It was St. Bernadine of Siena who, in speaking about St. Joseph, said that "Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand." Nothing could be truer about St. Joseph. He was chosen as the man to watch over the Father's greatest treasure, his Son, Jesus Christ, and Joseph's wife, Mary, the mother of the Son of God. It was this man, Joseph, that we honor today, especially in our parish on Capitol Hill. Joseph was that good and faithful servant.
For us today, we can look to Joseph, as one person put it, and see the "can-do" saint. Joseph is the model of the silent listener. Not one recorded word in the Bible from his lips. But he was a "listener" of remarkable skill. Four times an angel spoke to him and four times Joseph immediately took on the task. Challenging and questioning the task, despite the difficulties associated with it, was never a reality for Joseph.
We know the legend: ask for something from St. Joseph and surely it will be granted. From one who has heard many stories, take this word of advice: be most careful what you ask for from this saint ... because you are going to get something in return!!!
For us today, we can look to Joseph, as one person put it, and see the "can-do" saint. Joseph is the model of the silent listener. Not one recorded word in the Bible from his lips. But he was a "listener" of remarkable skill. Four times an angel spoke to him and four times Joseph immediately took on the task. Challenging and questioning the task, despite the difficulties associated with it, was never a reality for Joseph.
We know the legend: ask for something from St. Joseph and surely it will be granted. From one who has heard many stories, take this word of advice: be most careful what you ask for from this saint ... because you are going to get something in return!!!
