Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: March 19, 2011
First Reading: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
Second Reading: Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22  ;
Gospel: Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a ;

And here's an audio file and a video of a priest offering reflections.

The  Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of my favorite feast days. When I became a Catholic, an adult convert - I chose Joseph as my patron saint for many reasons. The main ones were 1) Joseph's humility. I knew I needed help in this area, as pride is one of the greatest stumbling blocks in creating a barrier toward fulling appreciating the love God has for us. Guilty as charged. 2) It was said that he was a righteous man, and this was a character trait that I hoped to develop on my own journey through life.

It is a good day to reflect on Saint Joseph - he has so much to offer.

Last year I compiled a small collection of interesting art with Saint Joseph. Here's a link in case you missed it, or if you wish to be inspired by one of the greatest saints that ever lived.

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: March 19, 2010
First Reading: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16;
Responsorial Psalm: Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22 ;
Second Reading: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16;
Gospel: Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a ;

And here's an audio file and a video of a priest offering reflections.

First Reading:  2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
The Lord spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David,
‘When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his kingdom firm.
It is he who shall build a house for my name.
And I will make his royal throne firm forever.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.’”

Responsorial Psalm  89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
 R.         The son of David will live for ever.
The promises of the Lord I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R.        The son of David will live for ever.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”
R.        The son of David will live for ever.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.”
R.        The son of David will live for ever.

Second Reading:  Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22
Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,
and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.

Gospel   Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

or
Gospel   Lk 2:41-51a
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Commentary: Today we take a break from the Word related to the Passion of Christ to honor Jesus' father on Earth, St Joseph. The video reflections offered today say it better than I ever could, so please check them out.

Also included, some art related to St. Joseph (paintings) in the photo album.

And - another song for today - Happy Morning Song.

In scripture, Joseph does not utter one phrase. The man has no lines! Yet Joseph is a huge player, chosen to be the earthly father of the Son of God, and yet not one word was written down that he said. But you would imagine, Joseph was very, very good man. The two options of the Gospel seem to bear that out, of stories that tell about the man's decisions in times of great stress.

St. Joseph is my patron saint. Please pray for me that I might do better in understanding and delivering on the phrase - that I usually say it best, when I say nothing at all. Please, I beg you - pray that St. Joseph lends me a hand, and puts it over my mouth as needed. Thanks.

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary

Today's readings: March 19, 2009
Reading One: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16;
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29 ;
Reading Two: Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22
Gospel: Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a;
Or Lk 2:41-51a
go to this page (for all sections listed above on one page) And here's an audio file; & reflections (video)

Saint Joseph is one of the greatest heroes in all the bible. During a time when men ruled the world with an iron fist and cared virtually nothing for the rights of a woman, Joseph wanted to divorce his wife quietly when he learned she was pregnant with a child he did not father. Scripture tells us Joseph chose to do this, because he was a righteous man. And then he had a dream, and the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the dream and said,

Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.

And Joseph's response to the message in the dream, was to be obedient, humble and to do exactly what the angel told him to do in his dream without any complaint or second guessing. Joseph also had to flee to Egypt to protect his wife and child. Clearly, Joseph, the simple carpenter, was a man of great faith.

The Catholic church honors Saint Joseph with two special feast days - March 19, as the husband of the blessed virgin Mary, and May 1, to honor Saint Joseph the Worker. There is also a pretty weird practice of burying a statue of St. Joseph to help sell a house. Personally, I not real fond of that one, for me, Saint Joseph is my patron saint, and I know he has been there for me, to help me be good father, and also to be a man who treats women with great respect and honor. He has helped me to increase my faith, to listen well in my dreams, to be obedient, and to be humble, and slow to speak.

I made a new picture album with some of my favorite pictures and old school art of Saint Joseph, and below find the Prayer to Saint Joseph. It is usually offered as a novena, meaning you do well to say it nine days in a row. It is supposed to be a very very old prayer, dating back almost 2000 years.

O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen

For more pictures of Saint Joseph in art, go here.