READING 1
Matthew 2:13-15
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
READING 2
From the Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos x 31 by Pope St. John Paul II
The Church transforms these needs into prayer. Recalling that God wished to entrust the beginnings of our redemption to the faithful care of St. Joseph, she asks God to grant that she may faithfully cooperate in the work of salvation; that she may receive the same faithfulness and purity of heart that inspired Joseph in serving the Incarnate World; and that she may walk before God in the ways of holiness and justice, following Joseph’s example and through his intercession.
One hundred years ago, Pope Leo XIII had already exhorted the Catholic world to pray for the protection of St. Joseph, Patron of the whole Church. The Encyclical [of Pope Leo XIII] Quamquam Pluries appealed to Joseph’s “fatherly love…for the child Jesus” and commended to him, as “the provident guardian of the divine Family,” “the beloved inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by his blood.” Since that time—as I recalled at the beginning of this Exhortation—the Church has implored the protection of St. Joseph on the basis of “that sacred bond of charity which united him to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God,” and the Church has commended to Joseph all of her cares, including those dangers which threaten the human family.
Even today we have many reasons to pray in a similar way: “Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin…graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness…and just as once you saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God’s holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity.” Today we still have good reason to commend everyone to St. Joseph.
REFLECTION
In the Litany of St. Joseph he is called “Terror of demons.” This title often captures people’s attention and stirs their fascination. St. Joseph protects us from evil. The greatest protection from evil is in humility and charity. St. Joseph brings us to the lowest place and he holds us close to Jesus, the source of all love. Joseph is sometimes depicted carrying a lantern from when he led the Holy Family out of Bethlehem by night. Joseph brings light of purity that dispels the power of darkness, and the light of honesty that eliminates falsehood.
Joseph’s protection and intercession is not a magic talisman but rather requires our cooperation. We must want to be honest, pure, humble, and virtuous. We must want to place the love of God before all else and continually choose Him whenever there is a conflict between Him and the enticements of this world. But how do we develop such desires? As we pray to St. Joseph and deepen our friendship with him, our desire to be like him will continue to grow.
What are the places in your life that still need to be transformed? In what ways do you suffer from the darkness of evil, falsehood and the power of sin? Where do you need the protection of St. Joseph in your life? How is he teaching you to become more like him?
Litany of St. Joseph or
Ancient Prayer of St. Joseph or
Ad te beate Ioseph
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