19 Mar – Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St. Joseph is a descendant of the house of David. A layman and a carpenter, he was the earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and foster and adoptive father of Jesus Christ. He was a visionary who was visited by angels, and is noted for his willingness to immediately get up and do what God told him.
Prayer to St. Joseph
Blessed Joseph, husband of Mary, be with us this day.
You protected and cherished the Virgin;
loving the Child Jesus as your Son,
you rescued Him from the danger of death.
Defend the Church, the household of God,
purchased by the blood of Christ.
Guardian of the Holy Family,
be with us in our trials.
May your prayers obtain for us
the strength to flee from error
and wrestle with the powers of corruption
so that in life we may grow in holiness
and in death rejoice in the crown of victory.
Amen.
- Patron Saint Index
2 Sam 7:4-5,12-14,16
Rm 4:13,16-18, 22
Mt 1:16,18-21,24
…he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.
Some time ago, during a lunch discussion at work, several of my female colleagues shared their frustration with their male partners’ negligent attitude toward household chores. I kept silent, barely able to hide the sense of shame creeping over me as they spoke, because I could easily relate to the very attitude they were describing. I have always struggled with housework. Preferring to think rather than move, I often find it difficult to begin even the simplest tasks. More often than I would like, I fall into a familiar cycle of procrastination, followed by regret.
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He never uttered a word in Scripture, and although little is known about him, he is widely regarded as the greatest male saint. When I think of male saints, I am more likely to recall those who performed something dramatic or miraculous. Yet, Saint Joseph accomplished something singular — together with the Virgin Mary, he welcomed the incarnation of God into the world. He then raised Jesus as his own son, and it is believed that he passed on before Jesus began His public ministry.
In a podcast from the St. Josemaria Institute, Father Peter Armenio reflected on the life and faith of Saint Joseph: “The external trappings of St. Joseph are quite pedestrian, but interiorly he cannot be surpassed.” Guided by the words of an angel in a dream, Joseph made decisive choices that shaped the course of salvation history, even though he himself would not live to see their full outcome. His quiet obedience, lived out in the humble roles of husband, father, and worker, makes him a model for all of us. In the most ordinary circumstances of daily life, he remained faithful to God, carrying out his responsibilities with diligence and love.
In my own struggles with the mundanity and boredom that life sometimes brings, I pray that the Lord will strengthen my humility and perseverance, so that even the most ordinary and mundane tasks may become an offering to God.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Edith Koh)
Prayer: We pray that when we are tempted to delay, avoid or grow resentful of our responsibilities, we will be reminded of the examples of Saint Joseph and other saints who let their faith lead the way.
Thanksgiving: Lord God, we thank you for the opportunities that we are given to grow in faith, love and discipline through acts of service to others.
OXYGEN 
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