Old Feast, Still Celebrated

Today is the 3rd Wednesday after Easter. Up until the revision of the Roman Missal by Pope Pius XII in 1955, this day was dedicated as a celebration of the patronage of Joe over the Universal Church. I can’t say why it was removed from the Roman Calendar, but even though this celebration may not be in the calendar, we can still celebrate his wondrous patronage. How will you celebrate?

Don’t forget, May 1st (this Friday) is the feast of St Joseph the Worker, and this celebration is on the calendar, and how wonderful that on this day, America will be rededicated to Mary under the title “Mother of the Church”! How fitting too. As Mary was the mother of the domestic church of Nazareth and from this the Mother of the Universal Church, so Joe as the protector and guardian of the domestic church of Nazareth is also the Protector and Guardian of the Universal Church!

This song may be appropriate for today as well:

"Hard Hat And A Hammer" by Alan Jackson 

 

Walkin' with Joe

I realized a couple days ago that I have not yet shared my Joe socks. I wear them on days that are associated with Joe and they tend to be good conversation starters in introducing others to him. I've seen them in many Catholic bookstores, or you can purchase a pair directly online at Sock Religious. I even find them to be a great reminder that I should walk with him all the time.

Return of Hospitality

When Jesus was still an infant in Mary’s womb, Joe brought Him into his home.
When Joe was in Hades with all the righteous ones of the Old Testament, Jesus brought him into His Home.

The Return of the King

St. Luke tells us that Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem each year for the feast of Passover (Luke 2:41) fulfilling the commandment for all Jews to gather at the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple) (Deuteronomy 16:5-6). In this little detail, we find yet another parallel between Joe and King David.

It was King David who brought the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6), and it was his son, King Solomon, who built the Temple (1 Kings 6).
Mary has been called 'the Ark of the New Covenant' since very early in Christianity. Here we find the parallel of the New King David bringing the Ark of the New Covenant to Jerusalem.

Even more, like King David who did not build the Temple - leaving that to his son - Joe does not build the new Temple, but leaves that to his Son (John 2:19-21).