On 8 December 1870 Blessed Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph as the
Patron of the Universal Church in his papal decree Quemadmodum Deus.
This declaration also raised the feast of St. Joseph on March 19 to the rank of
double of the first class, i.e., solemnity. This year marks the hundred and
fiftieth anniversary of this remarkable event in the history of the Church. In
honour of this memory, Pope Francis has written an apostolic letter entitled ‘Patris
Corde’ (with the Father’s heart). To celebrate 150th anniversary
in a grand manner, the holy father has proclaimed a special ‘Year of St.
Joseph’ beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of 2020 until
the same feast in 2021.
In Patris Corde the Holy
Father presents the foster father of Jesus Christ with the different attributes
of a model father. In the gospels we find very few information about St.
Joseph. In fact, there is no single mention of his words found in the four
gospels. However, his heroic qualities are evident in the first four books of
the New Testament. Yet, after, the Blessed Mother Mary, no saint is mentioned
frequently in the papal magisterium than Joseph, her spouse. Pope Francis wants
to continue this tradition with his personal reflection on the Patron of the
Universal Church. We know that St. Joseph is honoured and reflected under many
titles like Patron of workers, Guardian of the Redeemer and Patron of a happy
death. The novelty that the Supreme Pontiff wants to highlight in his apostolic
letter is the extraordinary figure of the father, so close to our human
experience.
The Pope sheds light on seven aspects of the fatherly figure of Joseph. Firstly, he was a Beloved Father. The popular scriptural expression, “Go to Joseph” which is also attributed to the earthly father of Jesus, shows his amiability in embracing his role in the history of salvation. He was a Tender and Loving Father since he was one of the principal causes of the earthly wisdom and the physical strength of our Saviour. He was an Obedient Father as he was ever-ready to execute the plan of God in protecting the baby Jesus. Therefore he was also an Accepting Father. Pope expresses this quality as: “Joseph is certainly not passively resigned, but courageously and firmly proactive.” Thus he was also a Creatively Courageous Father. His fidelity was creative. We can learn from St. Joseph that in the face of difficulty, we can either give up and walk away, or somehow engage with it. At times, difficulties bring out resources we did not even think we had. Joseph was evidently a Working Father. Jesus was addressed as the son of carpenter who is an epitome of the dignity of work. At last he was a Father in the Shadows who was the earthly shadow of the Heavenly Father for Jesus Christ.
The aim of Patris Corde is to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal. Therefore let us pray with Pope Francis which he has written at the end of this apostolic letter:
“Hail, Guardian of the
Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his
only Son;
in you Mary placed her
trust;
with you Christ became
man.
Blessed Joseph, to us
too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage,
and defend us from every evil.” Amen.