Laetare Sunday!  Happy St. Joseph Day!

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There are two Sundays in the liturgical calendar when you and I see priests wear a rose-colored vestment – Gaudete Sunday (3rd Sunday of Advent) and Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday of Lent).  Both Gaudete and Laetare mean “to rejoice.”   These Sundays are also seen as a “break” from the penitential aspect of the season.  This does not mean that we go back to our old ways, rather it simply means a little breather from our journey.

I believe it is providential that Laetare Sunday is celebrated this week because we have something to be joyful for.  Friday, March 19th is the Solemnity of St. Joseph.   Pope Francis has dedicated this year to St. Joseph.  It is important to note that our Diocese named after the Saint is also celebrating its 40th anniversary.  But I wonder, how many of us are familiar with Joseph?

We know very little about Joseph, in fact no words from Joseph are recorded in the New Testament.   However, we know that he was a joy-filled and faith-filled person. Scripture describes him as good listener and an obedient man.  He trusted in God’s providence.  Joseph knew that by taking Mary as his wife, he would be mocked and would be the talk of the town.  Yet, after careful prayer and discernment, Joseph listened to the message of Gabriel who appeared to him in a dream.  Matthew tells us: “When Joseph woke, he did as the Angel of the Lord had commanded him.”

In his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde (with a father’s heart), the Holy Father described St. Joseph as a “beloved, tender, obedient father, an accepting father, creatively courageous father, an example of love, a father who teaches the value and dignity and joy of work, and a father ‘in the shadows’ centered on Mary and Jesus.”

The Holy Father wrote Patris corde against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, he says, has helped us see more clearly the importance of “ordinary” people who, though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day. In this, they resemble Saint Joseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”

Having stated all that about St. Joseph, this is indeed a Laetare Week, a joyful week.  I encourage you to virtually join the priests of our Diocese and Bishop Cantu on Friday, March 19th at 5:00pm for a Mass celebrating the Solemnity of St. Joseph.  Simply go to our diocesan Facebook and/or website at dsj.org.

Though March 19th falls on a Friday, the obligation to abstain from meat is lifted on that day only because it is a Solemn Feast.  This would allow us to celebrate our feast in a more festive way.

Finally, I’d be remiss if I don’t mention that the feast of St. Patrick’s also falls this week, Wednesday, March 17th.  This great man is not only known for being the Apostle of Ireland, but also a great missionary who worked tirelessly in bringing the Gospel of Christ to different places.  Patrick is also known for teaching the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity showing people the shamrock, a three-leafed plant, using it to illustrate the Christian teaching of three persons in one God. This story first appears in writing in 1726, though it may be older. The shamrock has since become a central symbol for Saint Patrick’s Day.

Blessed Laetare Week and Happy Feast of St. Joseph!

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