St. Joseph: A Quiet Man

Carol S. Bannon suggests meditating on St. Joseph's sorrows and joys on the Sundays leading up to his feast day.

Recently, I was made aware of the fact that not a single one of St. Joseph's words are recorded in the Bible. Not one word! Contemplating this, I felt immeasurable sadness.

To this day, I can still hear the booming sound of my dad's voice echoing through my mind during my childhood. I love recalling his many stories, repeating many of them to my own grandchildren. There is the story of how he rescued a baby squirrel, how he met my mother, and his retelling of teenage pranks which were numerous! I even recall how hearing his voice through my bedroom wall, talking quietly to my mother late in the evening, could lull me to sleep.

I am sure Jesus as a young boy loved to listen to St. Joseph too.

The Bible accurately records the angel's words to St. Joseph. We hear the angel’s words as he counsels Joseph to keep Mary as his betrothed. We are told about the angel warning him to flee to Egypt, and when it is safe to return to Nazareth. We know what God tells him to do.

But we never once hear any of the words, the sentences, the discussions he had with either Jesus or Mary. We never hear him telling Jesus stories about the Jewish feast days or the many prayers recited in the temple. Did he explain the proper technique of yielding carpenter tools to create everyday objects? Did the two of them laugh? Were their dinner conversations about daily events, neighbors, and/or politics?

But upon deeper reflection I realize his very silence speaks volumes.

St. Joseph, like every other human being throughout history, endured both great joys and deep sorrows. In the Seven Week Novena to St. Joseph beginning on January 30, 2022, we can contemplate and understand more clearly how every sorrow we experience will, through God’s graces, also eventually bring us to joy. (Links to every Sunday in this devotion are below.)

For example, we have all experienced the pain of a breakup. Imagine the immeasurable pain Joseph must have felt in deciding to leave Mary, whom he loved, because of her pregnancy. Then contemplate the great joy when, in a dream, he is told of Jesus's conception and God's plan. We don't know what he said to Mary after that, but we know what he did. He took Mary as his wife and raised Our Lord as his own.

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As parents, most have felt the horror of losing sight of our children and the ensuing panic. I remember clearly a moment years ago when my 4-year-old disappeared in the mall. I was sure someone had stolen my sweet boy. Luckily we found him asleep nearby on a window ledge but I can still recall the cold wave of overwhelming relief flush through my body! And he had only gone missing for thirty minutes.

Imagine being St. Joseph and losing God's Son when Jesus chose to stay behind in the temple. How do you lose the Son of God? But then his immense relief when he finally found Jesus three days later.

Many times during periods of sorrow and deep sadness in our lives, it is hard to "talk" to God. Our minds wander during Mass, or we recite the Rosary only to become aware we don't remember saying the last five Hail Marys. Even in the midst of oft repeated prayers our minds return to our worries and fears for what is to come, what we forgot to do, how we failed to anticipate some disaster.

It is normal! St. Joseph shows us words don't matter; only our actions do. As we approach his feast day on March 19th, deep contemplative silence can help us all discern more clearly God’s plan for every day of our lives.

In the seven Sundays leading up to his feast day, meditate on St. Joseph's sorrows and his accompanying joys. Put yourself in his shoes for just a moment, and ask yourself ‘What would I have done?” “Would I have acted differently?”, “Do I have the confidence St. Joseph had in God’s plan for my life, for those in my family?”

Faith teaches us God only wants what is best for us. Modeling St. Joseph's quiet acceptance of God’s plan we too can learn to place our lives completely in His Hands.

St. Joseph, pray for us.