St. Joseph, that great saint!

Mireille Haj-Chahine

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Brightly coloured painting of the Holy Family with thin gold halos. St. Joseph is leaning against a workbench, and the Child Jesus is standing next to St. Mary who is seated. One of Jesus' hands is on Mary's shoulder, the other is raised in blessing.
Image from iStock.
 

Let us implore his intercession and imitate his virtues.

St. Joseph is the father of the Holy Family. A carpenter from Nazareth, he always trusted in Divine Providence when faced with difficulties. His enlightened fatherly heart helped him turn every problem into an opportunity. He was courageous and relied on God to come to his aid and save him, as when he listened to the angel and avoided Herod by going to Egypt. Not to mention his creativity, which has gained momentum ever since!     
 

Papal devotion to St. Joseph

In his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde, Pope Francis proposed St. Joseph as a model of fatherhood for today. He also proclaimed a special year dedicated to him, from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021. 
Let us entrust ourselves to our Heavenly Father today and always. Let us also implore the intercession of St. Joseph in our lives, as we are called to imitate his virtues. Here are the characteristics that perfectly describe St. Joseph in the apostolic letter:  
  • Beloved Father
  • Father of Tenderness
  • Father in Obedience
  • Father in acceptance, “who accepts the will of God and of his neighbor.”
  • Father of creative courage, an example of love for the Church and the poor
  • Working Father, “Patron of Workers” …“and who teaches the value, dignity, and joy of work.”
  • Father in the shadows, “stepping aside out of love for Mary and Jesus.”
In the letter, Pope Francis mentioned that he said this Prayer to the Spouse of Mary every day “for over 40 years”:
Glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, whose power makes the impossible possible, comes to my aid in these times of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome. My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power. Amen.
The late pope explained that this prayer “expresses devotion and trust” in St. Joseph; but also “poses a certain challenge” to him, especially in that final sentence (Patris Corde fn 10).
In 1898, Pope Leo XIII crafted a similar prayer at the end of his own encyclical on devotion to St. Joseph:
As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril,
so now protect God's Holy Church
from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;
shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection,
so that, supported by your example and your aid,
we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness,
and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.
Amen
(Adapted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops).
 

My personal devotion to St. Joseph

Every year, the Feast of St. Joseph brings me a wealth of memories and nostalgia. It is a feast day that means a great deal to me and to our entire family. He is our role model, just as my father was. No surprise there!! But in my opinion, it is a divine blessing, a gift from Heaven.
Furthermore, I wanted to write this article to express how proud I am of my father! I would love for him to read these lines and know how much we are all following in his footsteps, and how much we look to him as a role model as well. What a blessing and what grace have accompanied us in our lives up to this day, from the beautiful legacy we received as Christians and Catholics to the smallest acts of kindness done with a sincere heart. 
My father, following the example of St. Joseph, was beloved and respected by everyone. "People knew him as “a man of God and a father of the poor.” He saw others’ suffering with compassion. That is the very essence of what it means to be merciful. In his day, he would go out early to make his rounds through the city, focusing on the homes he knew were struggling to provide for their families. He would discreetly leave all sorts of necessary food items at their doorsteps and then slip away, for he did not like to be seen or recognized.        
A real-life coincidence: my father’s name was “Youssef,” the Arabic version of “Joseph!” He was born on the feast of St. Joseph, his patron and role model, and he passed away on the eve of St. Joseph’s Day as well. In his life, he was a man of God on earth. Through his clear discernment and benevolent conduct, he behaved faithfully and discreetly, following the example of St. Joseph.  
We felt blessed to have a father who was so humble, just, and wonderful all at once. An honest man who cared for the disadvantaged, supported the poor, and reflected the teachings of the Church through his actions. He took our beloved St. Joseph as his model of life to follow. He identified with him in everything.
What models of fatherhood do you have today? Share your thoughts with us.


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