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Dear Parish “Family:”
Happy Feast! Two days after Christmas Day, our focus is on that word “family.” Several weeks ago, on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, our Holy Father, Pope Francis published an “Apostolic Letter” on St. Joseph and established a year of celebrating his role in the Holy Family and his example for us. The Holy Father said:“Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble.”
Families have been isolated together for more time than might have been imagined during these months of pandemic. Normal tensions have likely been accentuated. The Pope gently reminds us:“The Evil one makes us see and condemn our frailty, whereas the Spirit brings it to light with tender love. Tenderness is the best way to touch the frailty within us.”
St. Joseph provides us an example of one who was not overwhelmed by surprises, but stepped back, evaluated his options, and acted decisively. Part of his reflection prior to making a decision required fervent prayer and listening; this is why he was able to hear and heed the messenger of the Lord.“Joseph found happiness not in mere self-sacrifice but in self-gift…Our world today needs fathers. It has no need for tyrants who would domineer others as a means of compensating for their own needs…Every true vocation is born of the gift of oneself, which is the fruit of mature sacrifice…A father who realizes that he is most a father and educator at the point when he becomes ‘useless,’ when he sees that his child has become independent and can walk the paths of life unaccompanied.”
The Holy Father concludes with a prayer we might make our own throughout this year:
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.
Blessed Christmas,
Fr. Bill Foley