When I was in college, several of us girls prayed to St. Joseph for holy spouses. Of course, no one's husband can compare to mine, but we can't all have everything. As a matter of fact, they don't even come close. The only woman in history whose husband was like mine (other than the millions of consecrated virgins!), is the Blessed Mother.
The similarity doesn't stop at being a Jewish Carpenter. Joseph's entire life proclaimed the Gospel in imitation of his foster Child, Jesus. He was a worker, some say likely of stone more than wood, and may have labored in town near Nazareth. Or, perhaps he fit oxen with their yoke.... either way we have more reasons why Jesus chose those parables.
We know that St. Joseph was obedient and prayerful - recognizing the truth spoken to him by the angel, and immediately went into action. He took Mary into his home, rescued Mary and Jesus from the slaughter of the innocence, moved them from place to place until he settled in Nazareth.
How pure he must have been! Fulton Sheen is of the opinion that he was "bubbling over with youthfulness." What credit could we give him for his purity if he were not an icon of the virtue? When I consider the reverence that a good man has for a pure woman, I am convinced that Joseph was young, passionate, and entirely pure. The care he gave to the Mother of Jesus must have been extraordinary! Silent. Faithful. Hardworking. Just. A real man.
Therefore today we celebrate the foster father of Jesus with a Solemnity. Patron of husbands, families, adoptive parents, workers, and the Universal Church, pray for us!
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