Grandpa Joe and Day 8 of Novena

Last Wednesday, I shared a part of a homily given by St. Alphonsus Liguori on St. Joseph where he argues that Joe was the true earthly father of Jesus by the grace of God the Father. I would now like to propose to you that a great way of seeing Joe is as a grandpa.

Think about it like this... 

• We often say that the Church is our Mother or "Holy Mother Church," which is in no way accidental. For it is the community of believers who gives birth to more believers by witnessing to the power of the Resurrection in their own lives. 
• Jesus is the bridegroom of the Church according to St. Paul (Eph. 5:23)
• So Jesus is our virginal Father through the Church
• Joe is the virginal father of Jesus through Mary
• So, Joe and Mary are our ecclesiastical grandparents!

I don't know about you but I had some pretty awesome grandpa's, and one thing was true about both of them: they liked to teach me things, and both liked to provide for me (especially food!). I had the undeserved privilege of working with both growing up. Each had his own business, so when I would go to work with either of them, lunch soon became the most important meal of the day.

I can't help but to think that the same is true with Grandpa Joe. I'm sure he loves to teach us how to work for the Lord, and he loves to feed us! All we need to do is to go to work with him. As pharaoh once told the Israelites, so now I tell you, “Go to Grandpa Joe and do whatever he tells you.” (Genesis 41:55)

Incidentally, if Joe is our grandpa, that means Mary is our grandma, and what grandma does not throughly enjoy spoiling her grandchildren?

*********************************************************************************
Day 8 of Novena to St. Joseph for the Chapel of Loretto:

O Holy St. Joseph listen to our cry and present them for us to our Heavenly Father. You built a staircase to a choir loft so that human choirs might imitate angelic choirs. We beg you now, inspired carpenter, to build a staircase to heaven for us and for all who do not know the way to paradise.
     We are all sinners and are lost on our journey; so, do not allow us to sit in judgment of those who seek intimate love with those of the same sex. Rather, may we look upon them with eyes filled with sorrow and compassion, and may they look upon us in our sinfulness with the same eyes.
     You did not build the staircase for the honor and glory of your name. So, teach us now to build for each other staircases to heaven for the honor and glory of the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.