Hope40 - DAY 13 - Solemnity of St. Joseph

Today's Scripture: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

click above to read in full

Today, we pause our Lenten sacrifices to celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary. Unlike most days in Lent, this feast is a time of joyful rest, reminding us that penance and celebration each have their place in the Christian life. The Church, in her wisdom, invites us to step back from our fasting and instead rejoice in the faithful witness of St. Joseph: a man of quiet strength, deep trust, and total surrender to God’s will.

St. Joseph’s quiet yet powerful faith is revealed in today's reading. Learning of Mary’s pregnancy, he initially resolves to separate from her quietly. But when the angel appears to him in a dream, he does not hesitate to surrender his own plans and embrace the mission God entrusts to him. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.” His hope is not in his own understanding but in God’s providence. Joseph’s trust leads him to embrace his vocation fully...to protect, provide, and love with steadfast devotion.

This theme of hope in surrender is one you can bring into your own life, especially in marriage. Joseph’s role as protector and provider was not one of control, but of trust—trust in God, in Mary, and in the calling placed upon his life. In your marriage, you are invited to surrender your need for control, to trust more deeply, and to love more fully. How can you let go of your fears and allow God to guide your relationship with the same quiet confidence Joseph had?

(We will resume the Marriage Examen tomorrow.)

LET US PRAY:

St. Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family and faithful servant of God, teach us to surrender with hope. Help us to trust as you did, even when the path ahead seems uncertain.Teach us to love with a heart like yours: selfless, courageous, and trusting in God’s plan. May our marriages reflect the fidelity and tenderness with which you cared for Mary and Jesus. Guide us in our daily sacrifices and joys, and lead our families ever closer to Christ. Amen.

Have you ever seen this "statue" of Sleeping St. Joseph? There is a beautiful tradition that invites you to place a handwritten prayer with your intentions under the statue as a symbol of your complete trust in his guidance and protection. I have a big list for him this year, mostly for other peoples needs, but also for conversions, and gratitude for his intercession for answered prayers.

If you don't have a statue, check out this website for a creative printable that you can fold and place your prayer intentions in.

Sleeping St. Joseph Printables

Ask Sleeping St. Joseph for his intercession today. May he console your heart.

Prayer to the Sleeping St. Joseph

Dear St. Joseph,
Come to my aid and bless me.
Even in your sleep, accompany me in discerning where the Spirit prompts me to go, 
and in doing what the Father wills me to do.

Like you, I carry the burden of daily toils on my shoulders.
I build a home where the reign of God can be all in all.
I track the road of righteousness towards the fulfillment of God's Kingdom.

Now, I beg you, as you sleep, share in my dream to become what the Father wants me to be. 
And as you awake, help me persevere through self-giving and commitment to prayer.

Towards the twilight of my life, teach me how to live a "happy old age".
And as I breathe my last, hold my hand as you held Jesus' hand.
Draw me to Him, Your beloved Son, my Lord and my God. 

Amen.

Feast Well Today On this solemnity, the Church grants us a break from Lenten penances, inviting us to feast well and celebrate. This pause reminds us that fasting and feasting both have their place in the Christian life. Feasting today is an act of gratitude, honoring St. Joseph’s faithful witness and God’s providence in our own lives.

today's recipe Did you know that in Italy, Father's Day is today, March 19th? This is definitely on purpose as a way to honor St. Joseph and his intercession for all fathers. I found out there are many food traditions for this day in Italy. Our parish is hosting a St. Joseph's Table celebration this evening. We are attending Mass and then enjoying an authentic Italian spaghetti dinner along with all the fancy breads and pastries that make this celebration unique. Have you ever attended a St. Joseph's Table dinner?

FAVA BEAN SOUP

Fava beans are also called "lucky beans" because they sustained the Sicilians through a terrible famine. Legend has it that St. Joseph interceded for the Italians during this time to bring rain that helped to salvage the crops.

Check out this recipe:

Macco di Favee Finochietto (Sicilian Fava Bean and Fennel Soup)

SFINGI This is a traditional Italian pastry made on March 19th in celebration of the feast of St. Joseph. The traditional filling for these cream puffs is sweetened ricotta cheese. Check out this recipe: Sfinge

Let us love above all, let us love Mary as our mother;

but then, how could we keep from loving Joseph,

who was so intimately united to both Jesus and Mary?

And how can we honor him better than by imitating his virtues?

Now, what else did he do in all his life but contemplate, study, and adore Jesus,

even in the midst of his lairdly labors?

Behold, therefore, our model.

~St. Madeleine Sophie Barat