St. Joseph: A Patron for Priests

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary.

This is one of many titles that Joseph enjoys, but they are all tied ultimately to his being the Husband of Mary. One such title is “Patron of a Happy Death.” Saint Anthony’s Shrine in Boston posted on Facebook yesterday about this celebration, and spoke about how the tradition of the Church has always been that Joseph died before Jesus’ public ministry. Their words were so perfect, so I will just quote them: “Thus, St. Joseph is the patron saint of a happy death because he presumably died with Jesus and the Virgin Mary at his side. This is how all of us want to die, with Christ holding our hand on one side of the bed and the Virgin Mary seated beside us on the other side. St. Joseph died in the best company. May we do so as well.”

Beautiful.

His role as the Husband of Mary is a significant one whose effects carry across all of human history. The Church teaches that Mary is the personification of the Church in its perfection. By her obedience to the Lord in all things, she walks united with Christ through the events of the Paschal Mystery, and today reigns in glory. That’s the picture of what the Church is called to be. Joseph protects the Church as he protected Mary, and so another of his titles is Patron of the Universal Church. He provided for Mary with earthly goods, and provides for the Church with spiritual goods. He loves the Church with a spousal love, and walks with her as he did with Mary from the confusion of the Annunciation, to Bethlehem, to Egypt, and to Nazareth. Joseph walks with us always as our universal patron.

This Feast demonstrates for us the relationship between the Universal Church and a happy death! Through the life of the Church we grow more deeply in relationship with Jesus, and with Mary. We receive the Lord in the Eucharist, and grow in his grace through the Sacraments, and when the moment of death comes we will, we pray, awake to glory – what happier moment is there?

The downside of life in a world of human weakness is the brokenness in the Universal Communion of that Church. That brokenness exists not only between Roman Catholics and Independent Catholics: there are more expressions of Independent Catholics out there then you can shake a stick at. No doubt within the Roman Church and other major denominations there is division too. What are we all doing?

All we really can do is tend our own garden, but do we also bear in mind that we are all working toward the same goal? As clergy we have a flock that has been entrusted to our care- people that we are charged with the duty of getting to heaven: do we have that always as our primary concern? Who is being made a Bishop in another jurisdiction does not have any impact on my flock arriving at heaven’s gate. For those who have no flock to tend, no doubt it is easier to be distracted by such things.

Seminarians, are you cognizant at all times of the reality that you are preparing for this same task? Every aspect of your formation is directed toward this end. How much time in Seminary is spent worrying about peripheral things? These years are to be spent in studies, growing in obedience to the Church, and prayer. These three tasks are your primary and only ministry, and right now they are how you are working towards leading the flock you will one day have home to heaven.

Let us together call upon Saint Joseph to be our guide and protector as Patron of the Universal Church.

May his love for Mary further inspire ours.

May his obedience to the Father’s will inspire ours.

May his devotion to Jesus inspire ours.

Oh St. Joseph,

I never weary of contemplating you

and Jesus asleep in your arms.

I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart.

Press him in my name

and kiss his fine head for me,

and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us.