Page 48 - Reflections on St. Joseph

St. Joseph as Patron and Protector

St. Joseph from ages past has been known as a saint who cares for the well being of people generally
and specifically also in relation to the salvation of their souls, hence, St. Teresa of Avila spoke often
of her great devotion to St. Joseph; she claimed that he (St. Joseph) never failed her and always gave
her far more than what she had asked for. St Joseph Marello re echoed this belief when he said that
“if St. Joseph do not grant graces, he will not be St. Joseph”. Thus, it could be said that the name
Joseph is synonymous to granting graces/favours. The experience of the Oblates of St. Joseph
Congregation in Nigeria no doubt witness to this same fact, reflecting on the numerous ways St.
Joseph has acted not only as a patron, but more so as a protector. His statue beautifully mounted
on the seminary Chapel’s dome, as it overlooks the seminary compound speaks on its own the
watchful role St. Joseph has over the entire seminary environment and especially over the
members of the community who fly constantly to his protection.

Although, the first to hold Jesus Christ so dear to his heart, after the Blessed Virgin, the role and
place of St. Joseph in the Church and in the Church’s liturgy was not easy to come by. It was,
nevertheless, with gratitude to God’s grace in the life of St. Joseph that on the feast of the
Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1870, Pope Pius IX, who had defined in 1854 the great dogma
of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception promulgated his encyclical Quemadmodum Deus
proclaiming St. Joseph the “Patron and Protector of the Universal Church,” saying: “In the same
way that he once kept unceasing holy watch over the family of Nazareth, so now does he protect
and defend with his heavenly patronage the Church of Christ.”

In less than 20 years later, Pope Leo XIII wrote
his splendid encyclical letter, Quamquam
Pluries, “On Devotion to St. Joseph”. He ended
the encyclical with this prayer: “Most beloved
father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin. Our
most mighty protector, graciously assist us from
heaven in our struggle with the powers of
darkness, and just as once you saved the Child
Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God’s
holy Church from the snares of her enemies and
from all adversity, shield each one of us by your
constant protection so that supported by your
example and your help, we may be able to live a
pious life and to die a holy death.”

Driven by the singular quest to promote
devotion to this great patriarch, Pope Leo XIII
goes on to address his Venerable Brethren to
support devotion to Joseph: “That God may be
more favourable to our prayers, and that He
may come with bounty and promptitude to the
aid of His Church, We judge it of deep utility for

24 Reflections on st. joseph