Feast Day of St Joseph!

 Today is the feast of St Joseph and is a very important feast day because he was Jesus's adoptive father. He is the saint for all fathers. Feel like you need a little help in fatherhood? Call on St Joseph to intercede! He is the protector of families and an excellent guide to protect our family if we see what he did to protect the Holy Family. 

Can you imagine raising a perfect baby who is God incarnate and being married to Mother Mary, radiant of purity and being the only sinner in the family? St Joseph had a lot asked of him from God: to protect the source of the Church in Jesus and block out outside distractions. St Joseph, one could argue, lived in a constant state of communication with God the Father. He listened attentively to the inspirations given to him to make enormous decisions such as leaving everything and escaping with Mary and baby Jesus to Egypt to protect baby Jesus from being assassinated by King Herod who was killing all baby boys. 

One could say, "Well St. Joseph had it easier to become a saint because he actually lived with Jesus and Mary." Well, yes and no. Here are a few ways we can be like St. Joseph:

1. Protectors of the Church: St Joseph is indeed the protector of the church, but aren't each of us (who are Catholic) when we receive Holy Communion in a state of grace? Within each of us, we have the capacity to be led like St. Joseph by the voice of  God the Father. Each of our bodies, no matter the shape, age or size, is a Holy Tabernacle for Jesus to live in and be protected in when we receive His body in the Eucharist.  

2. Terror of Demons: Do I want to be a terror of demons? Heck yes, with the help of almighty God and Our Lady! Demons are not invented imaginary things, or scary looking gargoyles drooling goop and perched atop corners of medieval homes or in Disney cartoons.

 Evil spirits are not just for Catholics or Exorcists, they live everywhere: from Mongolia to Montana. Evil spirits are alive and well, doing push ups outside of weddings to get ready to tackle bride and groom, listening to our prayers and watching what we say and type. They have one goal: taking your soul to hell by separating you from having a relationship with God the Father. There are so many demons in the world now separating souls from God with discouragement, temptations and suspicion. There is one thing demons passionately hate: Our Lady because she is Mother of God. I wish to be a terror of demons by being so close to Mother Mary and spreading her love as far as I can go. Stay close to Mary.

3. Humble and Obedient: So much can be said about St Joseph's humility and obedience. Neither are popular virtues these days. Proud and defiant seem to be more in vogue these days.  Nevertheless, humility and obedience is something we can all pray to have divine help to have. Humility isn't about being soft. Humility is truth, not an exaggeration, not false modesty or presumptuousness. Obedience to God the Father is freedom, total freedom to soar in the spirit of joy and peace which is of God. 

Fr Al Schwartz, founder of World Villages for Children, was in many ways a St. Joseph. 

He stuck his neck out in the most dangerous parts of the world to save children. He was not with the popular crowd and didn't repeat cliche mantras on attaining self centered desires. Fr Al left everything, his country, comfy home, clean food just like St Joseph did and he went into the desert to protect the church. The church he protected were little tabernacles within the hearts of each child who would receive Christ and take Him as the light of the world into their homes and families. Fr Al, like St Joseph had a super strong prayer life and stayed rooted in conversation: listening and talking with God the Father. And lastly, like St Joseph, Fr Al didn't bend to the voice of discouragement saying, "Who do you think you are, a sinner and failure, to try to do so much for others." Fr Al, like St Joseph knew that it wasn't he who would accomplish anything, but Christ through the Eucharist, working in him to reach souls. 

Enjoy this week's podcast on Fr Al's life which focuses on how he communicated and was inspired by God the Father through his prayer: