Why Were You Looking for Me?

Why Were You Looking for Me?

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever.2 Samuel 7:16

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. Luke 2:46-50

Piety

O glorious Patriarch, Saint Joseph, humble and just artisan of Nazareth, thou hast given to all Christians and particularly to us an example of a perfect life through diligent labor and admirable union with Jesus and Mary.

Assist us in our daily work in order that we, Catholic artisans, may also see in it an effective means of glorifying God, of sanctifying ourselves, and of being a useful member in the society in which we live. These should be the highest ideals for all our actions.

O dearest Protector, obtain for us from the Lord humility and simplicity of heart, love for our work and kindness towards our fellow-laborers; conformity to God’s will in the unavoidable trials of this life together with joy in bearing them; recognition of our specific social mission and a sense of responsibility; the spirit and discipline and prayer; docility and respectfulness towards superiors; the spirit of brotherhood towards our equals; charity and indulgence with our dependents.

Accompany us in times of prosperity when the opportunity is given for an honest enjoyment of the fruits of our labors; sustain us in our hours of sadness, when Heaven seems to be shut in our regard, and even the very tools with which our hands toil appear to rebel against us.

Grant that, in imitation of thee, we may keep our eyes fixed on our Mother, Mary, thy dearest Spouse, who as she spun silently in a corner of thy shop would let the sweetest smile course over her lips. Besides, may we never take our eyes off Jesus, who was busily occupied with thee at the carpenter’s bench, in order that we in like manner may lead on earth a peaceful and a holy life, a prelude to the life of eternal happiness that awaits us in Heaven forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to be Recited by Workmen

Composed by Pope Pius XII

Study

Joseph and Patrick. Patrick and Joseph.  The feast days of these two saints bookend the Fifth Sunday of Lent this year.

Let’s start with Joseph – because although chronologically the second feast day, Joseph has been around since the very start of Jesus’ life. The name can be translated from the Hebrew name “Yosef” as signifying "Yahweh/Jehovah shall increase.”  In his experience, Joseph did live out that by helping to bring Jesus into the world and raise him as his child. Through his son, Joseph put into action the growth of the Church.

Patrick, on the other hand, was not indeed named Patrick.  In fact, he was not Irish, either.  He was born in Britain around the turn of the 4th century. Irish raiders captured him when he was about 16 years old. They kidnapped him and took him to Ireland where he was held captive for six years. After escaping, he went back to England for religious training and was sent back to Ireland many years later as a missionary. St. Patrick was born Maewyn Succat, according to legend; he changed his name to Patricius, or Patrick, which derives from the Latin term for "father figure," when he became a priest. That is not where the parallel to Joseph ends.

According to legend, St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland in the fifth century. However, in the complex reality of all these Irish legends, there weren't any slithering reptiles to drive off the island. The reference is thought to be metaphorical: St. Patrick — who converted pagans to Christianity — was the man who supposedly made "evil" non-Christians flee from the land or switch to the new faith -- thereby increasing the Christian population.

St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland just like Joseph brought Christ to us. To “sell” his message, Irish legend says he chose the shamrock as a symbol of the Christian church. Its three leaves were meant to represent the Holy Trinity: Father (pater), Son and the Holy Spirit, joined together by a shared stem.  It also could symbolize the three figures of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  

On the one hand, Patrick and Joseph are two saints who have been adopted by dominant ethnic groups in America (Patrick by the Irish and Joseph by the Italians).  In reality, they both symbolize the journey to increase the Spirit of the Living God on earth of all people of every diverse ethnic background.  

Action

Patrick and Joseph are appropriate guides for our final week of Lent. 

Are we not like Joseph, initially reluctant but then willingly searching around for Jesus during this liturgical season? Are we also not like Patrick, encountering many “snakes” along the way who try to divert us from the path we endeavor to follow? In the end, if we are to succeed in these final days of Lent, we must decrease, and Jehovah must increase.