A Man of Many Colors

I recently watched this video of Jordan Peterson speaking about the Old Testament Joseph and the significance of a “coat of many colors” (Genesis 37:3). I particularly liked his use of this coat as an analogy for being good at whatever you do. As he pointed out, Joseph did well by the grace of God in everything he did—from being a son, brother, servant, prisoner, and even second-in-command of Egypt.

When I heard this analogy, I almost immediately thought of St Teresa of Avila’s experience (and mine) that Joe has been patronage in all matters: 

... I am astonished at the great favours which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succour us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succours us in them all and that the Lord wishes to teach us that as He was Himself subject to him on earth (for, being His guardian and being called His father, he could command Him) just so in Heaven He still does all that he asks...

-Autobiography, Chapter 6 (page 52)

A Prayer for Purity

I recently came across this prayer for purity written by St Alphonsus Liguori and wanted to share:

Mary, Mother most pure, and Joseph, chaste guardian of the Virgin, to you I entrust the purity of my soul and body. I beg you to plead with God for me that I may never for the remainder of my life soil my soul by any sin of impurity. I earnestly wish to be pure in thought, word, and deed in imitation of your own holy purity. Obtain for me a deep sense of modesty, which will be reflected in my external conduct. Protect my eyes; the windows of my soul, from anything that might dim the luster of a heart that must mirror only Christ-like purity. And when the “Bread of Angels” becomes my food in Holy Communion, seal my heart forever against the suggestions of sinful pleasures. Finally, may I be among those of whom Jesus spoke, “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.” Amen.

The Protodulia

In Catholic theological circles, there is a distinction between the honor or veneration that we give to God and that which we give to the saints. To God and to God alone belongs latria (worship); on the other hand is dulia (service) that we give to God and to the saints. For centuries now, a further distinction is made... that of dulia and hyperdulia. Hyperdulia belongs to Mary, the Mother of God. She is not God, and therefore cannot receive latria (worship); yet, she stands above all the other saints and receives hyperdulia ("super" service). Here is a good article that goes into these distinctions.

Recently, there has been a movement to make yet another distinction: protodulia (first place of service) to Joe. The Mother of God stands before him since she is the true Mother of God in every way; yet, he stands before all else as the father of God in regards to the humanity of Jesus (not in a biological sense, but in a real and relational sense). I bring this up now, because it really struck me I recently encountered this principle.

On Monday we celebrated Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues and their Companions. The second reading of the Office of Readings was taken from the spiritual diaries of St John de Brébeuf. In the entry, St. John wrote: 

... I vow before your eternal Father and the Holy Spirit, before your most holy Mother and her most chaste spouse, before the angels, apostles and martyrs, before my blessed fathers Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis Xavier – in truth I vow to you, Jesus my Saviour, that as far as I have the strength I will never fail to accept the grace of martyrdom, if some day you in your infinite mercy should offer it to me, your most unworthy servant...

Notice he begins and ends with God (latria), then he turns to Mary (hyperdulia), and then even before the angels and apostles, he places Joe "[Mary's] most chaste spouse". To place Joe before the angels and saints is a big (and dare I say 'bold') move. At the time, Joe still wasn't really recognized for his greatness. He was often still placed at least behind the angels and even John the Baptist, as is still the case in the Litany of the Saints. 

Finally, I conclude with these words that Pope Leo XIII wrote in Quamquam Pluries:

In truth, the dignity of the Mother of God is so lofty that naught created can rank above it. But as Joseph has been united to the Blessed Virgin by the ties of marriage, it may not be doubted that he approached nearer than any to the eminent dignity by which the Mother of God surpasses so nobly all created natures.

Shema Yisrael

"Shema Yisrael!" 

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength." 

-Deut. 6:4-5

Joe would have prayed these words everyday as a devout Jewish man, and it would have been his duty to teach these words to Jesus. Hence this icon (the Shema is in Italian): 

I love this very short reflection by Fr Nicolas Buttet, in which he writes: "St. Joseph is the 'silent' doctor of this Nazarene school. He mastered the art of listening to the voice of God in reciting 'Shema Yisrael' ('Hear, O’ Israel') twice a day. So, his silence was actually an ability to listen and promptly obey."

Trust in the Lord

“Commit your way to the LORD; 

trust in him and he will act 

and make your righteousness shine like the dawn,  

your justice like noonday.”  

(Psalm 37:5-6)

I came across a small paragraph in Fr. Michael Najim's book, Radical Surrender: Letters to Seminarians, that pointed to Joe as a model for trust:

"Consider St. Joseph. He is a model of trust. the Gospel stories about Joseph so clearly indicated that he placed his absolute trust in the Lord. Once the Lord spoke to him, he did not question; he simply acted. God said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home' (Mt. 1:20). So Joseph chose not to be afraid, and he took Mary into his home. Then God said, 'Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt' (Mt. 2:13). So, Joseph rose and took Jesus and Mary to Egypt. He did not question; he just acted. He placed his trust in God..." (pg. 25)

How true it is that Joe is a model of trust! How wonderful it is to behold Joe as a splendid example of what is spoken of in Psalm 37! Indeed, Joe trusted in the LORD and certainly the LORD made his "righteousness shine like the dawn" and his "justice like the noonday."

