HAPPY FATHERS DAY ST JOSEPH
I wish to extend a particular word of encouragement to fathers so that
they may take Saint Joseph as their model. He who kept watch over the
Son of Man is able to teach them the deepest meaning of their own
fatherhood. In the same way, each father receives his children from God,
and they are created in God’s own image and likeness. Saint Joseph was
the spouse of Mary. In the same way, each father sees himself entrusted
with the mystery of womanhood through his own wife. Dear fathers, like
Saint Joseph, respect and love your spouse; and by your love and your
wise presence, lead your children to God where they must be (Lk 2:49.)
- Pope Benedict XVI,
19 March 2009
There is but one fatherhood, that of God the Father, the one Creator
of the world,“of all that is seen and unseen”. Yet man, created in the image
of God, has been granted a share in this one paternity of God (cf. Eph 3:15). Saint Joseph is a striking case
of this, since he is a father, without fatherhood according to the flesh. He is
not the biological father of Jesus, whose Father is God alone, and yet he lives
his fatherhood fully and completely. To be a father means above all to be at
the service of life and growth. Saint Joseph, in this sense, gave proof of
great devotion. For the sake of Christ he experienced persecution, exile and
the poverty which this entails. He had to settle far from his native town. His
only reward was to be with Christ. His readiness to do all these things
illustrates the words of Saint Paul: “It is Christ the Lord whom you serve” (Col 3:24).
- Pope Benedict XVI
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comment has been submitted for approval. God bless you!