• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Vocations Logo Blue Cross
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • History
    • Our Mission & Ministries
    • Our Stories
  • Opportunities
    • Discernment Opportunities
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Additional Resources
    • Dictionary
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • History
    • Our Mission & Ministries
    • Our Stories
  • Opportunities
    • Discernment Opportunities
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Additional Resources
    • Dictionary
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • Contact
Home » Blog » Uncategorized » St. Joseph the Worker

St. Joseph the Worker

Today, May 1, is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Scriptures do not tell us much about Joseph, but references to Joseph provide profound yet simple reasons for reflection. We are told that Mary is betrothed to Jospeh, a righteous and just man. Since righteous means virtuous and sharing in God’s own holiness, and being just speaks of truth, when Mary is found with child, Joseph does not wish to embarrass Mary. Rather, he seeks to protect her. Joseph is described as righteous, just, and a protector.

References to the Holy Family frame their settings and experiences as humble and simple. Joseph is a carpenter who teaches Jesus the trade of working with His hands. Perhaps the Scriptures seek to provide a simple and ordinary context for their family life as an example to which other families can relate and aspire. Simplicity and humility are critical attributes describing Joseph within his family structure.

When we reflect on humility, it is a virtue that seeks, recognizes, and acts on the truth. This enables us to maintain and grow in relationships to ourselves, God, and others. Joseph was a humble man who recognized his place in God’s Divine Providence as well as his place in his relationships. His great trust in God enabled him to listen to his heart and the God within him. It allowed for his response to care for and protect Mary and Jesus as husband and foster father.

Joseph’s great love and devotion guided him with a purity of intention. This freed him to love deeply as he listened interiorly within the silence and solitude of his family life, relationships, work, and ministry as a carpenter. He obviously possessed the wisdom and judgement to know what was being asked of him and the generous spirit and trust to respond with great care and love.

Love is wishing someone well and wanting the best for that person. Through the everydayness of his life and witness, Joseph demonstrated great love by being steady, faithful, dependable, and trustworthy. He put his love into practice and lived it. His deep faith enabled him to take his family and flee to Egypt when threatened by harm. His deep trust listened when Jesus responded that He must be about His Father’s business, God’s mission.

Many also invoke St. Joseph as a patron to intercede for them in praying for a happy death. In his openness, simplicity, humility, and quiet presence, his person and life reflect peace and steadfastness. Joseph’s deep faith and trust enabled him to be faithful in loving deeply, teaching Jesus values in everyday life as well as the dignity and contributions of working with his hands in serving the community. St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, was known to have a great devotion to and be an advocate for St. Joseph.

Perhaps, as we approach this feast day, we might ask ourselves the following…

  • Do I set aside space and time for solitude and silence in quiet listening to the Spirit within me?
  • Do my everyday actions reflect the values I hold true?
  • Do my relationships with God, myself, and others resonate with my beliefs?
  • Do I recognize my own gifts as well as those of others?
  • Do I celebrate the dignity of work and my contributions to the local and global community?
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Written by Sister Mary Pat Lenahan, SCL

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Want to be the first to hear about our new discernment opportunities?

Sign up for our email list!

Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Subscribe!

Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • History
    • Our Mission & Ministries
    • Our Stories
  • Opportunities
    • Discernment Opportunities
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • Additional Resources
    • Dictionary
  • Podcasts
  • Blog
  • Contact

Search

Connect

app-store
google-play-badge

© Daughters of Charity | Website by Little Leaf Design

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT