Joseph's Annunciation: His Silence Teaches Men that Actions Speak Louder than Words
taught the Word Incarnate, the Child Jesus, how to work with wood. This man was the foster father of the Incarnate Word of God and he loved Jesus with an exemplary love.
This same Jesus who learned to work with wood from the hands of Joseph would, during his 33rd year save the world, through the wood of the Cross. In an age that has lost its way, given over to the selfish pursuit of illusory pleasure, Joseph should again be lifted up as a model, particularly to men who desire to follow Jesus Christ.
Over two millennia, the mission of Jesus has continued through His Body on earth, His Church. He has entrusted the work of that mission to all men and women who accept the invitation to empty themselves in order to be filled with the very life and love of God and then be used in His redemptive mission for the world.
Through the Fount of living water called Baptism, he invites each one of us into His new family, the Body of His Son, the Church. He still gives His message to men who, like Joseph, cultivate ears to hear and then choose to exercise authentic manly virtue and act out of courage.
He still invites men to turn the ordinary into extraordinary through cooperation and participation. He is truly looking for a "few good men" like Joseph who will work in the workshop of the world that he created in order to recreate it anew in His Son.
In this age so desperately in need of men of courage, we need to turn to this man's man named Joseph. We need to follow his example by courageously, humbly and faithfully loving Jesus Christ.
We need to learn to give our Yes to the God whose love always invites participation. Joseph is our teacher and shows us the way, a true 'Man's Man', calling all men to follow Jesus. Teaching us that actions speak louder than words
On this day in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger, spoke these profound words concerning the silence of his namesake "His is a silence permeated by contemplation of the mystery of God, in an attitude of total availability to his divine wishes. Let us allow ourselves to be "infected" by the silence of St Joseph! We have much need of it in a world which is often too noisy, which does not encourage reflection and listening to the voice of God." (Pope Benedict XVI, December 18, 2005)
On this day, several years ago, I was prompted to write these words concerning the silence of Joseph:
The Silence of Joseph echoes in a world of noise turning a cacophony of self love into a melody of self surrender.
The silence of Joseph is a seed which bears the fruit of holiness and courage.
The silence of Joseph drowns the din of sorrow and silences the wailing of the weak
The silence of Joseph draws the world to a cave in Bethlehem where God is born as man and man is born again
The silence of Joseph draws us to our knees in worship of the Word made flesh in whose presence all words of men lose their meaning
The silence of Joseph directs a symphony of silence which stills the universe in adoration of the One in Whom the New creation has come.
Let us join our silence to the Silence of Joseph.
- - -
Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
Keywords: St. Joseph, manly character, manhood, mens movement, manly spirituality, Advent, Marian, courage, courageous, Year of Faith, Deacon Keith Fournier
NEWSLETTERS »
Rate This Article
1 - 8 of 8 Comments
Leave a Comment
More Year of Faith News
- FRIDAY HOMILY: Is It Lawful or Just a Lower Standard?
- THURSDAY HOMILY: Becoming Salty Christians in a World Without Flavor, Rotting from Within
- True and False Spirituality: Beware the Friends of Job or How to Deal With Fair-weather Friends
- WEDNESDAY HOMILY: Finding God Where You Would Rather Not Look
- TUESDAY HOMILY: Holy and Unholy Ambition
- SUNDAY HOMILY: The Happy Priest - Come Holy Spirit
- MONDAY HOMILY: I Do Believe, Help My Unbelief!
- We Need a New Pentecost: Come Holy Spirit, Come With Your Fire!
- Peter and John, Two Pillars and Two Paths
Featured News
- Fr. Paul Schenck: Finding Living Faith on Catechetical Sunday
- The Movie Yellow: Incest as 'Normal' and Cassavates's Slides Into the World of Woes
- The Chicago School Teachers Strike Reveals the Need For School Choice
- The Sexual Barbarians and the Dissolution of Culture
- The Happy Priest Challenges Us to Ask: Who is Jesus to Me?
- Michael Coren on Canadian Public Schools: Teachers, leave those kids alone
- We Cannot Ignore Our Consciences: Cardinal Dolan On Religious Liberty
- In the Face of Danger, Successor of Peter Travels to Lebanon as a Messenger of Peace
- Reflections on the Dignity and Vocation of Women: Who or What?
