Today is the Feastday of St. Joseph… he is a great example and role model for every man.

God chose him to be father of his only Begotten Son, a father in every way except biologically.  By being wedded to the Virgin (who conceived the Eternal Son by the power of the Holy Spirit) he became father to Jesus according to the Father’s plan. His vocation was to be a husband to the Virgin Mary and father to Jesus Christ, which he fulfilled by a special grace from God. And so he illustrates what it is to be a father and husband— something that every man is called to in some way whether physically or spiritually.

I was watching a show today hosted by Steve Wood called Carpenter’s shop. Father Peffley from Arlington Virginia was the guest. He had a lot of great insights on St. Joseph. He took the name ‘JOSEPH’ and broke down each letter acrostically:

Just:

St. Joseph was a just man—a holy man who was determined to be pleasing to God. “He believed, hoping against hope” despite all contradictory physical appearances. He encourages us trust God, to live heroic virtue and to be Saints.

Obedience:

He listened to the voice of God in his dreams and obeyed immediately even when he didn’t understand it all. St. Joseph help us to be obedient servants of God as you were!

Silence:

There are no words recorded of St. Joseph in sacred Scripture. He was a man of silence and reflection and he teaches us to avoid superfluous words… to only use them when they’re absolutely necessary.

Example:

St. Joseph is an exemplary model to follow. He gives example to husbands—how he loved his wife the Blessed Virgin and honored her! He teaches all of us men how to treat women.  St. Joseph it is an example to fathers— he loved his Son, providing him with the essential care of a father.  And he was an example to Jesus— he actually taught God-made-man everything about growing up.

Patron saint:

St. Joseph is the universal patron of the Church. St. Teresa of Avila says that all Saints are patrons for different things but St. Joseph is the patron for all of those things.

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.

Whatever the situation and whatever the need! He is the patron of the Mystical Body of Christ. If he was the father and guardian of Jesus… and if Jesus lives in us so much that it is no longer we live but Christ lives in us – then St. Joseph is our father and guardian as well. The Guardian of the Head must also be a guardian of the Body.

He is also the patron of a happy death because it is not recorded that he was at the foot of the cross with our Lady where he obviously would have been if he were still alive at that time.

Helper:

St. Joseph was the helpmate of Our Lady; he was her most privileged servant! St. Joseph, help us to imitate your great love and esteem for the Mother of God Mary Most Holy! May we too be her servants.

I would add the word humble. St. Joseph was a humble man.

Saint Joseph pray for us!