Do Not Fear!

The first of Joe’s joys (say that ten time fast!) is the message of the Angel to settle the sorrow of his doubt around Mary’s pregnancy. Matthew relates to us that the Angel said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home...” (Matthew 1:20). 

Some time ago, I came across an article that Pope St John Paul II wrote entitled “A Meditation on Giveness”. It is a worthwhile read for sure, and I can not recommend it highly enough, but if you cannot read the whole thing, at least read this short section where he opens up the message of the Angel to Joe:

I think that every man, whatever his station in life or his life’s vocation, must at some point hear those words which Joseph of Nazareth once heard: “Do not be afraid to take Mary to yourself” (Mt 1:20). “Do not be afraid to take” means do everything to recognize that gift which she is for you. Fear only one thing: that you try to appropriate that gift. That is what you should fear. As long as she remains a gift from God himself to you, you can safely rejoice in all that she is as that gift. What is more, you ought even to do everything you can to recognize that gift, to show her how unique a treasure she is. 

I think Joe really recognized the gift that Mary was to him, and it was exactly this recognition that caused him fear. How often we think, "This sounds too good to be true!" when someone makes a tremendous offer. We recoil in fear that perhaps it is not. Joe received and cherished God's gift of Mary, as I'm sure that Mary received and cherished God's gift of Joe to her.

The Seven Sorrows

Two days ago, we celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross—the feast of suffering being transformed into glory. Yesterday, we celebrated the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows—the memory that Mary participated in the sufferings of her Son and thus, entered into the glory of her Son.

It seems appropriate to me that today, we should perhaps reflect on Joe’s sorrows. Like Mary, tradition has enumerated seven sorrows (and accompanying joys) of Joe:

1. The Doubt of St Joseph => The Message of the Angel

2. The Poverty of Jesus’ Birth => The Birth of the Savior

3. The Circumcision => The Holy Name of Jesus

4. The Prophecy of Simeon => The Effects of the Redemption 

5. The Flight into Egypt => The Overthrow of the Idols of Egypt

6. The Return from Egypt => Life with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth 

7. The Loss of the Child Jesus => The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

There are a plethora of prayers that are based on this tradition. Here is one that I found to be helpful: http://osjusa.org/prayers/seven-sorrows-and-joys/ 

Saved from a Nail

I just came across this short article about a woman’s encounter with Joe, calling him “My Main Man”. I especially loved her closing words:

But I do know for sure that the saints are not far away and sometimes they really do get involved in our nitty-gritty matters, both big and small. And sometimes—even when we have not asked—their invisible heavenly fingerprints appear in the darndest places. I know Saint Joseph is not plastic, not by a longshot. This powerful guy with heavenly clout demonstrates over and over that he really does have my back. Not only does he help me navigate treacherous roads anytime I ask, but sometimes he extends his proactive care even when I haven’t a clue that I need it. 

Perhaps, he particularly loves helping us silently and in the background. Perhaps, he loves leaving for us those little gifts here and there that we really don't notice until one day, looking back, we recognize his presence. 

Happy birthday

The thought occurred to me yesterday: Joe obviously had a birthday and I’m sure Jesus and Mary celebrated it with him. I wonder when his birthday was and how did they celebrate? Did he take the day off of work? Did they stay up late to watch the stars move across the sky? Did they have a special meal? 

I found this particular Rabbi’s recommendation fitting for Joe: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/652307/jewish/How-to-Celebrate.htm 

Perhaps we might make these a practice on our own birthdays.

Strength in Flexibility

Let’s return once again to Psalm 92. “The just shall flourish like the palm tree, shall grow like a cedar of Lebanon.”

Palm trees and Lebanon cedars are two very different types of trees. Perhaps the one that come to my mind first is their difference in flexibility. Palm trees are naturally flexible. If they were not, they would simply snap or be uprooted every time a hurricane or strong wind came along. Lebanon cedars are almost the exact opposite. They are sturdy and strong to withstand the earthquakes and floods that are natural to the region. 

Joe, the just man who is like the palm tree and the Lebanon cedar, is flexible under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and sturdy and strong against the tremors of the World. Yet, his strength is not his own. It comes to him from God. He is only able to withstand the onslaught of the World because he is flexible to the Spirit’s inspiration. Perhaps the greatest example of this is the flight into Egypt. He stands against Herod by following the Spirit’s direction to go to Egypt, not by a call to arms or open rebuke. He bends to the Spirit’s movements and as a result stands firm against the World. Can the same be said of us?