I remember reading this chapter last March thinking as I began how Archbishop M. de Langalerie in his book “The Month of St. Joseph” would talk mostly about how St. Joseph was invisible in the Gospel except in the few passage. This was of course noted but what he many focussed on was the structure of family life and how Joseph lived this life hidden as so many parents are in their journey as a family.
His first area was in the house with work, Jesus choosing carpentry as his lively hood following his foster father’s example, the affection and gratitude, the fatherly counsel and care and ultimately the “rendering mutual service” (p 71) in sharing the life in the home. Second was the life of faith in both the sabbath observance and how this unity of the family prepares us for the separation that will occur and the dangers that often follow along this life. And finally it is where the, “Family ties are strengthened and affection nourished by the mutual interchange of thought…instruction given children, and the thousand other acts tending to attract the heart. Picture to yourselves the interior of the Holy Family at Nazareth. See Jesus, Mary and Joseph at their meals, at work, and in conversation.” (p 72)

The model of the hidden life for St. Joseph, as it is for all parents, is the small acts of blessing and thanksgiving, the pin pricks of suffering and worry the fill our days and nights but ultimately we place in God’s embrace our trust in turning over our children to God’s care. The hidden life is visible but always seeped in the deeper mystery of the relationship of husband and wife, of parent and child, in the community of the family united in a purpose greater than just the individual glory the world points out and celebrates.
At the center of the hidden life is prayer. Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak in their book “Praying for (and with) Your Spouse” point out “the most common springboard for your prayer life will be the daily blessings.” (p 75) Knowing the center of the hidden life, for St. Joseph, was Sabbath and prayer. The gathering of family around the wonder of blessing in teaching and living by example the love God has for each one of us. The coming together to let our hearts be filled with joy and blessing, so in absence of our loved ones that will come, the same gifts of love will be present deep within the heart.
What was the hidden life of St. Joseph within the Holy Family, as husband of Mary, as a member of the community both in Egypt and then in Nazareth? Is it simply him being, foster father, husband and a man of God living his vocation in the world? The more I think about it the more I believe this is the hidden life for each us. I remember a friend who had the blessing of meeting both Pope St. John Paul II and St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta where he shared with me this simple thought. They didn’t say a word to him. They simply looked at him and in this he encountered holiness. It was an encounter not with a large sermon or teaching but simply a life lived in communion with God in those daily blessings, those tiny blessings, that surround us in so many different ways, often unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of life, but those little graces from God we are called to share with our brothers and sisters.

St. Joseph, surrounded by the great grace and blessing of the Son of God, Jesus growing up before his eyes, and the union with our Blessed Mother Mary saw also how his smaller and many would say insignificant blessings as part of the greater family. This is our challenge to—to share our blessings, even when we think they aren’t worthy of notice, with others and recognize how blessed we are by seeing God’s gifts surrounding us and accepting them knowing of the greater blessing of our sacramental life of love.
God Bless
Fr. Mark.

Truth, not eloquence, is to be sought in reading the Holy Scriptures; and every part must be read in the spirit in which it was written. For in the Scriptures we ought to seek profit rather than polished dictation.
Likewise we ought to read simple and devout books as willingly as learned and profound ones. We ought not to be swayed by the authority of the writer, would he be a great literary light or an insignificant person, but by the love of simple truth. We ought not to ask who is speaking, but mark what is said. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord remains forever. God speaks to us in many ways, without regard for persons.
Our curiosity often impedes are reading of the Scriptures, when we wish to understand and mull over what we are simply to read and pass by.

