Saint Joseph: A father who said “yes” by his actions

In December 2020, Pope Francis declared 2021 as the Year of Saint Joseph. In his apostolic letter “Patris Corde” (With a Father’s Heart), Pope Francis referred to Joseph as a "strong and courageous man, a working man, yet in his heart we see great tenderness, which is not the virtue of the weak, but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, for compassion, for genuine openness to others, for love. He said ‘yes’ by his actions."

Pope Francis further described him as, “A father in the shadows centered on Jesus and Mary.”  

In the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, there are 11 churches or missions dedicated to, or named
for, Saint Joseph – the most of any saint. 

Some are large and some are small, but all understand the significance of Saint Joseph. Most of the churches were established after the Oklahoma Land Run. Historically, this also was around the same time Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church in 1870.   

The oldest church named for Saint Joseph is still referred to as the “Old Cathedral” in Oklahoma City. It was built in 1889 and served as the cathedral until 1924.  

The historical book, “Roman and Oklahoman: A Centennial History of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City,” written by James D. White contains information about the founding, pictures and history of all the parishes in the archdiocese. For example, Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Buffalo, although named to honor the foster father of Christ, was also named after a major donor Joseph Roecker. 

The same historical text also details the building of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Union City with its original name of Saint Theopile in 1894. However, a tornado came through Union City and destroyed the first church, and it was renamed Saint Joseph. At Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Norman, a group of Irish members wanted the name of Saint Patrick and the Germans wanted Saint Joseph. Apparently, there were more German parishioners, and it became Saint Joseph.   

Although there are no words spoken by Saint Joseph in the Bible, his importance is not lost in the Holy Word. Saint Matthew enumerates the genealogy of Christ in Ch. 1 from Abraham to Saint Joseph. Scripture states that Jesus was obedient to Mary and Joseph (Lk. 2:51). He also learned his Jewish prayers from his earthly father on their annual pilgrimage from Nazareth to Jerusalem (Mk. 12:29). Biblical readings imply that Mary referred to Saint Joseph as his father. (Lk. 2:49) and Jesus was often referred to as “the carpenter’s son.”
 
The Gospel of Matthew (1: 16, 18-21, 24a) records Joseph's “yes” when an angel appears to him in a dream and prepares him for the significant role he was to play in God's saving plan. He was invited to exercise his human freedom, to give his assent to the Lord's invitation – and he 
did.

Father Benjamin Saw Kyaw Lwin, pastor of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Tonkawa and Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Blackwell, said the parishes will be hosting celebrations to close out the “Year of Saint Joseph.”

Father Brian Buettner, pastor at Saint Joseph Old Cathedral in downtown Oklahoma City, had a celebratory Mass on the Feast Day of Saint Joseph on March 19. 
 
Charles Albert is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.


Photo: St. Joseph Old Cathedral in Oklahoma City. Photo Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.



Prayer to St. Joseph after the Rosary

A prayer to Saint Joseph was composed by Pope Leo XIII in his 1889 encyclical, Quamquam pluries. He asked that it be added to the end of the Rosary, especially during the month of October, which is dedicated to the Rosary. It may be said after the customary Salve Regina and concluding prayer, and may also be used to conclude other Marian devotions.

Prayer to Saint Joseph

To you, O blessed Joseph,
do we come in our tribulation,
and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also.

Through that charity which bound you
to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God
and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ;
O most loving father, ward off from us
every contagion of error and corrupting influence;
O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness.

As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;
shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid,
we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.

Amen.

Find more information on the Year of St. Joseph at usccb.org/saint-joseph.