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Every year in March, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph, one of the great feast days of the liturgical year. This year, because the feast day of March 19th falls on the Wednesday of Holy Week, it has been transferred to Saturday, March 15th – the Saturday before Palm Sunday. So important is this celebration of the spouse of the Virgin Mary and adoptive father of Jesus, that the Church is moving the day up a few days to make sure we celebrate it before the beginning of Holy Week.

It should be no surprise to us that this day is moved to a place where it can be celebrated with prominence, since St. Joseph is among the most beloved of all saints. He is also the patron of more things than any other saint, except Mary.

First and foremost, he is the patron of families and fathers, since he was the head of the Holy Family and his model of selfless gift to the ones who were entrusted to him is a model of life for all Christian families. He is also the patron of workers and in particular, carpenters. It was through his daily work that he provided for his family’s needs and is thus called upon by all as an example of diligent work and as an intercessor for those who seek employment or have a particular need in their work. In addition, St. Joseph is the patron saint of a happy death, because traditionally, he died with Jesus and Mary at his side.

But perhaps most notably, St. Joseph is the patron of the Universal Church because of the beautiful model he provides for all those who seek to serve and follow the Lord. There is very little about Joseph in the Bible, but what we do know is enough. He was a just man who sought to do God’s will in all things. Not one word he spoke is mentioned in scripture. This absence is not terribly important because it is not in what he said that we learn a lesson, but in that he listened. All of us can learn a lesson from St. Joseph about listening to God and striving to do His will in our everyday life.

The novena of St. Joseph begins on Friday, March 7th and is prayed every day for the nine days leading up to March 15th when we will celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph at the 8:00 am and 12:00 noon Masses here at St. Olaf. Because of scheduling issues at the parish this year, we will not be gathering publicly for prayer at St. Olaf, but you are invited to pray the novena to St. Joseph on your own and join us in the celebration of his feast day on March 15th.

Novena Prayer to St. Joseph
Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers. Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, Pray for me.