9781644135945

The Easter Cycle
provider, and father. God gave him all the rights and duties of a father with regard to Jesus.
Faithful to his duty, and true to his responsibility, Joseph withdrew into Egypt for the safety
of Mary and the child. During those bitter years of exile, he provided for the needs of his
little family. Eventually he returned to Galilee, and there in the seclusion of Nazareth he
continued his role as provider, guide, and protector of Jesus and Mary.
Joseph is also the protector and patron of Holy Mother the Church. In 1870, when the
Church was in great peril, Pius IX selected St. Joseph as the patron of the universal Church; the
Holy Family of Nazareth has become the family of God, the Church Universal.
The duties which Joseph once performed for Jesus and Mary he now performs for Holy
Mother the Church and all her children. He performs these functions for us with the same love,
the same fidelity, the same strength which he once displayed with respect to Jesus and Mary.
The liturgy of the day presents him in this way. We gratefully accept his protection as we recite
the words of the Introit: “The Lord is our helper and protector; in Him our heart shall rejoice,
and in His holy name we have trusted, alleluia, alleluia.” Then we make this request: “Give ear,
O Thou that rulest Israel [Holy Mother the Church], Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep.” St.
Joseph in turn assures us: “In whatever tribulation they shall cry to me, I will hear them, and
be their protector always” (Alleluia verse). Then in the name of Holy Mother the Church we
beg of St. Joseph: “Do thou, O Joseph, make us lead an innocent life; may it ever be shielded
by thy patronage” (Alleluia verse).
The Church has great confidence in the protection of St. Joseph. “If armies in camp should
stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in
this will I be confident. I praise thee forever, for thou art a mighty protector” (Responsory
at Matins). Holy Mother the Church places these words in the mouth of St. Joseph: “The
Lord has made me to be as the father of a king, and the ruler over all His possessions. He
has exalted me that He might save many peoples. Come unto me, and I will give you all
the riches of Egypt, that you may eat of the fat of the land” (ibid.). “The people cried out to
the king seeking nourishment, to whom he responded: Go to Joseph.” We, too, have been
directed to seek the help of St. Joseph. We cry out to him. “Our salvation is in thy hand. Only
glance at us, and we will gladly serve the king” (Responsory at Matins). Thus we understand
the admonition of the Church, “Go to Joseph.”
We know that St. Joseph will care for us with the same solicitude and love with which he
cared for Jesus and Mary. That is the ground for our implicit faith in him. He assures us: “In
whatever tribulation they shall cry to me, I will hear them, and be their protector always.” St.
Joseph hears in our prayers the voice of the Savior who prays in us. Can he refuse to give ear
to us? Can he leave our petition unanswered? He cannot if we have the confidence which the
liturgy has in his burning zeal. It would have us honor him and fly to his patronage in all matters
of our external life and in our exertions to acquire virtue and sanctity.
Prayer
O God, who in Thy ineffable providence hast willed to select the blessed Joseph as the spouse
of Thy holy mother, we beseech Thee that we who honor him as our protector on earth, may
deserve to have him for our intercessor in heaven. Who livest and reignest for all eternity. Amen.
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