Most Popular
There's the problem! Americans are out of touch with scientific consensus on climate change Read More
Sex In Uniform: Why the Increase in Sexual Assaults in the Military? Read More
Culture of Corruption: Why Obama's misuse of Marines is wrong Read More
Bill Donohue, Catholic League, Disclose Fight with the IRS, Demonstrate Courage Read More
Pope Francis Shakes up the Ambassadors Meeting and Addresses Economic Issues Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Sirach 5:1-8
Do not put your confidence in your money or say, 'With this I ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 1:1-2, 3-4, 6
How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked and ... Read More
Gospel, Mark 9:41-50
'If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. John Baptist Rossi
May 23: This holy priest was born in 1698 at the village of Voltaggio in ... Read More
Latest Videos
Pope Francis speaks of Christian originality View Video
President of El Salvador gives Pope a relic of Msgr. Romero View Video
Pope meets with Italian bishops to lead a Profession of Faith, before the tomb of St. Peter View Video
Kevin Durant Meets With Volunteers and Families Affected by Tornadoes View Video
American appointed to head Order of Friars Minor View Video
Marketplace
Jesus, The Secret to Happiness and Holiness Read More
St. Benedict Wood Cord Rosary
Beautiful St. Benedict wood cord rosary made in Brazil. Read More
The response to the Psalm on 4th Sunday of Advent is "Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved." People saw the face of the Lord in Joseph. Can others see the face of the Lord in us?
The Lord has His way of using individuals that would not be noticed by human eyes, that is the wonders of our God. Through Joseph's example we see a man who is quiet by nature, but speaks loudly through his actions. Joseph was teaching us how we are to say "yes" to God's will and then follow with courage, perservence, faith, love, humbleness, and above all putting God first. Joseph provided Jesus an example of what a "real man" is, which He [Jesus] followed all the way to the cross. So, who are we to not also follow that "fait" of the man named Joseph.
St. Joseph is also my patron saint. My only son, (I call him my FAVORITE son I love him so much!) is called Joseph too.
This article is superb and gives me much to think about. It helps to see the Goodness of Joseph in another bright light. Can't wait to meet him in Heaven!
St Joseph is my patron saint. I seek his intercession daily. Two of his admirable traits are his protection of the unborn and his work ethic. Catholic democrats would do well to consider that Joseph is a model for protecting the unborn. Joseph led Our Lord, who at the time was in His mother's womb, to safety. Please note that Jesus was as much God the Son in the womb of His immaculate mother as He was outside of the womb. Catholic democrats voted for a candidate who voted for the legal killing of girls and boys outside of their mom's womb even after they survived the attempt to kill them in the womb. St Joseph was a worker. He would never think any work was beneath him. If he ever needed assistance from someone else, he would be willing to do work in exchange for that help. Catholic democrats voted for someone who wants as many Americans as possible on "government" assistance and he removed requirements for able-bodied recipients of such aid to have to work in exchange for it. St Joseph was a model husband. Catholic democrats voted for a man who calls marriage what God calls an abomination. St Joseph, pray for us.
I'll let the Deacon decide on this. "Divine Favors Granted to St. Joseph" by Pere Binet, S.J. is a good read if one wants to know more of this brother in Jesus.
Excellent article.
At our local bible get together, the subject of Joseph came up. One of the members offered some insight as to the age of Joseph at the time of the Annunciation, & the resultant "brothers & sisters" of Jesus.
The first was that Joseph was not that old, if he had to pack Mary & Jesus up & head to Egypt, And not that young as not to take Mary into his house.
Also thoughts were, that Joseph may have had a Old Testament requirement to raise up children for his dead brother. In that sense Jesus would have had "siblings", & Mary would have a sister in Mary Cleophes. It would also go a long way into explaining why Jesus charged the apostle John, to take care of his mother.
Beautifully written and offering clear statements of what it means to be a man. How our society and families need such men as St. Joseph!
Excellent and very inspiring article Deacon!! I have been thinking a lot lately about what men are called to. In a society that dehumanizes men and assumes the worst stereotypes of us are the rule it is refreshing to read a piece like this. The silence of Joseph speaks to the beauty of "masculine genius" which complements Pope John Paul II's "feminine genius."