Encountering the Heart of St. Joseph: A Beloved Father

St. Joseph holds a revered place in the life of the church, not only as the spouse of Our Lady and father to Jesus but also as a beloved father to us. We can see this in the extraordinary number of churches, dioceses and apostolates dedicated to his patronage and his presence in the devotional and liturgical life of the church. 

Why is he such a beloved father? His greatness is found precisely in the fact “that he was the spouse of Mary and the father of Jesus” (“Patris Corde” 1). In the hidden, daily rhythm of life, St. Joseph offered each moment as “a sacrificial service to the mystery of the incarnation and its redemptive purpose” (Patris Corde 1). 

The savior of the world, in his humanity, had St. Joseph as a model of heroic virtue. The protection, care and sacrificial love that St. Joseph poured out to Jesus Christ continues today in the mystical body of Christ, his church. 

We need not hesitate to ask for and trust in the intercession of St. Joseph, our spiritual father.  

Danielle Van Haute
Associate Director
Office of Evangelization & Catechesis,
Diocese of Baton Rouge