Page 135 - Reflections on St. Joseph

We have said it many times. It has appeared throughout the days of this special Year dedicated
to our Holy Patron. It has expressed the emotions and inner state with which we turn to him....
However, what does this prayer truly represent for our Founder? What is behind its every
phrase and the images that it contains?

Making use, with the due distinctions, of a typical method of our Faith, we can say that its
necessary to go from the lex orandi to the lex credendi to the lex vivendi. The lex orandi represents a
prayer recited many times, that becomes lex credendi by way of a deepening which leads to
understanding, thereby making it lex vivendi, making our own the attitudes expressed by the text.

The title given to this reflection, could become the new name by which we today know this
prayer: the Josephite Totus tuus (on the same level as the Marian expression) because from its
first to its last word, as we will see, it speaks of an attitude of total surrender and entrustment
to the protection and guidance of St. Joseph.

1. The context in which this prayer is born

This prayer is found within Letter 237, written by the Founder to Don Cortona on March 8,
1891. The date of this letter (4 years before his death) helps us to understand that we are
before a humanly and spiritually mature Marello, who in making certain affirmations,
knows well that he is not transmitting some theoretical teaching, taken from the study of
some devotional book, but a direct and real experience of life.

The occasion which led to the genesis of this letter is a situation of practical need. Fr. Cortona
had brought before the Founder a series of projects regarding the expansion of the house of
Santa Chiara in Asti, so as to deal with the growing needs of the Congregation. They had a
certain amount of money available, which created a certain enthusiasm in Fr. Cortona and
others of the Brothers. However, it was still insufficient to cover all the anticipated expenses
and those which might come about due to unforeseen events. For this reason, Marello, who at
other times had shown himself courageous and enterprising, sustained and motivated by the
confidence he placed in God, now discourages the undertaking of the works if the necessary
funding cannot be found, and also so as to not diminish the example of trustworthiness and
poverty that it was necessary to have before the citizens of Asti. Nevertheless, his reasoning,
inspired by great wisdom and prudence, concludes with these words: “let us stop and wait,
that St. Joseph may allow us to hear his voice.” Total entrustment to St. Joseph invites us to
not rush, but rather to wait confidently for the response of Divine Providence through the
mediation of our Patron: “St. Joseph, who has provided up to now will certainly provide even
in the future,” the Founder will write in a later letter (Letter 240).

The text of the letter continues, showing a moment of great excitement that they were living
in Santa Chiara in those days: “We are in his beautiful month; Fr. Cortona preaches his glories;
the Brothers and the whole house invoke his protection with united hearts; Bro. Stefano offers
him the homage of his tribulations and Bro. Massimo, if he in the name of God should ask,
offers his sacrifice - painful but at the same time glorious - of his very life.” Even the suffering

111

Reflections on st. joseph