The final section of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter “Patris Corde” is titled “A father in the shadows.” This is a beautiful image of St. Joseph and in the letter our Holy Father calls forth the best of fatherhood in the image of St. Joseph
“In his relationship to Jesus, Joseph was the earthly shadow of the heavenly Father: he watched over him and protected him, never leaving him to go his own way…In a similar way, Joseph acted as a father for his whole life.” (#7) The watching over and protecting is such a powerful image of fatherhood. It is pointed out later in this section of how this caring for and protecting at some point becomes the liberation of the child as he or she then has the strength, confidence and trust to embrace the challenges of life with the love of the father like a faint shadow always present with them.

It is in this understanding of freedom in the will of our Heavenly Father that St. Joseph, in his role as earthly father, becomes a true father. God desires us all to share in his freedom, where he is present and embraces us and desires the very best for us. It is where we can understand the truth, “Fathers are not born, but made…Whenever a man accepts responsibility for the life of another, in some way he becomes a father to that person.” (#7) Responsibility, duty and sacrifice are words we often see ridiculed and put down as old fashioned and out of touch with the present and yet we still understand how choosing to accept the gift of another in our life, whether it is spouse, child, or simply another calls forth from the heart a place of growth and strength in love. There is a constructing of the reality of love moving beyond the sentimentality of the moment into the long term commitment which grows through each act of sorrow and pain into the grace of a greater unity with family and the larger community.
In discovering the freedom of love, the father and mother, see in their children the grace of allowing them freedom in love. Pope Francis reminds us of how “chastity” goes beyond the sexual aspect and becomes a liberation of the egocentric attitude wherein we discover the finding companionship in the blessing family and all relationships. “Perhaps for this reason, Joseph is traditionally called a “most chaste” father. That title is not simply a sign of affection, but the summation of an attitude that is the opposite of possessiveness.” (#7) When in the example of St. Joseph we see the beloved of our life, and the sons and daughters not as objects of possession but as instruments of freedom. The attitude of giftedness and gratitude begin to take center stage where the other focuses of life and love draw each of us out into the possibility of eternal life and purity of love.
“Joseph found happiness not in mere self-sacrifice but in self-gift. In him, we never see frustration but only trust. His patient silence was the prelude to concrete expressions of trust. Our world today needs fathers.” (#7) This is our Christian vocation; the self gift of one to another founded in the Sacraments and brought to fruition in the coming together as a community to share in the life of Jesus Christ.
There is so much more in this Apostolic Letter and the need to continue to grow in faith, hope and love is presented to us in this Year of St. Joseph which Holy Mother Church has given to us as a gift of love. “We need only ask Saint Joseph for the grace of graces: our conversion.” (#7)

God bless
Fr. Mark

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.