Page 102 - Reflections on St. Joseph

Benedict XVI, at No. 124, he tells us: “‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey
it!’ (11:28). Jesus points out Mary’s true grandeur, making it possible for each of us to attain that
blessedness which is born of the word received and put into practice. I remind all Christians that
our personal and communal relationship with God depends on our growing familiarity with the
word of God”. As our Founder, St. Joseph Marello, teaches us, St. Joseph is the depository and
confidant of the most profound “Intimate relationship with the Divine Word”. “This is the most
profound truth about St. Joseph, and which constitutes his true greatness: his intimate
relationship with Jesus, the Son of God. A relationship with is communion of live, sharing of ideas,
exchange of affection, service of love”. (San José Marello en los escritos del P. Geremia. Oblati di S.
Giuseppe 1993). And so also “his true food is to do the Will of God”, the Word of God is truly his
home, from which it is completely natural for him to enter and leave. He speaks and thinks the
Word of God; the Word of God becomes his word, and his word is born from the Word God. In this
way he demonstrates, besides, that his thoughts are in harmony with the thought of God, that his
will is a will with God. Having been intimately penetrated by the Word of God, he can be chosen as
father of the Incarnate Word.

ACTIVITES OF THE JOSEPHITE SPIRITUALITY IN THE PROVINCE OF MEXICO

From the First Evangelization, this Country has been consecrated to the fatherly protection of St.
Joseph, we are in the XVI century, when the first Parish on this American Continent was dedicated
to “St. Joseph of the naturals” where there was also a school of arts and offices, hosted by the first
missionaries. This serves as a reference toward the value of the great tradition of devotion of this
people toward our Great Patriarch who on the other hand, paradoxically, is not well known. The
great popular devotion which led to naming and dedicating many towns and cities after this great
Patriarch and to name many male children “Joseph”.

So for us today in this Province, as Oblates of St. Joseph, and to be celebrating a jubilee year given
the sixty years of our presence in these lands, this is a great task and challenge, to make known and
practiced the virtues and examples and to promote devotion to the Patriarch of Nazareth. As can
be seen, hearing this gentle name so close to Jesus and Mary, always so well received, it would seem
that we all feel close, that we know him, venerate him, but when we want to deepen our meditation
of his ministry, we realize that there is still much we need to do and to say.

Inspired by their spiritual membership in our Religious Family, the first fathers who arrived as
missionaries in these land, took up the task of promoting this devotion as a fundamental part of
our Charism. So today, we administer in three sectors, three Parishes dedicated to our Holy Patron.
St. Joseph of the Mountain in the city of Monterery, in the Topo Chico colony, St. Joseph in the
Jardines del Alba colony of Cuautitlán, Izcalli and St. Joseph Atlán, belonging to the Diocese of Tula,
recently canonically erected, but with a decades long tradition of his Patronage. In these large
pastoral areas, the Patronal and civic feast is celebrate with great solemnity, with the great
participation of civic and ecclesiastical authorities. This feast is preceded by a novena and by strong
moments of the celebration of sacraments of first communions and multiple confirmations. In the
minor seminary in Tepalcapa dedicated to St. Joseph, there is also offered a very significant feast
presided over by the Bishop and the Educative Community of the “Fray Bartolomé de las Casas”

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