March is the month dedicated to Saint Joseph, the most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary and foster father of Jesus. This month represents a special time for devotion to Saint Joseph. For centuries, Christians have turned to Mary’s spouse as a powerful patron and faithful guardian, father, and friend. Saints and popes have experienced and praised his great power of intercession. Let us discover more.
He has always answered me
Saint Teresa of Ávila said: “I invoke Saint Joseph as my patron and protector, and I never cease to commend myself to him. […] He has always answered me, more than I could hope for and more than I could ask for. I do not remember ever asking him for anything that he did not grant me.”
It is difficult to doubt this when we consider that, among all the saints, the humble carpenter of Nazareth is the one closest to Jesus and Mary: he was so on earth and, therefore, all the more so in heaven. Saint Joseph was the guardian of the Holy Family and continues to watch over each of us, like a father! The graces obtained from God by turning to Saint Joseph are truly countless.
“A strong and silent man”
Like many Popes before him, Pope Francis was also very devoted to Saint Joseph. It is no coincidence that he chose March 19, the solemnity of Saint Joseph, as the date for the celebration of the Mass marking the beginning of his Petrine ministry. In Manila in 2015, speaking to families, he said: “I love Saint Joseph very much because he is a strong and silent man. On my desk I have an image of Saint Joseph sleeping. And while he sleeps, he takes care of the Church! Yes! He can do it, we know that. And when I have a problem or a difficulty, I write a little note and place it under Saint Joseph, so that he may dream about it! This gesture means: pray for this problem!”
March: the month of Saint Joseph
March is a month to live in the company of Saint Joseph: let us light a candle in his honor, recite the novena, the litanies, and the prayers. We can also meditate on the seven sorrows and joys of Saint Joseph. During this month, the Sacred Mantle is also recited; it is a demanding prayer, lasts thirty days, and is a little longer than a rosary, but the graces it obtains are truly immense!
We ask Saint Joseph to guide us through our challenges and protect our families. His humility and faith are an example for us all, and we can draw inspiration from his life to grow spiritually and live with love and dedication toward others.
We can also turn to Saint Joseph with the words of the prayer that Pope Francis placed at the end of Patris corde:
Hail, guardian of the Redeemer,
and husband of the Virgin Mary.
God entrusted his Son to you;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
O Blessed Joseph, show yourself to us as a father as well,
and guide us on the journey of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from all evil. Amen.
Do you have a special memory connected to Saint Joseph? Write it in the comments.