If you would profit from it, therefore, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and never seek a reputation of being learned. Seek willingly and listen attentively to the words of the Saints; do not be displeased with the sayings of the ancients, for they were not made without purpose. (#5 from “The Imitation of Christ”)
Humility in front of God is one of the greatest things we can learn in our life as a disciple, a Christian, a child of God. the above quote from “The Imitation of Christ” reminds us of this very important and central part of our pilgrim journey.
Don’t be afraid of simplicity. St. Augustine described in his “Confessions” how in his early reading of Sacred Scripture he found it lacking because of the crude nature and blunt pronouncements without the beauty of the poetry and other writings of the day. We can often miss the central message be trying to find more in a biblical phrase or story than God wants us to hear at the moment. I fall into this temptation often as I prepare my homily by saying to myself, “I hear you God, but that doesn’t seem to be the message I want to say.” In truth each time I read a passage of Sacred Scripture God reveals more to me and reminds me of his whisper of love and hope. Choosing to sit with the Word of God and allow it to speak to me rather than I dictating my desire is a lesson relearned over and over again. What God says to us is just that.
Don’t judge the book by the cover. I have many copies of the Bible in my office and in my rooms. Some have very sentimental attachments and some were gifts and others I have used and worked with for many years. Some are very beautifully bound and others the covers are falling off because of use. But when you open them, it is the same Word of God. In “The Imitation of Christ” we are reminded that we are to know the Word of God so that we may hear the his word whether it be from someone who looks impressive or someone who looks much less impressive because both can and do proclaim God, just as the opposite is also true more times than we can count. This is why it is important to immerse our lives in Sacred Scripture. To pray with, to sit with and to search within our hearts the mission and vocation God has given to us in the world.
Today is built on yesterday. We often get caught up in the latest fashion of the days. My high school pictures will attest to the reality that I grew up in the late 70’s and my clothing choices often reflected this truth. But it also is part of who I am. The mission of the Catholic Church is going on two thousand years and remains the same. The invitation to Jesus to follow him remains the same. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church remains the same. Knowing our history and listening to the fathers and mothers of the Church are important and life giving. Because we are not building on solely the institution but we are building a relationship with the Most Holy Trinity. It is like a husband and wife whose relationship is built on years and years of joys and sorrows, on sins and blessings, on hopes, disappointments and dreams and is build on mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation. All of these moments contribute to the totality of who they are as individuals and who they are as the Sacrament of love and to remove any one part of this story would lessen the grace now present in their lives.
All of this is just the beginning. Trust, hope and live in the grace of God’s blessing.
God Bless
Fr. Mark

“Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26)

One of the great images I enjoy praying before is the image of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Whether it is Mary holding the child Jesus or Joseph, if it is an image of an older Jesus in the company of Mary and Joseph or, perhaps the most loving image of Jesus and Mary in prayer next to Joseph as he returns to his Heavenly Father. When I go the our diocesan Cathedral for a Mass the priest sit in the area where we have this image of the happy death of Joseph directly in front of us. A reminder of how death is at our door step at each moment and we must, like Joseph be always prepared…but to return to the Holy Family and Joseph as its head.

Archbishop M. De Langalerie writes in “The Month of St. Joseph, “He (Joseph) is continually brought before God by the weight of the double responsibility towards the mother and the Child. Joseph was obedient to God in all things.” (p 67) This is a wonderful image of fatherhood, of being a husband in living as a man of grace. St. Joseph chooses to come before God not out of force but in seeking a greater grace and understanding. St. Joseph, in his life and service of God, reminds us how fathers are first and foremost in the care of their wife and children given a double responsibility of showing forth the image of God as Father.

In a practical way I think the best way to describe this is through this experience. I visited a friend and his wife once for a bbq and as I entered their home i was greeted by hugs and then the offer of a drink and we went to the backyard where he was readying the bbq. During the next twenty minutes or so, he moved from that task to being wrestled to the ground by his three small children, heeding the request of his wife to get something from the garage, returning the bbq, seeking to hold an adult conversation with me, answering the random questions of a 5 year old and finally finishing in helping to set the table and being gracious the whole time. I know that this is in some ways an idyllic depiction of the day, and be assured in other visits it didn’t always go this smoothly, but it was the image of fatherhood in action as the head of his family.
“Being obedient to God in all things” for St. Joseph, as it is for all fathers, is to recognize the grace and blessings with the moment and share them with joy to the best of our abilities.
I know I could write the same about mothers in different ways, but this is about St. Joseph so as our Holy Father Francis reminds us, “Fathers are so necessary as examples and guides for our children in wisdom and virtue. Without father figures, young people often feel orphaned; left adrift at a critical moment in their growth and development.” (Pope Francis) and from the great basketball coach John Wooden “The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” 
St. Joseph….pray for us.
God Bless
Fr. Mark.