Saint Joseph, the Just Man

I was assigned to write a post for the Oblate seminarians' blog this week, so I took the opportunity to explain a little of what the Solemnity of St. Joseph means to us.

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of Mary and Patron of the Universal Church. It is an important day for Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and not just because of zeppole and cannoli; St. Joseph is the patron of our Congregation.

In the late 19th century, there was an entire decade when the Oblates had no new vocations. After struggling through tumultuous times during the foundation and early years of the Congregation, the relative political stability following the unification of Italy in 1870 brought little peace. The Church was under attack from the modernist movement that caused many to question the relevance of faith and morals and even reject them outright, and Pope Pius IX responded by naming St. Joseph, the protector of the Holy Family, Patron of the Universal Church in 1870. At the same time, the Oblates of the Virgin Mary also named St. Joseph patron and began asking his intercession for vocations. There was much doubt; after enduring 40 years of struggle and abuse at the hands of political authorities and socially influential figures, was the Oblate mission over? Was God doing something new at a time when it seemed the charism was needed more than ever? Well, St. Joseph came through and the rest is history.

As our Patron, St. Joseph is an important intercessor, but also a model of virtue. He is a man of obedience: he listened to what was spoken to him by God and acted accordingly (Matthew 1:24, 2:14, 2:21). In this St. Joseph is a model especially for us men in formation, when it is crucial to learn to listen to the voice of God in different ways- through spiritual movements, the discernment of superiors, the circumstances of community life- and to freely embrace his will.

I have personally experienced the important role of St. Joseph’s humble obedience in our Congregation’s works of accompaniment in spiritual direction and retreat ministry, both important for many people who are discerning the will of God in their lives. This ministry requires much preparation in spiritual and intellectual formation, which can seem like an endless uphill climb. But St. Joseph was a man of obedience before action. He is the Just Man because he sacrificed to God what was his due- the mind and heart that God has given to men for the custody of others. It is good for me to be reminded that before anything I study, practice, or preach, the only good I can really do for others is what God asks of me in ordinary daily life.

Station VIII: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem

Lamentations 4:11-14

The Lord has exhausted his anger,

Tissot, Jacques, 1836-1902. The Daughters of Jerusalem.

    poured out his blazing wrath;
He has kindled a fire in Zion
    that has consumed her foundations.
The kings of the earth did not believe,
    nor any of the world’s inhabitants,
That foe or enemy could enter
    the gates of Jerusalem.
Except for the sins of her prophets
    and the crimes of her priests,
Who poured out in her midst
    the blood of the just.
They staggered blindly in the streets,
    defiled with blood,
So that people could not touch
    even their garments:

Psalm 71:1-3, 6

In you, Lord, I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue and deliver me;
    listen to me and save me!
Be my rock of refuge,
    my stronghold to give me safety;
    for you are my rock and fortress.
On you I have depended since birth;
    from my mother’s womb you are my strength;
    my hope in you never wavers.

Luke 23:28-31

“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?”

Station VII: Jesus Falls the Second Time

Hebrews 12:7-8, 11-13

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Psalm 113:1-8

Praise, you servants of the Lord,
    praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
    both now and forever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
    let the name of the Lord be praised.
High above all nations is the Lord;
    above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord our God,
    enthroned on high,
    looking down on heaven and earth?
He raises the needy from the dust,
    lifts the poor from the ash heap,
Seats them with princes,
    the princes of the people.

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

Station VI: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

Tissot, Jacques, 1836-1902. A Holy Woman Wipes the Face of Jesus.

Isaiah 58:6, 10-11a

Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of wickedness,
    to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
    and to break every yoke?
If you pour yourself out for the hungry
    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be as the noonday.
And the Lord will guide you continually,
    and satisfy your desire with good things.

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff comfort me.

Luke 12:4-9

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

Station V: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus to Carry His Cross

1 Peter 4:13, 19

Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. Those who suffer in accord with God’s will hand their souls over to a faithful creator as they do good.

Psalm 40:6, 9, 12b

You, yes you, O Lord, my God,
    have done many wondrous deeds!
And in your plans for us
    there is none to equal you.
Should I wish to declare or tell them,
    too many are they to recount.
I delight to do your will, my God;
    your law is in my inner being!
May your mercy and your faithfulness
    continually protect me.

Matthew 25:37-40

Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Tissot, Jacques, 1836-1902. Simon the Cyrenian Compelled to Carry the Cross with Jesus.

Station IV: Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother

Luke 2:34-35

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Psalm 46:2-4

God is our refuge and our strength,
    an ever-present help in distress.
Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken

Tissot, Jacques, 1836-1902. Jesus Meets his Mother.

    and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,
Though its waters rage and foam
    and mountains totter at its surging.

