Interior

“This greatest male Saint who ever lived was not a deacon, not a priest, not a bishop, not a pope, not a hermit, not a monk… he was a husband, father, and a worker.” (Saint Josemaria).

Sleeping Saint Joseph (Statue)

Saint Joseph is such a special Saint.  He was an ordinary man, who lived an ordinary life.  Not much is known about Saint Joseph, other than that he was from the Line of David, married the Virgin Mary, dreamed a few dreams, was a craftsman (most likely a carpenter), needed to attend to the census in Bethlehem and died prior to Christ’s public ministry…

Saint Josemaria said that “This greatest male Saint who ever lived was not a deacon, not a priest, not a bishop, not a pope, not a hermit, not a monk… he was a husband, father, and a worker.”

And I have been reflecting on that today.  You see, Saint Joseph is the Saint who did not worry.  If ever there was a Saint who did not stress out about things, it was Saint Joseph.  He was completely placid.  When difficulties arose, he would hear the news, and stop, think to himself and then go to sleep.  He did not sit round discussing the situation ad nauseum.  He did not engage in idle gossip or even worry himself about what was going on.  Instead, he put his head on the pillow and went to sleep.

Then, in his sleep, he dreamed things.  And when he woke up he did not overthink anything.  He did not worry about anything or stress about anything.  He simply got up and said, well, I guess this is what I am required to do – and off he went and did it.  He trusted in the process and believed that if he was going astray that God would redirect him…

“There are many good reasons to honour Saint Joseph, and to learn from his life. He was a man of strong faith. He earned a living for his family – Jesus and Mary – with his own hard work. He guarded the purity of the Blessed Virgin, who was his Spouse. And he respected – he loved! – God's freedom, when God made his choice: not only his choice of Our Lady the Virgin as his Mother, but also his choice of Saint Joseph as the Husband of Holy Mary.” (Saint Josemaria, “The Forge”, 552).

And Saint Joseph was so good and noble in his obedience, that he bore the burden of death before the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.  And he did this with utmost humility – knowing that God had another way to support his family during this time.  He did not rail against death or bargain with God.  He did not try to get some more time or try to convince God that he could be helpful.  Instead, he accepted God’s Will and bore the sorrow of a sacrifice such as that where he knew his loved ones – to whom he had given his whole life – would suffer without his help…

And in exchange for this, God allowed Him to Kiss His Holy Face.  And God loves him.  Oh the Grace of such a love as that!  Oh the Grace!

Saint Joseph pray for us, who have recourse to thee…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.