A few years ago, a newspaper in San Jose, CA, wrote an article about how San Jose had become the “City that America forgot” based on repeated public surveys in which nobody could accurately name the city one of the 10th biggest in the country, based on population.
They guessed the usual cities – New York, LA, Chicago. But when it came down to the bottom part of the top 10 cities, very few guessed San Jose.
The article made light of the lack of name recognition this “heart of the Silicon Valley” has in America, but also made the point that despite this problem, the city was also one of the best places for high-tech jobs, cultural diversity … and trick-or-treating.
Hard to believe we forget about San Jose.
After all, San Jose is the most popular name for a city, town or place in the world. There are 1,716 San Jose’s in the world, which tops a string of “saintly” cities – San Antonio, Santa Maria, Santa Rosa, San Pedro, San Juan, etc. (Thank you Spanish empire!)
Clearly, San Jose is a big deal. And, just as clearly, San Jose is sometimes forgotten.
Which is kind of why today, March 19, is so important on the Church’s Liturgical calendar – a day we pay honor to San Jose – or St. Joseph – the “foster father” of Jesus, husband of Mary, guardian of the Redeemer and patron saint of the Universal Church.
A very important figure in our lives … but sometimes forgotten by a Church that pays much more attention to Mary.
We can’t afford to let Joseph slip away … he played a major role in the birth, formation and early life of Jesus. Although he never utters a word in the Gospels, he certainly plays that key role.
I found it interesting that today’s readings place Joseph on the same pages as David (first reading) and Abraham (second reading) … a trinity of major male figures who played distinct roles in laying the groundwork of faith for the acceptance of Jesus as a man.
Thomas Aquinas wrote about St. Joseph, teaching us about his holiness. Aquinas wrote that when God chooses someone for a special mission in the Church (as he did Joseph) he always prepares that person with many graces and sometimes gifts of nature to fulfill that task.
We pray often … Hail Mary, full of grace. But perhaps Joseph was also full of grace. Sinless? We don’t know … but certainly he had to be about as perfect as his bride in order to play such a key role in the birth of a Savior.
Aquinas also wrote that to understand Joseph’s holiness, one must recognize that the more one approaches the principle of grace, the more one receives the effects from that principle. You can’t get much closer to the font of grace, Himself, than by helping to raise him as a child.
Imagine … each minute spent with Jesus was like receiving a continuous Holy Communion.
Given the fact that he guided and protected the holy family, it stands to reason he continues to do the same for the Church from heaven.
On days like today, we are challenged to take a deeper look into the spirit of St. Joseph.
The strong, silent man who accepted his role as father to Jesus.
A carpenter, he put aside whatever goals and ambitions he may have once had in order to take a “back seat” to his Son.
For Joseph, the fruit of the tree was much more important than the tree itself.
We are all called to be more like Joseph. We need to pave the way for Jesus to be revealed to others. We must be strong in our faith, silent in our ways.
We must spend our time focused on Jesus – in adoration, meditation and prayer.
We must defend Jesus from forces that would destroy him or his Church, were that possible.
We must also defend Mary, and all mothers who are called to bring forth life in the world.
We must always remember to pray to Joseph …
PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH
To you, O blessed Joseph,
do we come in our tribulation,
and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse,
we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you
to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God
and through the paternal love
with which you embraced the Child Jesus,
we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance
which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,
and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family,
defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ;
O most loving father, ward off from us
every contagion of error and corrupting influence;
O our most mighty protector, be kind to us
and from heaven assist us in our struggle
with the power of darkness.
As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril,
so now protect God’s Holy Church
from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;
shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection,
so that, supported by your example and your aid,
we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness,
and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.
Amen.
