"With a father's heart…" A newly proclaimed apostolic letter, titled "Patris corde," begins with the appeal to live with fatherly love.
In memory of the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX's proclamation of Saint
Joseph as the "Patron of the Universal Church," Pope Francis
proclaimed a special "Year of Saint Joseph," together with a
proclamation from the Apostolic Penitentiary about special plenary indulgences
extended to the elderly, the sick and the dying, from Dec. 8, 2020, to Dec. 8,
2021.
Pope Pius XII proposed Saint Joseph as the "Patron of workers," and
Saint Pope John Paul II proposed Saint Joseph as the "Guardian of the
Redeemer." Saint Joseph is also invoked as the "Patron of a happy
death." So, we pray to him that our time of death may be a moment of joy
despite the presence of sorrow.
In general, Saint Joseph is mentioned in a most modest way in the Gospels
according to Matthew (Cf. 1:18-25; 2:1-23;13:55-56) and Luke (Cf. 1:27;
2:1-39). Joseph was a lowly carpenter and a just man, betrothed to Mary. Nevertheless,
Joseph was always ready to do God's will and to follow God's providence in
faith and fidelity.
In "Patris corde," Saint Joseph is described as "the man who
goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence ― an intercessor, a
supporter and a guide in times of trouble. Saint Joseph reminds us that those
who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the
history of salvation."
Pope Francis says that he proclaimed this apostolic letter "to increase
our love for the great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession, and
to imitate his virtues and his zeal". With this goal, "Patris
corde" urgently encourages us to cultivate hope and dream in patience in
the midst of the expanding pandemic. It also inspires us to have the strength
to overcome this miserable crisis through the exemplary life of Saint Joseph.
Seven particular features of Saint Joseph are described in the following
definitions: a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father,
an accepting father, a creatively courageous father, a working father and a
father in the shadows.
Many years ago, "Father schools" were created across the country to
recover the true identity of a father in the family. With the catchphrase,
"A family can live only when a father lives," various organizations
have offered some programs regarding the spirituality of fatherhood. Truly,
fathers are not born but made. Being a father means to be responsible for
another life and to take care of others.
We also pray to Saint Joseph every Wednesday with a special intention, and the
feast days of March 19 and May 1 are dedicated to him.
Pope Francis concludes his apostolic letter with the following prayer to Saint
Joseph:
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God
entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became
man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path
of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil.
Amen.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/12/162_301161.html
The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Dec 21(online),
22(offline), 2020
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