John 19:26-27

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Station III: Jesus Falls the First Time

Isaiah 40:30-31

Tissot, Jacques, 1836-1902. Jesus Falls Beneath the Cross.

Though young men faint and grow weary,
    and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength,
    they will soar on eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
    walk and not grow faint.

Psalm 143:1, 3

Lord, hear my prayer;
    in your faithfulness listen to my pleading;
    answer me in your righteousness.
The enemy has pursued my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground.
He has made me dwell in darkness
    like those long dead.

Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."

Station II: Jesus Bears his Cross

Isaiah 53:4-6

Yet it was our pain that he bore,
    our sufferings he endured.
We thought of him as stricken,
    struck down by God and afflicted,
But he was pierced for our sins,
    crushed for our iniquity.
He bore the punishment that makes us whole,
    by his wounds we were healed.
We had all gone astray like sheep,
    all following our own way;
But the Lord laid upon him
    the guilt of us all.

Psalm 40:2-4

Surely, I wait for the Lord;
    who bends down to me and hears my cry,
Draws me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the muddy clay,
Sets my feet upon rock,
    steadies my steps,
And puts a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn to our God.
Many shall look on in fear
    and they shall trust in the Lord.

Mark 8:34-35

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."

Tissot, Jacques, 1836-1902. Jesus Bearing the Cross.

Station I: Jesus is Condemned to Death

Wisdom 2:1a, 12, 14-15, 17-22

The wicked said among themselves,
    thinking not aright:
"Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is obnoxious to us;
    he opposes our actions,
Reproaches us for transgressions of the law
    and charges us with violations of our training.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts;
    merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others,
    and different are his ways.
Let us see whether his words be true;
    let us find out what will happen to him in the end.
For if the righteous one is the son of God, God will help him
    and deliver him from the hand of his foes.

Tissot, Jacques, 1836-1902. Ecce Homo.

With violence and torture let us put him to the test
    that we may have proof of his gentleness
    and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
    for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”
These were their thoughts, but they erred;
    for their wickedness blinded them,
And they did not know the hidden counsels of God;
    neither did they count on a recompense for holiness

    nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.

Psalm 35:7, 11-12, 27-28

Without cause they set their snare for me;
    without cause they dug a pit for me.
Malicious witnesses rise up,
    accuse me of things I do not know.
They repay me evil for good;
    my soul is desolate.
But let those who favor my just cause
    shout for joy and be glad.
May they ever say, “Exalted be the Lord
    who delights in the peace of his loyal servant.”
Then my tongue shall recount your justice,
    declare your praise, all the day long.

John 3:14-15

"And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

Saint Peter Chrysologus on Mercy in Lent

The Office of Readings today has a gem from St. Peter Chrysologus that explains the spirit of lenten observances very lucidly.

If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery.

As Laetare Sunday approaches, I am glad to be reminded to be mindful and evaluate my lenten practices, especially in this jubilee year of mercy, and recall that forgiveness of injuries opens the wounded heart to receive forgiveness from God.

Second reading

From a sermon by Saint Peter Chrysologus, bishop

Prayer knocks, fasting obtains, mercy receives

There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other.

Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others you open God’s ear to yourself.

When you fast, see the fasting of others. If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery.

Let this be the pattern for all men when they practice mercy: show mercy to others in the same way, with the same generosity, with the same promptness, as you want others to show mercy to you.

Therefore, let prayer, mercy and fasting be one single plea to God on our behalf, one speech in our defense, a threefold united prayer in our favor.

Let us use fasting to make up for what we have lost by despising others. Let us offer our souls in sacrifice by means of fasting. There is nothing more pleasing that we can offer to God, as the psalmist said in prophecy: A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God does not despise a bruised and humbled heart.

Offer your soul to God, make him an oblation of your fasting, so that your soul may be a pure offering, a holy sacrifice, a living victim, remaining your own and at the same time made over to God. Whoever fails to give this to God will not be excused, for if you are to give him yourself you are never without the means of giving.

To make these acceptable, mercy must be added. Fasting bears no fruit unless it is watered by mercy. Fasting dries up when mercy dries up. Mercy is to fasting as rain is to the earth. However much you may cultivate your heart, clear the soil of your nature, root out vices, sow virtues, if you do not release the springs of mercy, your fasting will bear no fruit.

When you fast, if your mercy is thin your harvest will be thin; when you fast, what you pour out in mercy overflows into your barn. Therefore, do not lose by saving, but gather in by scattering. Give to the poor, and you give to yourself. You will not be allowed to keep what you have refused to give to others.