On March 19, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Joseph—patron of workers, families, and the universal Church. It is important to keep Saint Joseph in mind in our life of faith, for he was an exceptional man of deep faith and great trust in God. Many people place more faith in Saint Jude Thaddeus than in Saint Joseph himself; while venerating Saint Jude is not wrong, we know that within popular piety, he is often venerated more than other saints—not because he is a great intercessor, but out of superstition. Saint Joseph is vital to the life of the Church, having been the husband of the Virgin Mary, the foster father of Jesus, and the head of the Holy Family. He was a holy, manly, courageous, pious, honest, strong, and responsible man. Today, in a world heavily influenced by ideologies regarding non-heterosexuality and deeply flawed conceptions of women, men have lost their center and the true value of manhood, often veering toward either aggressive machismo or excessive softness. Saint Joseph was a true man. All of us men should learn from him. Let us ask for Saint Joseph’s intercession to strengthen our families and keep them united. Have a blessed Lenten Sunday.
