PM: Special Edition--Solemnity Of St. Joseph

Foster Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Patron Saint of the Universal Church. Terror of demons. The true strong, silent type. Invoked to avoid a sudden and unprovided death. (And my middle name.) What's not to like about the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary? We now interrupt our regularly scheduled Lenten penances to bring you these brief reflections:

The righteous man shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow up like the cedar of Lebanon; for he is planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of our God.

V. It is good to give praise to the Lord; and to sing in honor of your name.

Ps. 91:13-14; V. 2

Here the word "righteous" is synonymous with the word "just", an adjective commonly associated with St. Joseph (cf. Matt. 1:19). The introit also uses the cedar tree to indicate how strong he, and we, are if our being is rooted in God.

O Lord, you have gone ahead to meet him with goodly blessings; you have placed a crown of precious stones on his head.

V. He asked you for life, and you granted him length of days for ever and ever.

Ps. 20:4; V. 5

In the Gradual, we note what goodly blessings were bestowed on him in being the head of the Holy Family, staring with Jesus and Mary. Tradition holds his length of days ended just before the start of Jesus' public mission. And how great is his reward in Heaven because of this vocation.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.

V. His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the descendants of the righteous will be blessed.

V. Glory and wealth are in his house; and his righteousness endures for ever.

Ps. 111:1-3

The Tract acknowledges, "The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Wisdom 9:10) Joseph's knowledge of the Law through the Word and his just application of it brought him many graces. Those who emulate him as well as Jesus are the mighty; their glory, wealth, and justness will far outlive them on earth, but not in Heaven.

My fidelity and my mercy are with him; and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

Ps. 88:25

The Psalm from which this Offertory was taken (88:2-38) speak of Jesus directly. Since He had to come from the House of David, Joseph was chosen to graph the True Vine to this branch. It is through Christ that Joseph's name is exalted.

Joseph, son of David, fear not to receive Mary as your wife; for that which is conceived in her comes from the Holy Spirit.

Matt. 1:20

One of two options of Communion Antiphons, connected with the same Gospel proclamation. Happy are those who obey God, when the Father with the Spirit sends the Son. Joseph clearly received all the messages from the angel and, with all the trust attributive to Abraham, was blessed by doing the will of God.

My son, why have you treated us so? Your father and I have been anxiously looking for you. How is it that your were seeking me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?

Lk. 2:48-50

The other option is associated with the finding of the Christ Child in the Temple (the other Gospel proclamation), just as it is with the Feast of the Holy Family. Jesus, as son of Joseph, was obedient to him on earth just as He was obedient to His Heavenly Father. Christ was about His Father's business in both His human and Divine natures. With the help of St. Joseph, may we be as well.

Most chaste heart of St. Joseph, intercede for us.