man like St. Joseph, ask St. Joseph to help you meet such a man. If you are currently dating a guy who is falling short in someway, ask St. Joseph to help him. And hold your boyfriend to the high standard, the high moral standards of St. Joseph that you would like to see in him. Don't settle for mediocrity. Ask St. Joseph for help.