Year of St. Joseph (Part 1)

(An excerpt during the reflection night on St. Joseph by Rev. Fr. Wilfredo de Mesa Jr. OSJ, Parochial Vicar of Sanctuario de San Jose in Green Hills, Manila, via DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM-Davao, April 29, 2021. The Oblates of St. Joseph is a Congregation of priests and brothers who live the spirituality of St. Joseph. They work for the education of the Youth, the parish ministry and the propagation of the devotion to St. Joseph. Part 1 of a series.)

Theme: “St. Joseph: Protector of the Church, Model of Stewardship”

My dear brothers and sisters, we all know that Pope Francis, our present pope, proclaimed a year of St. Joseph to run December 8, 2020 through December 8, 2021. And in conjunction with this proclamation of the year of St. Joseph, our pope released an Apostolic Letter entitled, “Patris Corde”, in English ‘With a Father’s Heart’. In this letter, Pope Francis reflects on the virtues of St. Joseph as a father to our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The timing of the proclamation of the Year of St. Joseph was perfect, since it coincides with the 150th Anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as patron of the whole Church – patron of the Universal Church. St. Joseph was declared patron of the whole Church by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1870. Alam niyo po, nong panahong yon, the Church was under extreme persecution. The Church was in turmoil, especially the heart of the Church which is Rome, because the Pope was persecuted by the government and the Papal State, meaning the lands and properties belonging to the Church in Italy, were ceased by the government, by the new government of Italy. Only the 44-hectare land of the Pope in Vatican City remained. The question during that time was, ‘To whom shall the Church go?’

And you know my brothers and sisters hundreds of bishops and religious superiors around the world submitted a petition to Pope Pius the IX, asking the Pope to go to St. Joseph and to declare St. Joseph as patron, as protector to the universal Church. Why? Because just as God entrusted His Only Begotten Son and His mother to Joseph, the Church should entrust herself to St. Joseph. Just as St. Joseph protected the Child and the Blessed Virgin Mary from all sorts of danger, the Church, which is the Body of Christ, is sure that St. Joseph will also protect her from all dangers and will help her in all the challenges. And that is the context of the proclamation of St. Joseph as patron of the universal Church.

Now, this year, after 150th Year of the proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis declared the Jubilee Year of St. Joseph. What is the purpose of this special year of St. Joseph?

According to Pope Francis, it is the wonderful opportunity to increase our knowledge and love for St. Joseph, to encourage us to implore his intercession, and to imitate his virtues and zeal. Yan, tatlo po mga kapatid ang ating goals ngayong Year of St. Joseph. Nabangit ko, una, to increase our knowledge and love of St. Joseph. Ang purpose po ng ating Year of St. Joseph ay madagdagan pa ang ating kaalaman at yung ating pagmamahal kay San Jose. Marami po tayong alam tungkol sa ibang mga santo. May kanya-kanya po tayong mga santo na pinagdedebosyonan. Hindi po ba? Marami sa atin may debosyon kay Padre Pio o kay St. Francis of Asisi o kay St. Anthony of Padua o kay St. Benedict. Banggitin narin natin ang mga deboto ng Mahal na Birhen Maria. Napakarami po, merong mga devotees ng Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, etc.. Pero wag po daw nating kakalimutan si San Jose. Bakit po? Because, next to the Blessed Virgin Mary, it was St. Joseph who played a significant role in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sabi po ng aming founder na si St. Joseph Marello, ‘St. Joseph, you are the first one to hold in your arms, to enfold in your arms the redeemer.’

Si San Jose daw po ang unang-unang tao na yumakap sa ating Manunubos. Sya po ang kauna-unahang tao na humawak sa ating Manunubos. Hindi ba? Balikan natin po yong ‘The Manger’ scene. Marahil si San Jose lamang at si Maria ang naroon noong iniluwal ng ating Mahal na Birhen ang ating Manunubos. At sino ang unang-unang tao na humawak sa kanya? Walang iba ko di si San Jose. There is a book written by Fr. Francis Filas entitled, “St. Joseph: The Man Closest to Jesus”. Kaya mahalaga na makilala natin at mas mapalalim natin ang ating pagmamahal kay San Jose, sapagkat sigurado tayo na mapapalapit din tayo kay Jesus, sapagkat si San Jose napakalapit kay Jesus.