Top of the morning! Howdi! Today we celebrate St. Joseph, the Husband of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and the Foster Father of Jesus Christ. He is the Universal Patron of the Catholic Church. I address him as my Father and Lord because he directed the Holy Family of Nazareth. Being the putative dad of Jesus he headed that home where God deigned to be the entry point of His only begotten Son, the Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity, i.e., within a family, the holy Family of Jesus and Mary. Being the head of the home where the Creator of the entire universe was born, grew and matured to be ready for His Public Life when He began with earnest His Mission on earth, he is properly called Father and Lord.
Oh, how must have been that man! We can only imagine it all, based somehow on the few texts about him in the New Testament. How does an ordinary artisan like him make it to be chosen by God, chosen by Mary as her boyfriend and eventually her true husband, chosen by Jesus to be His putative but true earthly father for all intents and purposes? Amazing! It can only be understood somehow by looking it all as a series of gifts from the infinite generosity and love of God. Oh, my gosh! I can imagine the great joy and gratitude of Joseph for all these privileges and honors. I join him with our Blessed Mother in thanking and praising God in aeternum for what we commemorate today!
