St. Joseph - The Silent Saint Everyone Loves
March 19th is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, the man who raised Jesus. It’s a universal feast since Joseph is the patron saint of the whole Catholic Church. It is interesting how much this mysterious man captures the hearts and minds of the whole church Joseph is the silent saint. We know very little about him. We know he was a carpenter. We know he married Mary and had doubts and fears when he found out she was pregnant. We know he was descended from King David. But other than that we know nothing about him. He never speaks in the scriptures. But he did listen. He listened to God. He listened to God when he was asked not to send Mary away. He listened to God when he had to flee Bethlehem and become a refugee in Egypt, and he listened to God when it was time to return to Israel and begin life again. So how did such a silent saint become so popular? No doubt his role in salvation history, as a member of the Holy Family—responsible for caring for Mary and raising Jesus—is a part of the answer, but that can’t be all of it. John the Baptist is also crucial in salvation history, and while he is much revered, he is not beloved in quite the same way by so many ordinary Catholics. Ordinary Catholics all over the world love Joseph. Maybe it’s because Joseph, too, was “ordinary.” Joseph is remembered for being a good husband and a good parent. He is remembered for dedicating himself to his work—work he did with his hands. And he is remembered for his extra-ordinary obedience to God in that ordinary life. He is a model for the great majority of saints. Most saints, most Christians, are like Joseph: They work, they love their families, they raise their children as best they can, and they try to be faithful to God in all of that. Most people are “quiet” saints. History is full of them. We usually don’t know their stories precisely because they are “ordinary” and “quiet.” Maybe Christians through the ages have seen in Joseph a reflection of themselves. He was a good man who did his best and was devoted to God. That’s it. And that’s all God wanted. God wanted someone to be a good husband, father, and worker. God found Joseph, and Joseph stepped up to the plate. Most of us know saints like Joseph. Few of us know saints like the rest of them: the saints who do spectacular things, or write incredible books, or even give their lives for the faith. We need them too. But we are raised by people like St. Joseph, we are taught the faith by people like St. Joseph, and the world functions because people dedicate themselves to their task, whatever it may be, as Joseph did. The great love that the Church has for St. Joseph is probably a reflection of the great love that God has for this quiet man. Joseph did what God asked without much fanfare, just as most good people do. And while it can seem that the quiet saints are forgotten by history, they are certainly not forgotten by God. Maybe in the kingdom, God welcomes all the “quiet” saints the way he welcomed Joseph. Maybe the Church knows this deep down, and that’s why Joseph has such a place of honor in our hearts. |
![]()
|
Subscribe
Recent Posts
Topics
- Sharon Krause (136)
- RENEW International (124)
- Reflections on the coming Sunday's Gospel (111)
- Hear the Word! by Bill Ayres (41)
- Bill Ayres (38)
- Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (21)
- Jesus Christ (16)
- Lent (14)
- Advent (11)
- everyday prayer (11)
- Lenten season (10)
- The Everyday Gospel: Deacon Charles Paolino (10)
- John the Baptist (8)
- Jesus Christ the King (7)
- take time to pray (7)
- trust in God (7)
- Catholic social teaching (6)
- God in daily life (6)
- Gratitude to God (6)
- The Good Shepherd (6)
- forgiveness (6)
- justice (6)
- praying (6)
- resurrection (6)
- Advent prayer (5)
- Dignity and the Death Penalty (5)
- Fifth Sunday of Lent (5)
- Palm Sunday (5)
- Scripture (5)
- Third Sunday of Lent (5)
- gratitude (5)
- patience (5)
- renewing our faith (5)
- Christmas (4)
- Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (4)
- Fourth Sunday in Lent (4)
- Gifts of the Holy Spirit (4)
- Lenten journey (4)
- Second Sunday of Advent (4)
- Second Sunday of Lent (4)
- Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (4)
- Sign of the Cross (4)
- Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (4)
