Page 69 - Reflections on St. Joseph

the proof that in order to be a good and genuine follower of Christ, there is no need of great things-it
is enough to have the common, simple and human virtues, but they need to be true and authentic”
(Homily from 03/19/1969).

In the examples which St. Joseph left for us “it is clear that God expects from each one of us that which
he has a right to expect, that is the faithful and generous response to his call, his will, and his desires. The
faithful and diligent use of all his natural and supernatural gifts which He himself has given to each one,
according to the different happenings in life and the duties of ones proper state” (Pius XI).

“St. Joseph is a man of few words but of an intense life, who does not shrink back before the responsibilities
which he received from God. He is an example of great availability to the Divine call, of peacefulness in
all things, of complete trust found in a life of supernatural faith and charity and of that very effective
instrument which is prayer” (Giovanni XXIII).

There is no doubt that within the History of Salvation the vocation of St. Joseph must be
considered and his role as the son of David, spouse of Mary Most Holy and father of Jesus
recognized. His is not a second place role and he was in no way left on the margins of the
Redemption, from the moment that he received from God that highest responsibility, equalled
only by the infinite trust which was his response, having been entrusted with the most precious
treasures of Jesus and Mary.

St. Joseph received from God the grace to take a direct role in the mystery of the Incarnation of his
Son and to be his minister. “Descendant of David”, he passed on to Jesus the Davidic descent,
indispensable for being recognized as the Messiah. He was the one to have Jesus listed among the
citizens of the known world as that time, enrolling him as his son, in Bethlehem, during the census
of Augustus. He was the one to introduce him into the People of the Covenant, having him
circumcised. He was the one how gave him his
name, presented him to the Father in the
Temple and fulfilled for him the right of
offering of the first-born. He was the one who
protected him, along with his Mother, in the
flight into Egypt and then reintroduced him
into the land of Israel. Choosing as his home
Nazareth, he made it so that his fellow
countrymen would call him a “Nazarene”. He
was the one to support him and educate him,
giving him a place in society and in an
honorable profession, while forming him in
prayer and in the knowledge of life and of the
world.

Called by God to serve directly the person and
mission of Jesus in the exercise of his
fatherhood, in fulfilment of the divine will,
Joseph was truly indispensable in the
realization of God’s plan, cooperating in the
great mystery of the Redemption and becoming

Reflections on st. joseph 45