Monday, March 19, 2012

St Joseph: Patron, Protector, Defender, Provider - Man of God

The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid"


Listen to my homily for the Solemnity of St Joseph



If you have trouble listening click here.
Readings for the day.

The glory and sublime vocation of St Joseph rest on the fact that he was the protector and guardian of the God-man and of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.  Such a person would need to be necessarily equipped with excellent graces, merits, and gifts to be the head of such an exalted family.

Yet we remember that this family had to live in poverty, exile, under worry of violence and death, and how docile St Joseph had to listening to the promptings of angels who spoke to him only in dreams.  We learn from him silence, contemplation, service and imitation of Jesus and Mary, and how to consistently humble ourselves before God and his holy plan.

St Teresa of Avila said that she had never been refused anything from his intercession on his feast day.  Let us therefore ask God through his intercession for protection, guidance, and defense of holy Mother the Church, and for every good intention in accordance with God's will.

Blessed Pope John Paul II wrote an excellent reflection on him called, Guardian of the Redeemer.

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