- The Holy Spirit accompanies us (4)
- The Resurrection of the Lord (4)
- care for those in poverty (4)
- daily prayer (4)
- death penalty (4)
- epiphany (4)
- faith in Jesus (4)
- first sunday of Lent (4)
- mercy (4)
- prayer (4)
- spontaneous prayer (4)
- suffering servant (4)
- third sunday in ordinary time (4)
- 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- Awaken to the Spirit (3)
- Easter (3)
- Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (3)
- Fifth Sunday of Easter (3)
- God's forgiveness (3)
- God's gifts (3)
- God's love (3)
- Holy Spirit (3)
- Holy Trinity (3)
- Jesus walks on water (3)
- Marian devotion (3)
- Pentecost (3)
- Seventh Sunday of Easter (3)
- Sixth Sunday of Easter (3)
- Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (3)
- The Ascension (3)
- body and blood of Christ (3)
- celebration of the Eucharist (3)
- dignity of each person (3)
- doubting Thomas (3)
- feast of pentecost (3)
- gifts from God (3)
- good deeds (3)
- humility (3)
- open to the Holy Spirit (3)
- pray for peace (3)
- solemnity of the most holy body and blood of chris (3)
- spreading good news (3)
- woman at the well (3)
- 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- Annunciation (2)
- Baptism of the Lord (2)
- Christ the King (2)
- Christian discipleship (2)
- Christmas Day (2)
- Christmas shopping (2)
- Easter joy (2)
- Easter season of rebirth (2)
- Eucharist (2)
- Feeding the hungry (2)
- First Sunday of Advent (2)
- Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- Fourth Sunday of Easter (2)
- God is love (2)
- God who loves you (2)
- God's unconditional love for all (2)
- Good News (2)
- Holy Eucharist (2)
- Jesus as teacher (2)
- Jesus healing (2)
- Jesus loves us (2)
- Jesus’ Resurrection (2)
- Lent prayer (2)
- Mary (2)
- Mary's House (2)
- Nativity of the Lord (2)
- Spirit of love (2)
- St John the Baptist (2)
- St. Joseph (2)
- Temptation of Christ (2)
- The Rosary (2)
- The golden rule (2)
- Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- attitude of gratitude (2)
- baptism (2)
- bread of life (2)
- distractions from prayer (2)
- divinity of Jesus (2)
- encounter with Christ (2)
- eternal life (2)
- evangelization (2)
- fourth sunday in ordinary time (2)
- fourth sunday of advent (2)
- generosity (2)
- give thanks to God (2)
- good works (2)
- gratefulness (2)
- having faith (2)
- holding grudges (2)
- holy spirit at work (2)
- hope in the Lord (2)
- kindness (2)
- love one another as I love you (2)
- man born blind (2)
- mental incompetence (2)
- need prayer and reflection (2)
- persist in prayer (2)
- prayer life (2)
- prayer of gratitude (2)
- prayers of gratitude (2)
- raising of Lazarus (2)
- reconciliation (2)
- recreate yourself this New Year (2)
- road to Emmaus (2)
- saint (2)
- scripture readings (2)
- second coming of Christ (2)
- second sunday in ordinary time (2)
- servant leadership (2)
- sharing our gifts (2)
- solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (2)
- spiritual grouth (2)
- spiritual renewal (2)
- spread the Gospel (2)
- teaching children about God (2)
- the miraculous catch of fish (2)
- thinking (2)
- third sunday of advent (2)
- transfiguration of the Lord (2)
- use your gifts (2)
- wedding feast at Cana (2)
- woman found in adultery (2)
- words (2)
- 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 4th Sunday of Lent (1)
- Abba (1)
- Acts of love (1)
- Advent journey (1)
- Advent season (1)
- Ascension (1)
- Assumption of Mary (1)
- Be awake (1)
- Birth of John the Baptist (1)
- Book of Wisdom (1)
- Book of the Prophet Amos (1)
- Catholic education (1)
- Charity (1)
- Charles Paolino (1)
- Christ's love (1)
- Christian unity (1)
- Creator God (1)
- Crucifxion (1)
- Dying to new life (1)
- Easter Sunday (1)
- Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Father Son and Holy Spirit (1)
- Feast of the Holy Family (1)
- Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Gentiles (1)
- God always with you (1)
- God full of love (1)
- God is our help (1)
- God is with us (1)
- God's blessings (1)
- God's generosity (1)
- God's guidance (1)
- God's healing (1)
- God's mercy (1)
- God's presence (1)
- God's presence in life (1)
- God's voice (1)
- Good Shepherd (1)
- Hail Holy Queen (1)
- Holy Week (1)
- Inspired by the Holy Spirit (1)
- Jesus Christ is born (1)
