The following are 10 “Cuppa Joe” reflections honoring the Year of St. Joseph and inspired by “10 wonders” of St. Joseph described by Father Donald Calloway, a priest of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, in his 2019 book, “Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.”
St. Joseph: ‘The Delight of Saints’
This is the first of 10 monthly “Cuppa Joe” reflections honoring the Year of St. Joseph and inspired by “10 wonders” of St. Joseph described by Father Donald Calloway
St. Joseph as a spiritual father
What does it mean to say that St. Joseph is our spiritual father? Well, for starters, it means that he does all the things any earthly father would do for those he protects and serves.
Joseph, young husband of Mary
We have become so accustomed to the white-haired Joseph depicted in so many paintings and icons that we almost take it for granted that he was an old man. Where does this idea come from? Scripture tells us nothing about his age, but the tradition that Joseph was an aged widower with children of his own reaches back at least to the second century. It served to emphasize the perpetual virginity of Our Lady, and also offered a possible explanation for the so-called “brethren” of Jesus in the Gospels.
Joseph, virginal father of Jesus
When asked to speak on the virginity of St. Joseph, I tried to convince Deacon Dan Gannon to switch talks. Deacon Gannon’s talk “Wonder 9: Patron of a Happy Death” (Nov. 2) will be at the Carondelet Center, which the Sisters of St. Joseph own, and I worked as a nursing supervisor at the retirement home of the sisters for years. I have been with many sisters as they experienced a happy death. But, alas, Deacon Gannon did not want to give up a happy death for virginity.
Joseph, just and reverent
Matthew the Evangelist calls St. Joseph a just man in Matthew 1:19, and from this biblical chapter Father Donald Calloway (Stockbridge, MA: Marian Press, 2020) expands the saint’s title to “Just and Reverent Man” in his book “Consecration to St. Joseph.” Here are the two most pertinent biblical verses, according to the English Standard Version of the Bible, with three key words in bold:
Joseph, ‘savior of the Savior’
“Who gave life to Jesus? It was Mary. Who saved his life? It was Joseph,” declares Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. “Be silent, patriarchs; be silent, prophets; be silent, apostles, confessors and martyrs. Let St. Joseph speak, for this honor is his alone; he alone is savior of the Savior.”
Did Joseph ever make a Holy Hour?
It seems God likes to do big things in hiding.
St. Joseph’s silent witness and example
If St. Joseph had a country song, it would be “When You Say Nothing at All,” by Keith Whitley and famously performed by Alison Krauss. Not a word of St. Joseph is recorded in Scripture. We only read of how God speaks to him and how he responds. St. John Paul II praises St. Joseph, in “Redemptoris Custos,” for his ready response to the Lord, which characterizes “Joseph’s Way.” Pope Benedict praises Joseph’s silence because it shows he is “steeped in contemplation of the mystery of God.” In all this, St. Joseph is a silent witness, not only to the mystery of the Incarnation and salvation, but to the Christian life. St. Joseph says it best when he says nothing at all.
Patron of a happy death
There’s a fourth-century prayer to St. Joseph that concludes, “St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you with Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him close in my name and kiss his fine head for me, and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us.” It’s a tender image, and the ancient sentiment resonates today: Joseph as protector, even to death.
St. Joseph, Terror of demons
As we end this year dedicated to St. Joseph, there is one title that is as strange as it is provocative: “St. Joseph, Terror of Demons.” Normally we think of demons causing terror instead of them experiencing terror.
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