Dear St. Rita Families,
It may seem a bit early to be writing about St. Joseph – his feast is March 19 – but this Sunday begins a devotion to him that is worthy of your consideration. The idea of the 7 Sundays of St. Joseph is pretty straightforward: a brief meditation on the 7 joys and 7 sorrows of St. Joseph on the 7 Sundays leading up to his feast. You can find varying forms of this devotion with a simple online search, but the links below provide some options as well.
St. Josemaria Institute (PDF download)
Devotion to St. Joseph has been steadily gaining popularity in the Church in recent years. For example, books like Fr. Don Calloway’s Consecration to St. Joseph[1] have appeared, and Pope Francis established the Year of St. Joseph in 2020. There is widespread proclamation and acknowledgement of a crisis in Catholic manhood (see here, here, and here), and St. Joseph is often presented as a model and guide.
Therefore, in this short column, I would like to encourage you to develop a devotion to St. Joseph. He is the Protector of the Universal Church, and he defends his charge against the attacks of the evil one, and also against the weaknesses of Her clergy and people. He is the Terror of Demons, driving away those pernicious enemies that seek the ruin of our souls. He is Lover of Poverty, seeking God alone apart from the pleasures of this world and placing all his confidence in God’s Goodness. He is a man of eminent virtue – Chaste, Prudent, Valiant, Just, Obedient, and Faithful. He is Patron of the Dying, since his own death (necessary so that the inheritance of David’s line would pass to Jesus) came to pass in the arms of Jesus and Mary. He is Pillar of Families, given to lead the only two sinless humans ever to have lived.
What grace and strength were given to St. Joseph! Certainly, then, we should have confidence to go to him. As Protector of Our Lord, he watches over the clergy who share in Christ’s headship over the Church. As Protector of Our Lady, he watches over the whole Church (of which She is the pre-eminent member). St. Joseph, pray for us!
In Christ,
Fr. Christensen
[1] The term “consecration” has traditionally applied only to the Divine Persons and to Mary, and so its use for St. Joseph seems to me to be something of a novelty. I am in favor of the sentiment, and I recommend the book, but I think the word “dedication” or “entrustment” in the case of St. Joseph and other saints is more accurate and appropriate theologically.