One of the great grace I received when I turned my life to the Lord back in 1996 was appreciating my own father. During my teenage years, I viewed him as irrelevant. I was quite arrogant back then. It's strange; he was a hard working man, who provided for the family, and yet I did not respect him. I find that my teenage experience was not unique; I encountered other teenage boys having similar issues among the parishioners whom I know. Perhaps one of the reason why I did not know the Heavenly Father then as a teenager was my attitude toward my earthly father. Once I gave my life to the Lord, initially I didn't feel any different toward my dad as before. But the Lord who dwelled in me was urging me to make effort to love my dad. It took few years, but I have gained my appreciation for my dad. The amazing thing is that this then led to my closer relationship with Heavenly Father and St. Joseph.
(Photo: St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, Canada) As I met many dads at our men's spirituality group (
That Man is You) on Wednesdays, I saw many dads making heroic efforts to be a better father to their sons and daughters. Waking up to arrive at 6AM on Wednesdays is a great testament to their sincere desire. On one of the Wednesday presentations, we heard the presenter talk about St. Joseph. At our small breakout group, we discussed what we knew about St. Joseph. Most of us conceded that we didn't know him, as we would know the Blessed Mother. All we knew about him is that he was the foster father of Jesus. We heard about how just and virtuous of a man he was. Yet most of us in that group did not have any familiar 'relationship' with St. Joseph. He remains as a character in the Nativity and childhood of Jesus. Yet how can we ignore the influence of St. Joseph in our culture and history when we consider the following observations: Many cities, towns, and locations are named after Saint Joseph. According to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Spanish form, San Jose, is the most common place name in the world. Probably the most-recognized San Joses are San José, Costa Rica, and San Jose, California, United States, given their name by Spanish colonists. Joseph is the patron saint of the New World; of the countries China, Canada, Korea, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Peru, Vietnam; of the regions Carinthia, Styria, Tyrol, Sicily; and of several main cities and dioceses.
Many churches, monasteries and other institutions are dedicated to Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph's Oratory is the largest church in Canada, with the largest dome of its kind in the world after that of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. Elsewhere in the world churches named after the saint may be known as those of San Giuseppe, e.g. San Giuseppe dei Teatini, San José, e.g. Metropolitan Cathedral of San José or São José, e.g. in Porto Alegre, Brazil. And how many of us know a family member or a friend named as Joseph. We may not be aware, but St. Joseph's presence is everywhere.
(Photo: St. Teresa of Avila in front of a statue of St. Joseph)
But why would churches, monasteries, religious congregations, and institutions name themselves under the patronage of St. Joseph unless he actually does protect, guard, teach, and lead them just as he did with Jesus? St. Teresa of Avila who dedicated her first reformed convent to St. Joseph was a great devotee. She said, ""I took for my advocate and lord the glorious Saint Joseph and commended myself earnestly to him; and I found that this my father and lord delivered me both from this trouble and also from other and greater troubles concerning my honor and the loss of my soul, and that he gave me greater blessings than I could ask of him. I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I am astonished at the great favors which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succor us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succors us in them all and that the Lord wishes to teach us that as He was Himself subject to him on earth (for, being His guardian and being called His father, he could command Him) just so in Heaven He still does all that he asks. This has also been the experience of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to him; and even to-day there are many who have great devotion to him through having newly experienced this truth."
When I look back, I can see St. Joseph's protection and presence throughout my journey to priesthood. When I arrived at the Notre Dame Seminary, I stayed my entire 6 years at St. Joseph's Hall. All two of my spiritual directors at the seminary were named 'Joseph.' During Hurricane Katrina, all of Notre Dame Seminarians were temporarily housed at St. Joseph Abbey run by Benedictine monks. I was ordained to priesthood at St. Joseph Cathedral, and I was assigned as a high school chaplain for St. Joseph Academy.
These days, every morning when I enter the church, I first stop by St. Joseph's statue and touch his feet. I quietly ask him, "St. Joseph, please protect, lead, and guide me just as you've done for Jesus." Give this a try. You'll be surprised by how St. Joseph will influence your life.
