Listen to “A Hymn to St. Joseph”, sung by our Sisters in honor of this great saint who always cares for us
The month of March, traditionally dedicated to St. Joseph, has even greater significance this year, as we remember that we journey through a whole year dedicated to this holy and chaste foster father of Jesus. From December 8th, 2020 to December 8th, 2021, Pope Francis has asked for St. Joseph’s special patronal blessing upon the whole Church and world with his apostolic letter, Patris Corde, that is, With a Father’s Heart.
The Tender Love of a Father
The opening line of the letter draws us intimately to the simple identity of St. Joseph, “With a father’s heart: that is how Joseph loved Jesus…” St. Joseph was given the Father’s heart, not only to love the Only-Begotten Son of God, but so as to love Mary and all of God’s children with the love of the Father in heaven. “As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him” (Ps 103:13). St. Joseph was given this tender and compassionate love to show us that God the Father is moved with pity and comes to us through our weaknesses, frailties, and sorrows in order to bring about a transformation of our lives.
A Father Who Provides
A father is not just a sustainer of life or a maintenance man, but he actually becomes a sacrificial offering that provides life. When necessary, a father even re–builds life. Maybe this is why St. Joseph was so appropriately a carpenter by trade! Let us give our cares and worries to him – be they wounds in families, difficult employment issues, sick or dying loved ones, or other sufferings – so that we may experience the Father’s tender heart close to our hearts.
A wonderful way to entrust oneself more deeply to St. Joseph is through a consecration. One of our own Sisters found it to be a life changing experience, and maybe you will too!
Click here to read Sr. Mary Martha’s story
