It is a continuation programme of last month e-Pilgrimage where we “transported” you to various sites around the Church compound explaining its historical and significant of the sites. This month, we have assigned a project to our catechism students to showcase short video clips to reflect each virtue of St Joseph, and how it applies in their own respective families.
With their parents and catechism teachers, CHILDREN, you did a marvellous job!!! Our children spoke highly of their parents and they also identified with each virtue of St Joseph in their parents. You have a many more things to discover about them, and also your teachers as well.
Before the Holy Father announced the Year of St Joseph, I only know very few virtues of St. Joseph through my studies namely a silent man, a just man and faithful man. After reading the Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father on “With A Father’s Heart” - I have discovered seven other wonderful virtues of St. Joseph. Reading his apostolic letter, it was like reading the Holy Gospel over and over again.
During my seminary days, we hardly touch and explore who St. Joseph was. We had a special subject on Mariology (Study of Mary) for a semester but little were taught on this man. We only know that he was silent and hidden mysteriously in God’s salvation plan.
In His Apostolic Letter, Pope Francis described the 7 virtues of St Joseph as “a beloved father,” “a tender and loving father,” “an obedient father,” “an accepting father,” a father who is “creatively courageous,” “a working father,” “a father in the shadows”.
St Joseph has been very silent in my spiritual and priestly life. Only lately, I have started reading about St. Joseph and reciting the Litany to St. Joseph. Today, he has become my spiritual father who is assisting me in my spiritual life. Gradually, I discover more and more of this new spiritual father of mine. I strive my very best to apply his virtues in my priestly ministry as well.
Joseph lived in a difficult but his faith was great. The first reading (Genesis 22: 1-2, 9-13, 15-18) today, we heard about Abraham as a father of faith and his son, Isaac as an obedient man in the Old Testaments. In the New Testaments, we hear that St. Joseph as a great father of faith and an obedient man who listened to the voice of the Angel and followed the will of God.
The Gospel (MK 9: 2-10) is about the Transfiguration of the Lord and the disciples heard a voice from the cloud, “This is my Son, the Beloved, Listen to him.” St. Joseph listened and obeyed to the voice of God and followed the Lord’s footsteps. Abraham, Isaac and Joseph are our model of faith and obedient, and we too, should listen and obey to the voice of God as we carry out our responsibilities especially during difficult times.
During this season of Lent, it will be excellent if we make efforts to discover each virtue of St. Joseph in our lives and grow in our faith like his.
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