- Jesus as high priest (1)
- Jesus feeds the multitude (1)
- Jesus' love (1)
- Jesus' miracles (1)
- Joseph (1)
- Joseph of Arimathea (1)
- Laura DePalma (1)
- Lenten (1)
- Lenten Prayer (1)
- Let the little children come to me (1)
- Love your neighbor as yourself (1)
- Mary Magdalene (1)
- Mary mother of God (1)
- Messiah (1)
- Nativity (1)
- New Covenant (1)
- New Year (1)
- Prediction of the Passion (1)
- Prophet Ezekiel (1)
- Prophet Jeremiah (1)
- Rely on Jesus (1)
- Sadducees (1)
- Saint Peter (1)
- Santa Claus (1)
- Savior of the world (1)
- Second Sunday of Easter (1)
- Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Small-Group Ministry (1)
- Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul (1)
- Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (1)
- Sr. Helen Prejean (1)
- St. Nicholas (1)
- St. Nicholas of Bari (1)
- St. Thomas (1)
- St. patrick (1)
- Suffering Messiah (1)
- Sunday (1)
- Sunday Mass (1)
- Sunday Matters (1)
- Sunday readings (1)
- Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- The Lord's Prayer (1)
- The holy name (1)
- The rich young man (1)
- Third Sunday of Easter (1)
- Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- War in Ukraine (1)
- You shall love the Lord your God (1)
- Zacchaeus (1)
- almsgiving (1)
- applying Scripture to your life (1)
- authentic discipleship (1)
- authority of Jesus (1)
- awareness (1)
- be less judgmental (1)
- being a disciple (1)
- being positive (1)
- bible study (1)
- birth of our Savior (1)
- bread from heaven (1)
- call to discipleship (1)
- catholic renew progam (1)
- centering prayer (1)
- choices (1)
- connecting faith and life (1)
- counting our blessings (1)
- courage (1)
- crèche (1)
- discipleship (1)
- divine mercy (1)
- divorce (1)
- do not be afraid (1)
- driving responsibly (1)
- evangelize by witness (1)
- evangelizer (1)
- fasting (1)
- fear not (1)
- follow Jesus (1)
- follow the gospel (1)
- following the way of the cross (1)
- gift of faith (1)
- giving things up for Lent (1)
- go in peace (1)
- good Samaritan (1)
- good christian lives (1)
- good will (1)
- greatest commandment (1)
- growing in faith (1)
- healing of the blind man (1)
- hope in God (1)
- human dignity (1)
- humanity and divinity of Christ (1)
- humble life (1)
- imitating Jesus (1)
- inclusion (1)
- inner peace (1)
- intimacy with Christ (1)
- joy and wonder of the resurrection (1)
- joy from the Lord (1)
- listening to God (1)
- little prayers (1)
- lives of joy and gladness (1)
- lives of saints (1)
- love of neighbor (1)
- love one another (1)
- love your neighbor (1)
- magnificence of God's love (1)
- marriage (1)
- meek and humble of heart (1)
- mental health (1)
- minister with humility (1)
- ministry of evangelization (1)
- mission (1)
- new beginnings (1)
- online community (1)
- online small groups (1)
- optimism (1)
- parable of the hidden treasure (1)
- parable of the pearl (1)
- parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee (1)
- parables (1)
- patron of the universal catholic church (1)
- peace (1)
- peace of mind (1)
- penance (1)
- persecution (1)
- praying with children (1)
- problem solving (1)
- promise of new life (1)
- reach out to others in mercy and love (1)
- rebrand (1)
- remembering (1)
- renew our faith (1)
- renewed outlook on faith (1)
- respect for the will of God (1)
- restraint (1)
- resurrection in our lives (1)
- sabbath (1)
- saint joseph (1)
- saint nicholas (1)
- saints (1)
- salvation is through Jesus (1)
- say yes to God's will (1)
- saying grace (1)
- season of Lent (1)
- self-awareness (1)
- self-sacrifice (1)
- serenity (1)
- sharing your faith (1)
- silent prayer (1)
- small faith sharing groups (1)
- social justice (1)
- something new (1)
- spend time with Jesus (1)
- starting fresh (1)
- status of women (1)
- suffering (1)
- summer (1)
- summer as time to reflect on God's presence (1)
- thanking God (1)
- the common good (1)
- the examined life (1)
- the just one (1)
- thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- three meditations (1)
- transfiguration (1)
- treatment of women (1)
- true wisdom (1)
- trust in God's mercy (1)
- universal Church (1)
- use time well (1)
- voice crying out in the desert (1)
- we remember (1)
- wedding garment (1)
- wisdom (1)
- women in the Church (1)
- wonder of creation (1)
Share a Comment