Solemnity of Saint Joseph - March 19

Saint Joseph
March 19

Today, March 19, is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary, (Matthew 1:18-19,24, Luke 1:27) a descendant of the House of David (Matthew 1:20, Luke1:27) a righteous man, (Matthew 1:19) and the father of Jesus, (Luke 2:27, 33) whom God entrusted with the safekeeping of His Son.

By saying that Joseph was a just or “righteous man,” scripture means that he was a good and holy man, open to the will of God. “The word “just” evokes his moral rectitude, his sincere attachment to the practice of the law and his attitude of total openness to the will of the heavenly Father. Even in difficult and sometimes tragic moments, the humble carpenter of Nazareth never claimed for himself the right to dispute God’s plan. He awaited the call from on High and in silence respected the mystery, letting himself be guided by the Lord. Once he received the mission, he fulfils it with docile responsibility. He listens attentively to the angel, when he is asked to take as his wife the Virgin of Nazareth (Matthew 1:18-25), in the flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15) and in the return to Israel (Matthew 2:19-23).” (Pope John Paul II L’Osservatore Romano, March 26, 2003)

Saint Joseph was an ordinary laborer, a carpenter, a humble, faithful and just man, who was married to Our Blessed Mother,(the Immaculate Conception one conceived without sin), and foster father of Jesus (God Incarnate). Scripture does not record one word uttered by Joseph and after he returned to Israel to live with the Holy Family in Nazareth we read nothing more of him, except for one incident, the finding of Jesus in the Temple. (Luke 2:41-51) Yet God entrusted Saint Joseph with this very tall order, making him a holy model of a life built on faith and trust in God.

Saint Joseph is the patron for many causes some of which are: against doubt; against hesitation, expectant mothers, families, fathers, a happy and holy death, protector of the Church, and the Diocese of San Jose, California (my diocese of 51 years).

“Go to Saint Joseph and he will care for you just as he helped and cared for Jesus.”
Saint Joseph Pray for Us.

Saint Joseph

Apostleship of Prayer

Fr. James Kubicki

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