Mass at the Little Sisters of the Poor

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
Saint Joseph’s Home, Northcote,
on Monday, 20th March, 2006, at 10.30am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family, patron of the dying, just man, and patron of those who live here at Saint Joseph’s Home.

Together with Mother Cecilia and the Sisters we thank God for the care of Saint Joseph of all who live here and ask that his closeness to Jesus and Mary may be our inspiration as we celebrate his feast.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph by whose name and family Jesus was said to be of the House of David.  Although he was apparently living in Nazareth when he was betrothed to Mary, he probably came from Bethlehem.  He is known to be always a wood worker, a carpenter or a cabinet maker, a law-abiding man, faithful to the call God gave him.  We know that he protected the holy family. 

What is significant about Saint Joseph is his faithfulness in receiving the Mother of God and with Mary receiving Jesus into their earthly family.  His fatherhood, however, is a spiritual one.  Because Joseph was husband and father, all of his dignity, grace, holiness and glory comes because he is the first one of the saints after Mary.

We know Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church and numberless families scattered throughout all lands.  He is the patron of workmen, families, virgins, the sick and the dying.  His own acceptance of God’s plan for him means that by popular acclaim he is patron of prayer and the interior life, of the poor, of those in authority – fathers, priests, religious, travellers and devotion to Mary.

On 19th March 1961 Pope John XXIII proclaimed him Heavenly Protector of the Second Vatican Council.  Since 8th December 1962 his name has been mentioned in the Canon of the Mass.

What we have to remember is that being more close to Christ, those who are saints in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness.  They give in prayer to the Father the merits, which they acquired on earth through Jesus, so they have great concern for us in our weakness. 

Typical of the power of Saint Joseph in prayer and intercession would be the words shown by a much younger saint, Saint Therese of Lisieux, “I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth”, or even again when she said, “Do not weep for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life.”

The intercession of the saints is so that we will be spiritual and united in purpose to be for Christ in the one family of God.  Saint Joseph is the special patron of the Little Sisters of the Poor and of this house and his prayer for us, even in our most difficult moments, challenges us to his trust and openness to Jesus as we go along the way of eternal life.

May Saint Joseph guide us, fill us with trust and peace, as we go along the pattern that he has marked out for us.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.