What more could possibly be said about Joseph whom all four Gospels refer to as the father of Jesus? Very little is told to us by Matthew and Luke; however, the little that we do know about him reveals a man who was caring, compassionate, and protective of his wife and Son.
And yet there is so much more that can be said about him as a man and father from observing fathers young and old that many of us have experienced in our lifetime, men who themselves were and are compassionate, caring, and protective of their families. This will be my departure in composing a composite picture of who Joseph was and continues to be for me.
Before setting this essay to pen I finished reading the stories of nine young men who shared how it came to be that they asked to join a program of discernment for the religious life and priesthood in the Congregation of Holy Cross. It was clear that their parents had much to do with their taking this step; however, one young man spoke of receiving a letter from his father during a Confirmation retreat in which he told his son that he would make “un buen padre”—that he would make a good priest. I can likewise imagine Joseph, Jesus’ foster-father, encouraging Jesus in His mission and His fidelity to the Heavenly Father’s plan.
Think of fathers we know who were and are strong mentors for their children, sharing skills they possess with them, sharing stories about their family history, giving witness to their faith by their presence at Mass on Sundays and family prayer. All this was second nature to them, something that came naturally to many. Children seeing this made it second nature for them as well.
Sharing stories. How many of us still remember the stories we were told by our fathers that have left an impression on us to this day. I recall visiting a nearby cemetery with my father for whom the visit served two purposes, one to collect dandelion leaves for salad and secondly for us to discover coins he left on some of the headstones that surrounded us. There was also the four o’clock rising every morning to fire the coal fired furnace before departing for his job as a weaver in one of the storied textile mills in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Need I say more. Hopefully you have your own stories about a compassionate, caring, and protective father. To know him is, in a sense, to know Joseph. To continue to love our fathers, living or deceased, is to continue to remember and love Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus.
This October, the Month of the Rosary, “Go to Joseph.” Grow in the faith with your family. Global Prayer Campaign filled with videos, eBooks, podcasts, prayers, reflections, social posts, everything you need for a rich, faith-filled month.
