During this season of Christmas, while meditating on the mystery of Christ’s birth, we discover a person who has fulfilled his God-given task so well that he often remains unnoticed. This person is Saint Joseph, the protector of Jesus and the Virgin Mary here on earth. In today’s world, where we often seek others’ attention and recognition, his virtues are of great need and importance.
Father Michel Rodrigue said he received a message from God the Father on October 30, 2018:
“I have given St. Joseph, My representative, to protect the Holy Family on Earth, the authority to protect the Church, which is the Body of Christ. He will be the protector during the trials of this time. The Immaculate Heart of My daughter, Mary, and the Sacred Heart of My Beloved Son, Jesus, with the chaste and pure heart of St. Joseph, will be the shield of your home, your family, and your refuge during the events to come.”
“Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.” Matthew 2:13-15
We turn to St. Joseph and his powerful intercession today and every day to give us these same virtues that made him everything he was. He truly lived a life of heroic virtue within his role as husband and father of the Holy Family.
Do we love these virtues as St. Joseph did? Most, probably not. I know I don’t. As a father and husband, even as a brother in Christ and man, I fall woefully short. I am not the husband my great wife deserves, nor the father my kids need.
When it’s comes to my family, I have not protected them as St. Joseph gave example. My kids are not following the faith I was and am responsible to teach them. I am not the spiritual man nor husband whom my wife has earned and deserves by her faith.
“And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
It has been assigned me by God, the duty to present my children to Him in the final judgment. Of that I am falling short. Often, I feel more an anchor than a sail for them. The virtues of St. Joseph’s core being. Heroic virtues we should focus upon and for which we each should pray to receive. Justice, obedience, humility, faith and total trust in God are all traits of society and especially men that are lacking in this world.
We turn to our father, St. Joseph for guidance and protection as did our Lord and the Blessed Mother. He gives us such a great example of duty and honor. St. Joseph was great man of honor. He served the family very well, protecting them from harm and teaching his Son, Jesus, what it means to be a man. Through these father-son moments may we also sit at St. Joseph’s knee for a lesson in true discipleship and faith.
We need St. Joseph’s intercession now more than ever and more men like him to rise to the forefront in our church and faith.
“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.” St. Josemaria Escriva
I turn to St. Joseph all the time for strength, especially during times of temptation towards sin.