St. Joseph, patron of men

Next week, the Church pauses in her Lenten observance to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph.  A Solemnity is the highest level of liturgical celebration in the Church. It is never a day of fasting or penance. St. Joseph is celebrated as the Patron of the Universal Church—that means every one of us. He is celebrated as the patron of husbands, fathers and families. He is the patron of workers, carpenters and builders. He is also well-known as the patron of a happy death.        

In recent years, St. Joseph has become recognized, more notably, as the patron of men. Whether as husbands, fathers, or single men, the virtues of St. Joseph have become the focus of several new books, of men’s conferences and in the private prayer of men. In an age of confusion regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, St. Joseph is also a powerful intercessor for those who are struggling with same-sex attraction, pornography addiction and infidelity in marriage.      

Put simply, St. Joseph is the patron of true masculinity. Our culture today suffers from a false sense of masculinity, and for that matter, a false—even disappearing femininity. What image comes to your mind when someone is described as a “real man?” Our culture has sexualized the image of manhood. In fact, the constant barrage of advertising to promote “testosterone replacement therapy” underscores only certain physical aspects of manhood.        

Being a man is more about one’s interior qualities than one’s exterior appearance. Men are adventurous—they love a challenge.  Husbands and fathers are caretakers of their wives and children.  Men are providers, fighters, protectors, defenders and leaders.  Men of faith are disciples and brothers, mentors and witnesses of the power of God at work in their lives. Christian men lead by example. They “raise the bar” for other men in what is good and right and just.        

Catholic men live their faith as the center of their lives. Their participation at Mass comes ahead of everything else. They honor the Lord, serve him with purpose, rely on him for everything and underscore the importance of faith at home, at work and in their social circles. St. Joseph displays a great integrity between what he believed and how he lived. In this way, St. Joseph is a great example for Catholic men. We see some of these qualities highlighted in the Litany of St. Joseph. Consider St. Joseph, most ... just, chaste, prudent, strong, obedient, faithful and patient, guardian of virgins, pillar of families, hope of the sick, terror of demons and protector of holy Church.      

St. Joseph is also a great intercessor. Throughout history, great saints have testified to the singular work of St. Joseph as a most powerful intercessor. In that regard, St. Joseph is a model for men, who so often buy into the idea that “it’s all on them.” Rather, St. Joseph teaches us to rely on God, from the moment he learned that Mary was with Child, to the time when they discovered that Jesus had been left behind at the temple in Jerusalem.        

St. Joseph remains for us all, but especially for men, a model of how we are to trust God in everything. This is so important for men today. Men think that to be a real man, they have to have the answer to everything. Rather, the Lord wants men to teach their wives, their children, their friends, their co-workers, and strangers, too, that there is an incredible strength that comes to us when we TRUST GOD IN EVERYTHING! Men experience an incredible strength when they put their faith into action!      

As we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19, please join me in praying for a true spiritual awakening in all men, especially those in our families, parishes, and the communities where we live. Let us petition St. Joseph to stir in the hearts of all men the desire for true holiness. Let us ask St. Joseph to move the hearts and minds of Catholic men everywhere to rise to this challenge: to be holy, to be saints!        

St. Joseph is the patron of men because he models to us the best of what it means to be a man! He was a man of faith. He believed God and trusted God at his word, without knowing how things would turn out. He was a man of great hope. He relied on God and what God promised, thus permitting God to amaze him. St. Joseph was also a man of love—of intense love and respect for Mary, for Jesus and for all that is good, true, honorable, virtuous and worthy of praise. Good St. Joseph, bless all men with your virtues!      

In conclusion, let me recommend a few books about St. Joseph for your consideration.  Joseph the Silent, by Michel Gasnier, O.P., reprinted by Scepter Publishers, London; The Mystery of Joseph, by Father Marie-Dominique Philippe, O.P., published by Zaccheus Press, Bethesda;   Show us the Father: 7 Secrets to be a Father on Earth Like the Father in Heaven, by Devin Schadt, Totus Tuus Press, Lakewood, Colo.; Joseph’s Way: The Call to Fatherly Greatness, by Devin Schadt, Ignatius Press; Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father, by Father Donald H. Calloway, MIC, Marian Press, Stockbridge, Ma.