"Hey St. Joseph, Can you help us bring all the absentee fathers home?"

Placing st. Joseph between the Assumption of Our Lady and her Birthday

 By Larry Peterson

When God chose Joseph, He knew what He was doing

            When God chose Joseph of Nazareth to be the foster father of His only Son, He certainly knew what He was doing. That is because this 19-year-old carpenter became the most excellent husband and father who ever lived.

            I call St. Joseph the "Shadow Saint". That is because we know so little about him. He never spoke a word that was recorded. He never wrote anything that was saved on parchment. It does not matter. This young man, a "righteous Jew" faithful to the law, was confronted with being engaged to a woman pregnant with someone else's child. The reality was a terrible thing for him to bear. What he left behind was a legacy of how a man should love a woman and their child and how to care for them.

He would not let Mary be harmed.

            Young Joseph was a man of faith, and God was with him. The penalty for his betrothed could have been death by stoning. Joseph would have none of that. His Mary would not be harmed. He loved her. So he took her in and married her. The child she carried would be his.

            St. Joseph's example of selflessness is something that needs to be talked about with admiration, respect, and pride. It might be used as a guide for so many who have fathered children and abandoned them in this secular-driven world. 

            There is a crisis of "fatherless" children in America. Next to the disrespect and disregard for unborn life, this could be the most dangerous threat to our society. "Fatherlessness" is an ongoing tragedy that found its roots planted when Roe vs. Wade was passed in 1973. When the destruction of human life was "legalized" the downward spiral of respect for life followed.

Many children live without their fathers

            A disconnected  father factor is involved in many aspects of life today. Yes, many homes still have fathers but many children live in homes with absentee fathers and the societal effects are felt all across the spectrum of American life.

            Statistics show that in fatherless homes poverty is 4X  higher than average, teen pregnancy increases by a multiple of seven (7), abuse and neglect are much more widespread and drug use is more prevalent. The list goes on and on.

St. Joseph is the perfect example for men, young and old

            St. Joseph could be used as a shining example for all men to emulate. He was poor, he was chaste and he respected women, especially his teenaged bride. He was a man of faith and stayed true to the laws of God and man. Foremost in his life was his faith in God. This was his strength. This is what fortified him. This is what is missing in so many lives today.

            Joseph of Nazareth is an example of how one should respect the law. We could explain to young people how he had to put his pregnant teenage wife on the back of a donkey and then walk over rocky, dusty roads for over 80 miles, a journey that probably took three days. And why did he do this? He did this because he was required to go to Bethlehem for the census and it was the law.

            The story of young Joseph, taking his teenage wife and baby boy, and escaping Bethlehem because King Herod wanted to kill his son, Jesus, would amp up any young person's pulse. Herod's soldiers were hunting the poor guy's child. His wife was recovering from childbirth. He had to make it to Egypt. And he did for his family. This is what a REAL man would do, or at least try to.

            Joseph did whatever he had to do to take care of his wife and son. He worked hard to keep a roof over their heads, to feed them, clothe them, and protect them. He did not care about himself. His family came first, no matter what. He would have gladly died for them if necessary. He was a real MAN. His sacrifice and efforts for his wife and son allowed them to survive so they could fulfill the salvific narrative. We owe him so much.

We need to follow his example and celebrate his life

            His faith, courage, integrity, and love of God resonate like the smashing of cymbals and the banging of drums for all of us to listen to. We need to follow his example. We need to celebrate his life. We need to honor his commitment to his responsibilities. We should cherish his devotion to family.

            I realize the possibility of teaching about this quiet hero in public schools might be a pipe dream. Still, I would hope Catholic schools would use him FREQUENTLY as an example for students to look up to and respect as a role model for what a husband and dad should try to follow.

           St. Joseph, two thousand years after his death, is still the finest role model for not only husbands and fathers but for all men for all time.St. Joseph, pray for us all.

Copyright©Larry Peterson 2023.