Fr. Thomas M. Pastorius April 16, 2017 Spiritual Ponderings Devotions to the 7 Sorrows of St. Joseph
“Some Saints are privileged to extend to us their patronage with particular efficacy in certain needs, but not in others; but our holy patron St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all cases, in every necessity, in every undertaking.” -- St. Thomas Aquinas. Let us continue our look at the person God chose to be the protector of the Blessed Virgin Mary by continuing our look at the Seven Sorrows of St. Joseph.
Sorrow # 4. Simeon's prophecy that many would be lost (Luke 2:34) As I pray over this sorrow, I begin to think of it in two ways. The first way is as if St. Joseph had just received really bad news about two people he loved. I could imagine Simeon’s prophesy was something similar to finding out that a love one has cancer. What do you say at that moment? The feeling of powerlessness is definitely something that has filled me with sorrow. Many of us would endure anything in order to prevent a love one from enduring it but often we are not given that chance. The important thing is for us to follow St. Joseph’s example and overcome our fear of powerlessness so that we can be present to those who need our help.
The second way in which I see this sorrow playing out is a feeling of being absent. Simeon does not say anything about Joseph. One of my favorite spiritual writers Henri Nouwen often talks about competition being one of the great spiritual diseases of our time. We have turned everything into competition and I could see St. Joseph feeling a little left out. I do not think this “feeling left out feeling” led St. Joseph to sin but once again, I believe St. Joseph channeled this feeling through the virtue of humility. He probably asked God often for the grace to do His role and his heart was probably always open to the graces that God gave him to remain humble. Joseph is never recorded as being jealous of the attention that Mary and Jesus receive.
I also wonder if Joseph allowed his not being included in Simeon’s prophesy as an indication that his death was near. The fear of death can be a powerful motivator to do bad things but the realization that we only have a short amount of time in this life can also be powerful in motivating us to do good.
Sorrow #5. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14) There is always some sadness that accompanies a situation where a good man becomes an outlaw. Joseph, just doing what God instructed him to do, is now an outlaw. On the other hand, a paranoid monster, who could care less about his faith, was king. Where is the justice in that situation? Seeing this injustice and knowing that there was nothing he could do about it probably angered Joseph. Joseph once again become our model by doing what He knows God wants him to do. Joseph knows that the only person he can be responsible for his himself. He trusts that God has a much bigger plan, even if he cannot see it. He therefore flees with his family to Egypt.
A second thought hit my imagination. This part of the story takes place right after the magi have presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This is probably the first time that the Holy Family has been financially stable and now Joseph probably had to use things to finance their escape to Egypt. God has provided but probably not in the way Joseph had expected and now God was asking them to trust again. I think that I would have put my trust in the wealth before I put my trust in God. Joseph models us the virtue of faith by remaining faithful to God in both economic good times and in bad times. St. Joseph help me to be faithful to God at all times also.
PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH, PATRON OF WORKERS Glorious Saint Joseph, you are the pattern of all who work. Obtain for me, please, the grace to work conscientiously
and to put devotion to duty before my selfish inclinations. Help me to labor in thankfulness and joy, for it is an honor to employ and to develop by my labor the gifts I have received from almighty God. Grant that I may work in orderliness,
peace, moderation and patience without shrinking from weariness and difficulties. I offer my fatigue and perplexities
as reparation for sin. I shall work, above all, with a pure intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then render of time ill-spent, of talents unemployed, of good undone, and of empty pride in success, which is so fatal to the work of God. For Jesus through Mary all in imitation of you, good Saint Joseph. This shall be my motto in life and in death. Amen.