The Year of St. Joseph
This past December Pope Francis declared 2021 to be the Year of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the Universal Church. This news comes to us in a time where we truly need it most. We are in a moment in history where we are in need of true need of unity within our communities and St. Joseph is the saint who can remind us of the right path.
With that in mind I would like to use this platform to do something a little different this week. Let’s explore why The Year of St. Joseph should matter to us, as Catholics, and how this call to St. Joseph can impact our creative endeavors.
First off, I must declare my personal love for St. Joseph. As a married man, who was adopted at a young age, and serves as Campus Minister for St. Joseph’s College NY (where I also attended), St. Joseph has a unique place in my heart. In fact, I have felt that St. Joseph has saved me countless times and provided me with blessings that I can’t even put into words.
To me St. Joseph is the quintessential man. He reminds us that the hidden life is a glorious one when dedicated to God. Often referred to as a “righteous man”, in fact that is one of the only terms we officially and biblically have for him. A righteous man who led with compassion and love for his family.
We as Catholic Creatives have an itch to create and share our gifts with others. This itch can be such a blessing but also such a danger, in that it can lead us to misunderstanding our value or worth. We can easily get caught up in view numbers, likes, comments, invoices and the constant need to see more from our endeavors. We are all guilty of it but we must never forget that St. Joseph was a creator too and the glory of his work lies in the impact it had on those who were directly in his midst, specifically his Child.
I wish to turn your attention and hearts to the 33-day Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald H. Calloway. As lent approaches I highly encourage that we all, as creatives, seek a deeper relationship with Joseph and perhaps take a dive into this Consecration. I specifically wish to look at an element of the Consecration that is profound, Day 24 (Minor spoiler-alert)- “Model of Workmen, Pray for Us.”
Saint Joseph is the model workman. If St. Joseph taught the God-Man how to work, he is more than capable of serving as our model as well. Hard work benefits the person, the family, and society... Work is not always easy and pleasant. Putting in a hard day’s work can be taxing on the mind, body, and soul. Sometimes work can be downright burdensome. As a carpenter, Jesus knew this firsthand. He offers comfort to all who make their living by the sweat of their brow.
Fr. Donald H. Calloway
I can’t even begin to explain to you how much joy these words bring me. What a humble and necessary reminder of the fact that if we all simply wake up and put in the work then we are already winning and doing God’ work.
How often do we lose track of this in our own lives?
How often do we measure our worth off of trivial facts and figures?
How often to do deem ourselves a massive success or failure off of one simple moment? Or perhaps we treat others this way as well?
Let the example of St. Joseph wash over us and remind us that none of those facts or figures matter. The only thing that matters is whether or not our work was truly GOOD.
Good in the sense that it brought joy to you and others. In the sense that it led others to truth and beauty. In the sense that it provided a result that you can stand by no matter the outcome.
This lent I wish to pray with you all as a community, to St. Joseph. Let us take this time to dedicate ourselves and our work to him.
We must create and rejoice in the work, in the sweat, in the aches and in the pain. No matter what the work brings us let us have the strength to offer it to Joseph.
May we all be fully alive with the spirit of work this year and may we never forget the values that St. Joseph has taught us and continues to teach us.
Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Mt 11:28-30
