Ite ad Joseph: Go to Joseph.
At the end of these reflections on the life of the Holy Patriarch which have tried to follow the thread of the holy life of the faithful custodian of Jesus and Mary, we can accept as given to us the advice that Pharaoh gave his people, who were hungry as a result of a great drought: Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you!.
That Joseph of the Old Testament, whose story is told with great skill and ability to attract attention in Genesis chapters 37 to 47, is a figure of Jesus Christ, but he is also a figure of our Joseph of the New Testament. With admirable synthesis St. Bernard teaches it: That Joseph sold because of the envy of his brothers and led into Egypt, forecast that Christ would be sold: this other Joseph, fleeing from the envy of Herod took Christ into Egypt. That one due to fidelity to his Lord did not want to unite himself to the woman; this one recognizing his wife as a virgin mother of his Lord and keeping continence, faithfully protected her. That one was to understand the mysteries of dreams, this one was to be knowledgeable and participated in the heavenly sacraments. That one kept wheat, not for himself, but for all the people; this one was commissioned to take care of the living bread that comes down from heaven, both for himself and for the whole world .
Joseph was great: whenever we approach his life, we are confirmed in this reality. He is the holiest man. Someone who from silence and humility reached high levels of holiness. And so it was that a simple, hard-working, patient, long-suffering, helpful, quiet, humble, obedient and ignored man was praised as a just, faithful, prudent and good man; as an effective man, who knew how to get ahead in difficult circumstances with the family that God placed in his care, protecting them from dangers and liberating them .
In addition to being a great advocate, he is an approachable model. He is not a martyr who offers his life in a way that we consider far from our daily realities. He is not an inimitable apostle who tirelessly traveled the world. He is not wise in a human manner who dazzled everyone with his research and teachings. Joseph, a simple man, searched for God; Joseph a detached man, found God, Joseph a retired man enjoyed God .
If you want my advice, which I have never tired of repeating these many years, Ite ad Joseph : Go to St. Joseph. He will show us definite ways, both human and divine, to approach Jesus . These meditations were mainly intended to help during a few days of retreat and moments of prayer. In any case I personally propose to the reader, what I propose to myself as I end these pages: go more often to St. Joseph. How? As the Holy Spirit let us understand, but perhaps it can be like this:
God willing that we have grown in affection towards Joseph and by his hand, also towards Jesus and Mary. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, make me always be with you three!
Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde, 12-VIII-20.
Enclosed in Christ is passing by , 39-56; later mentioned as Josephs workshop .
F. Suarez, Joseph, Marys husband . Patmos 2006, p. 18-19.
Patris Corde , Introduction.
Id.
R. Sarah, La fuerza del silencio. Frente ala dictadura del ruido , Palabra 2017, p. 162.
Epistle , 148.
Knowing my and knowing You. Thats my prayer, Soliloquies 2.1,1.
Saint Josemaria. The way , 304. As for now the following books by this author will only be mentioned by its name: Furrow , Forge , The way , Christ is passing by , and Friends of God .
Cf. La fuerza del silencio. Frente a la dictadura del ruido , Palabra 2017, p. 231.
N. 263.
John Paul II, Redemptoris Custos , 18.
Patris Corde , 7.
In Josephs workshop .
Gods friends , 266.
In: https://bit.ly/2NwwiFN
The subject can be read in more detail in P. Olmos, Omnia in bonum , p. 44-45. From now on: Omnia in bonum .
Cf. Dt 22:20-21.
In Josephs workshop.
Joseph, Marys husband , p. 61.
In Josephs workshop .
The Way , 382.
F. Oc riz, Pastoral letter , 28.X.2020.
Forge , 1005.
The Way , 815.
Joseph, Marys husband, p. 274.
Josephs workshop .
Saint Josephs silences , p. 75.
Catechism of the Catholic Church , n. 2606.
Furrow , 446.
In dialogue with the Lord , n. 2.
In Josephs workshop .
The way , 567.
Pope Francis, Patris Corde , 4.
In Josephs workshop .
In Josephs workshop.
Homily , 24-IV-2005.
Joseph, Marys husband , p. 275-276.
In Josephs workshop .
Patris Corde , 7.
F. M. William, mentioned in Joseph, Marys husband , p. 100-101.
Omnia in bonum , 47.
In Josephs workshop .
In Josephs workshop .
Speech to the Roman curia , 22-XII-2014.
The Way , 637.
Pope Francis, Laudato si , 204.
Cf. Ambrosio Romero Carranza, Enrique Shaw y sus circunstancias, Buenos Aires, (2005) p. 46. There are also more testimonies about the sense of responsibility of this lay person in: Sara Shaw de Critto, Viviendo con alegra , Claretiana (2017).
Patris Corde , 1.
Patris Corde , 2.
In Josephs workshop.
Benedicto XVI, Public audience , 28-XII-2011.
In Josephs workshop.
In Josephs workshop .
Friends of God , 194.
Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church , n. 2559.
Deus Caritas est, 1.
Gaudium et spes , 22.
Forge , 754.
John Paul II, Ecclesia in America , 249.
It is a frequent teaching in Saint Josemaria: But we must join him by faith, letting his life manifest itself in us, so that it can be said that each Christian is no longer alter Christus, but ipse Christus, Christ himself! ( Christ is passing by , 104).
Peter Seewald, Benedicto XVI, Una vida . Ediciones Mensajero, p. 542.
Josephs silence, p. 104.
Joseph, Marys husband , pp 134-135.
Confessions , 1,1.
Catechism of the Catholic Church , n. 2084.
Words inspired by what Saint Josemaria said that on of his grandmother prayed.
Catechism of the Catholic Church , n. 1324.
Cf. id, n. 1323. The memorial is not only the memory of the events of the past, but the proclamation of the wonders that God has done for men (cf. Ex 13:3). In the liturgical celebration these events are made. In a certain way, present and current (Id. n. 1363).
N. 1368.
St. Josemaria, Notes for a meditation, 19.III.68, quoted by Burkhart-Lopez. Vida cotidiana y santidad en la enseanza de San Josemaria , 1.3.2.2.
In Josephs workshop
Patris Corde , 2.
In Josephs workshop.
Joseph, Marys husband , p. 113.
Joseph, Marys husband , pp. 138-139.
Friends of God , 101.
Cf. J.Philippe, La Felicidad donde no se espera , Rialp, Cap. 13.
Interrogantes.net.
In Josephs workshop.
Catechism of the Catholic Church , n. 530.
Patris Corde , 4. Also in this document he confesses that he recites this prayer daily, that has served him in times of uncertainty or difficulty: Every day, for more than forty years, after Lauds, I recite a prayer to Saint Joseph taken from a book of French devotions of the 19th century, of the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary, which expresses devotion, trust and certain challenge to Saint Joseph. Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, whose power knows how to make impossible things possible, come to my aid in these moments of anguish and difficulty. He takes under your protection such serious and difficult situations that he entrusted to you, so that they have a good solution. My beloved Father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I have invoked you in vain and, as you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power. Amen (id.2).