Joe the Roofer

A couple weeks ago, I came across a podcast that I've really begun to enjoy listening to called "The Catholic Man Show", and I recommend it for anyone (dads in particular) to listen to some real-important topics but in a light-hearted way. One episode in particular that has stood out to me was The Virtue of Hope with Fr. Philip Bochanski. 

Do you remember the story of Jesus healing the paralytic who was lowered down through the roof in front of Him because there were too many people there (Mt 9:1-8, Mk. 2:1-12, and  Lk 5:17-26)? Well, Fr. Bochanski mentioned a detail of the story in St. Mark's account that I had never noticed before. St. Mark tells us that this happened when Jesus "was at home" (Mark 2:1). 

Well, that means that the guys, who let the paralytic through the roof, had disassembled a part of the roof of Jesus' house, which means that he had to fix it after the incident. Put another way, Jesus was not only a carpenter, He also was a roofer, and who do you think taught him everything he knew about roofing? Joe, of course.

As a side note and pure speculation, perhaps the paralytic had encouraged his friends to take apart the roof and let him down through it. Since he encouraged the destruction of another's property, he would have been culpable for the other mens actions. So, perhaps these were the sins that Jesus forgave (Mark 2:5). After all, I would have been upset if someone had torn apart my roof too.

True Husband and Father

Today, we celebrate the great St. Augustine, the great preacher of the Western Church. In addition to being a great teacher, he also had a great devotion to Joe. Take, for example, Paragraph 26 from one of his homilies on the New Testament:

Among [the Jewish] people then, because it was necessary that there should be an abundant increase until Christ came, by the multiplication of that people in whom were to be prefigured all that was to be prefigured as instruction for the Church, it was a duty to marry wives, by means of whom that people in whom the Church should be foreshown might increase. But when the King of all nations Himself was born, then began the honor of virginity with the Mother of the Lord, who had the privilege of bearing a Son without any loss of her virgin purity. Since it was a true marriage, and a marriage free from all corruption, why should not the husband chastely receive what his wife had chastely brought forth? For as she was a wife in chastity, so was he in chastity a husband; and as she was in chastity a mother, so was he in chastity a father. Whoever then says that he ought not to be called father, because he did not beget his Son in the usual way, looks rather to the satisfaction of passion in the procreation of children, and not the natural feeling of affection. What others desire to fulfill in the flesh, he in a more excellent way fulfilled in the spirit. For thus they who adopt children, beget them by the heart in greater chastity, whom they cannot by the flesh beget. Consider, brethren, the laws of adoption; how a man comes to be the son of another, of whom he was not born, so that the choice of the person who adopts has more right in him than the nature of him who begets him has. Not only then must Joseph be a father, but in a most excellent manner a father...

I also just came across this painting that has Joe and Augustine together. You read a little about it here. St. Augustine is at the bottom left, and Joe is standing right next to Mary. Notice that Jesus and Joe are the only figures looking at each other.

In case of emergency

So, I happened to come across this mug, and knew immediately that I had to share it.

Yes, "In case of emergency ask Joe". While he may not actually be the #sourceofallwisdom, he certainly is the icon of God the Father, who is. So get your own online (you can get it on Amazon), and share with others how Joe has helped you in times of emergency.

Joe at Ephesus

Have you heard the music of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles? If not, you should give them a look (or listen if we want to be technical). Last year, they recorded an album entitled, The Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph at Ephesus. I highly recommend this album and you can get it from their website. Or practically anywhere else online, but remember... support small Catholic Bookstores!

Yummm! Peaches, Prunes, Milk and Rum

I can't say that I've ever had milk and rum. Nor can I say that it sounds appetizing, but apparently St. Therese of Lisieux seemed to enjoy it. In fact, she even seemed to enjoy it so much that she wanted to give some to Joe. This is an account given by one of her sisters (taken from St. Therese of Lisieux: Her Last Conversations, "The Yellow Notebook", July 24).

She [St Therese] had been sent some beautiful fruit but was unable to eat any of it. She took each one in her hands, one after the other, as though offering them to someone, and then she said:
"The Holy Family has been well served. St. Joseph and the little Jesus have each received a peach and two prunes." Then she asked in a low tone of voice: "I've touched them with pleasure, and perhaps that's not good? I get so much pleasure out of touching fruit, especially peaches, and I like to see them near me." 
After I had reassured her, she continued: "The Blessed Virgin had her share, too. When I'm given milk with rum, I offer it to St. Joseph; I say to myself: Oh, how much good this will do to St. Joseph!
In the refectory, I always considered to whom I should offer the food. Sweets were for little Jesus; strong foods were for St. Joseph, and I didn't forget the Blessed Virgin either. But when I missed anything, for example, when they forgot to give me sauce or salad, I was very happy, for then I could really offer it to the Holy Family, being really deprived of what I was offering."

Spanish Joe in Omaha

I had the opportunity to spend some time at the Cathedral of St. Cecilia (Archdiocese of Omaha, NE). Behind the sanctuary, there was a collection of historical pieces of art and there were several images of Joe there. One in particular caught my attention. It was a carved wood altar and reredos (the back decorative "wall" of an altar). The bottom-center piece is the Holy Family. 

A couple interesting observations:

1. Joe and Mary are clothed in the same colors as Our Lady of Guadalupe.
2. Joe and Mary are crowned as king and queen.
3. Joe is wearing sandals, Mary is wearing shoes, and Jesus is not wearing any footwear.
4. Joe is not holding a lily (Lilies have petals in multiples of three, but the flower Joe is holding has five.)
5. Joe is depicted as young, mature man.

