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Today in the battlefield of the fiercest war against a tiny virus of gigantic damages and destruction, we have countless warriors combating and engaged in this war.
These warriors are the doctors, nurses, medical workers, attendants, maintenance and sanitation workers, front line workers, police personnel and even every single person involved in some work or the other in serving humanity.
They have worked in the true sense of duty. Some on humanitarian grounds and others solely on the grounds of love, compassion and true concern. As we hail these workers and salute them, we remember, St. Joseph the Patron Saint of Workers.
This year has been dedicated to St. Joseph by Pope Francis.
If we look at the life of St. Joseph, we can see how he took extreme care of the Holy Family entrusted to him.
Right from his betrothal to Mary, where in those days a betrothal was a sealing commitment in itself before marriage.
Yet when Joseph learnt that Mary was with child, on the behest of the Angel, he took Mary to be his wife, overcoming all his doubts and suspicions and from that moment onwards he stood anchor strong by both Mary and Jesus.
Surely, he must have realised that he was chosen by God to perform the highest task of being the Earthly Father of Jesus. As foretold by the Prophets, that the Messiah would be a descendant of the race of David. It was such a great honour and pride for him to have the Son of God before him and be the spouse of the Mother of God.
He set about his role conscientiously, providing, guarding and defending his family.
In Bethlehem, his heart was grieved in seeing Jesus born in such poverty but when the rich choir of Angels descended from heaven, it lifted his spirits. Also the visit by the Shepherds and the Three Wise King added to his happiness.
From the flight to Egypt to save Jesus from the hatred and killing of Herod, to returning back to Galilee to dwell with Mary and Jesus at Nazareth, he was the Head of the Family performing his duties at every step.
The Prophecy of Simeon pained him as well at the thought of the sorrow that awaited Mary and the passion and death of Jesus but he tried to console himself with the thought that this was God's plan for the redemption of Mankind.
When Jesus was lost in the Temple, he searched along with Mary frantically for three days.
He too pondered along with her on what Jesus could have meant when he replied that he should be in his Father's house doing his work and why were they looking for him.
A Carpenter by profession, he taught Jesus both to work for the labour of the hand and also to be spiritually United to God the Father.
Today, the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico stands as a Testimony to the present day help by St. Joseph, due to its miraculous staircase.
When this Chapel was constructed in 1878, the Nuns were desperately looking for a Carpenter to complete constructing the spiral staircase to access the choir loft above. Many carpenters came but all were of the same opinion that it was impossible to build this staircase given the height and position. So the Nuns prayed the Novena to St. Joseph for nine consecutive days and on the last day of the Novena, out of nowhere, a Carpenter arrived with his Tool boxes willing to construct this spiral staircase which he did in record time and so beautifully designed on wooden pegs only and with just simple tools. He then vanished into thin air without collecting his wages and no one heard of him thereafter.
But the Nuns were convinced that it was St. Joseph himself who appeared to build this marvellous and elegant staircase for their Chapel. Till date, it remains an attraction, a blessing and a miracle.
St. Joseph is popularly referred to as the Sleeping St. Joseph because of his frequent dreams where the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and commanded his thoughts and led him on the right way and to safety always. On his part, he always arose from these dreams and acted on the Angel's word in total trust in God.
He is our strongest intercessor after Our Lady. He was blessed to die in the arms of Jesus and Mary. He is also the Patron Saint of the dying.
This year and henceforth, let us remember to invoke St. Joseph for our pleas and petitions more so during these trying times for leaders to have the wisdom to make right decisions, for bereaved families who have lost their dear ones to the battle of Covid.
May St. Joseph stand along with Mary to receive into their embrace the departed souls.
St. Joseph was fortunate and blessed to have held the Infant Jesus in his arms, to have kissed his fine head and to have had the presence of God in his home. May we too open our homes and hearts to the Holy Family to reside within. With their presence, our home too will become Holy. May St. Joseph be our Guardian and Protector too on earth.
As we give a Grand Salute to St. Joseph for his noble deeds on earth and for still interceding for us from Heaven, we also extend this grand salute all the brave heroes daily in this fight against the ongoing pandemic. They did well the previous year, many having succumbed in a sense of martyrdom. This year too they are doing their best under exhausting conditions.
Hats off to them!! A million of salutes will never be sufficient enough for their noble and selfless contribution in squashing this pandemic and saving the lives of thousands.
Surely, St. Joseph is working along with them from the front scene of Heaven.
Maria Franco.
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