Joseph set aside his own ideas in order to accept the course of events and, mysterious as they seemed, to embrace them, take responsibility for them and make them part of his own history. [8] Homily (19 March 1966): Insegnamenti di Paolo VI, IV (1966), 110. [7], Saint Paul VI pointed out that Joseph concretely expressed his fatherhood “by making his life a sacrificial service to the mystery of the incarnation and its redemptive purpose. Jn 7:52) and indeed, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (cf. In a way, we are all like Joseph: a shadow of the heavenly Father, who “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt 5:45). Difficulties did not stand in the way of those friends’ boldness and persistence. As such, a letter remains the only way to correspond with him at length. If you wish to contribute, please go to the discussion on Reddit. How can we speak of human dignity without working to ensure that everyone is able to earn a decent living? Today’s gospel presents St. Joseph. Every priest or bishop should be able to add, with the Apostle: “I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel” (ibid.). Mt 13:55), betrothed to Mary (cf. The evangelist Luke, for his part, tells us that Joseph undertook the long and difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered in his family’s town of origin in the census of the Emperor Caesar Augustus. Here in the United States we are blessed with many bishops who join you in bearing witness to these profound and indispensable truths. This is shown by the countless churches dedicated to him worldwide, the numerous religious Institutes, Confraternities and ecclesial groups inspired by his spirituality and bearing his name, and the many traditional expressions of piety in his honour. Even if our heart condemns us, “God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 Jn 3:20). A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child. In the synagogue, during the praying of the Psalms, Joseph would surely have heard again and again that the God of Israel is a God of tender love,[11] who is good to all, whose “compassion is over all that he has made” (Ps 145:9). It is a movement of grateful Catholics—not “prominent” people—but ordinary men and women, many of them immigrants or the children of immigrants from many lands. In Joseph, Jesus saw the tender love of God: “As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him” (Ps 103:13). [14] In such cases, provisions were made even for stoning (cf. Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation. I recall with pleasure and gratitude my visit to the Vatican in November and your moving address to our Colloquium on the Complementarity of Man and Woman in Marriage. My focus is to introduce only the main teachings of the encyclical and draw out its implications. [24] Original edition: Cień Ojca, Warsaw, 1977. [19] In this greater perspective, faith gives meaning to every event, however happy or sad. He trusted in the angel’s words. The Person in charge of the Pope’s correspondence is Mon. In every exercise of our fatherhood, we should always keep in mind that it has nothing to do with possession, but is rather a “sign” pointing to a greater fatherhood. Rev 12:10). The content of the letter may contain: # An expression of gratitude to the pope for his initiative in calling the Jubilee Year of Mercy in the universal church; # A description of your own connection with the gift of mercy and with Catherine McAuley; # A reference to your connection with Sisters of Mercy and the Mercy … Doctors, nurses, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caregivers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety, volunteers, priests, men and women religious, and so very many others. America's upcoming election pales in contrast to the political challenges you face daily in our 'cohesive' Church. May the protection of the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph always accompany all of you and help you to walk united in love and in caring for one another. 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