St. Joseph Gems: Daily Wisdom On Our Spiritual Father

A friend of mine gifted to me Fr. Donald H. Calloway's book, St. Joseph Gems: Daily Wisdom On Our Spiritual Father. It's a collection of short quotes from various saints on St. Joseph - one for each day of the year. For example, today's quote is from St. Peter Julian Eymard, "He [St. Joseph] will be the spiritual director of my interior life, in order that I may lead the same life with him, hidden with Jesus and Mary."

I highly recommend this little book. It's great for everyone. As the title suggests, it is indeed full of "gems". You can find it almost anywhere online, but as I always encourage others, so I encourage you, buy from "the small guys". I recommend the following:

• Your local Catholic Bookstore
• Direct from Fr. Calloway's website
• The Catholic Company
• Aquinas and More

Joe, Our Tax Collector

Last Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the first reading at Mass were taken from the last chapters of the Book of Genesis. We could easily call these chapters (37-50) 'The Book of Joseph' since it primarily tells the story of the Old Testament Joseph, the last of the great Old Testament Patriarchs.

On Wednesday, I was struck with the image of tax collectors. The Gospel of the day listed the names of the twelve Apostles and referred to Matthew as "the tax collector". Often tax collectors received and continue to receive a bad rapt for their work; however, we learn that the Old Testament Joseph was himself a tax collector--"he collected all the food of these years of plenty that the land of Egypt was enjoying and stored it in the cities" (Gen. 41:48). I know that I have often complained that the government takes too much of my income in taxes; however, one thing is true, they have never taken all of it (despite it feeling like it at times!). Yet, we could say that Joseph did; he collected all the food, not some, not most. How do you think that made the Egyptians feel during those seven years of plenty? Here is a foreigner, ex-slave, and accused sex-offender, demanding all of the produce of their hard earned labor. I would have been extremely upset. But Joseph, unlike so many of the tax-collectors in the New Testament, did not impose ridiculously high taxes for his own sake, but for the sake of others placed under his care by the "god"-man, Pharaoh.

We already know that the Old Testament Joseph prefigures Joe in many ways, so can we say that he prefigures Joe in this way as well? I think the answer is yes.

In my experience in prayer, has been that when I give to Joe any intention -whether in times of spiritual plenitude or famine- he has always taken it and made the situation better. In a way, Joe has become my heavenly tax collector. For the last year or so, I've begun adding to letters "All for Jesus. All through Mary. All with Joseph." This is exactly what the Old Testament Joseph did. He collected the grain with the Egyptian people. I encourage you, maybe I'll even say that I dare you, let Joe be your heavenly tax collector in times of plentitude and famine, whether spiritual or physical. You will not be disappointed! You will survive whatever famine may be coming your way. He has been appointed by the true God-man, Jesus Christ, to this office, and he will not let you die of starvation!

A Year with Joe

It’s hard to believe that it has been a year since we’ve begun “looking for Waldo” on this blog! I’m not exactly sure whether it feels like it’s been more or less than a year ago. (it's been a really wacky year for me!) He truly has blessed my life with his intercession over the course of the year, and I pray that he has blessed you too!

Looking back... I think my favorite post was Joseph in Hades. And I loved all the paintings, iconography, statuary, and mosaics.

Looking forward, please pray for me, and know of my prayers for you and for every person who visits this blog. Joe wants to help us survive whatever famine each of us may be enduring, whether it be spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, or all of the above. “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” (Gen. 41:55)

I am convinced that if we are obedient to Joe as Jesus was, we too shall "advance in wisdom and age and favor before God and man." (Luke 2:51-52). May this next year be fruitful and blessed!

A New-Old Litany

I recently came across this old Litany of St. Joseph. It was published in a Carmelite prayer book published in 1846.

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, spouse of St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Joseph, confirmed in grace, pray for us.
St. Joseph, guardian of the Word Incarnate, pray for us.
St. Joseph, favorite of the King of heaven, pray for us.
St. Joseph, ruler of the family of Jesus, pray for us.
St. Joseph, spouse of the ever-blessed virgin, pray for us.
St. Joseph, example of humility and obedience, pray for us.
St. Joseph, mirror of silence and resignation, pray for us.
St. Joseph, patron of innocence and youth, pray for us.
St. Joseph, exiled with Christ into Egypt, pray for us.
St. Joseph, intercessor for the afflicted, pray for us.
St. Joseph, advocate of the humble, pray for us.
St. Joseph, model of every virtue, pray for us.
St. Joseph, honored among men, pray for us.
St. Joseph, union of all Christian perfections, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
     spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
     graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
     have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O holy St. Joseph,
     that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,
Holy St. Joseph, who is the good and faithful servant, to whom God committed the care of his family and to whom He appointed guardian and protector of the life of Jesus Christ, the comfort and support of His holy mother, and co-partner in His great design of the redemption of mankind.

You Who have the happiness of living with Jesus and Mary, and of dying in their arms; chaste spouse of the mother of God; model and patron of pure souls; humble, patient, and reserved; be moved with the confidence we place in your intercession, and accept with kindness this testimony of our devotion.

We give thanks to God for the signal favors He was pleased to confer on you, and we implore Him to make us imitate your virtues by your intercession.

Pray for us then, O great saint, and by that love, which you had for Jesus and Mary, and by the love which Jesus and Mary had for you, obtain for us the incomparable happiness of living and dying in the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen.

(I revised a bit of the final prayer to be more "modern English" so to say...)