St. Joseph

Dear friends, St. Joseph, the universal patron of the Church and spouse of the Virgin Mary, will now be mentioned every time we celebrate the Mass during the Eucharistic prayer. The decree, Paternas vices (Fatherly care), was issued May 1 (Feast of St. Joseph the Worker) by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and promulgated by the authority of Pope Francis. St. Joseph has been included in the first Eucharistic Prayer since Pope John XXIII inserted his name in 1962. The new decree extends the inclusion of St. Joseph to Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV. St. Joseph is widely venerated in the Catholic Church. In 1870, Pope Pius IX proclaimed him Patron of the Universal Church, a feast celebrated on March 19. The Vatican's decree says that St. Joseph "stands as an exemplary model of the kindness and humility that the Christian faith raises to a great destiny, and demonstrates the ordinary and simple virtues necessary for men to be good and genuine followers of Christ." www.usccb.org/news I was quite excited when I heard this news while out at the ocean at Priest Days, the convocation of the priests of the Archdiocese of Seattle. I have looked to St. Joseph as a guide especially as I have matured as a man of God. He is the example par excellence. In my vocation I looked to him as a guide because of his attentiveness to the will of God and humble obedience. He was able to take care of the Savior and His mother due to his vigilance and prayer. St. Matthew tells us that St. Joseph was a “just man.” “Joseph her husband, since he was a just man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.” (Matt 1:19) St. John Chrysostom says that this designation of just means that Joseph was virtuous in all things. He was attuned to the will of God and sought to realize it with all his being. For this reason he was chosen to be the earthly father of our Lord, and shortly thereafter, the Angel of God was sent to him to confirm this. Joseph received the message of the Angel in a dream. Much like his Old Testament namesake, he was able to discern the meaning of the dream and the will of God for his family. As I mentioned last week, St. Joseph is a patron for all of us. I encourage you to pray to him for guidance in discerning God’s will. As you hear his name at each Mass, remember his fidelity and seek to follow his example. Along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph wants to guide us to his son Jesus. This week about 150 young men will be gathered at Camp Don Bosco for Quo Vadis Days praying, playing, and discerning God’s call. Please pray for me as I go out to talk to them on Tuesday, pray for all of our priests who will be supervising and directing them in these days, and pray for the young men that they will hear the call to serve God as St. Joseph did with all his heart as a just and holy man, whether that be as a husband, priest, or religious. St. Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray for us. Fr. Jack D. Shrum