This year the annual liturgical commemoration of Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster-father of Jesus, will be kept on March 20th, rather than on March 19th, the usual date of his feast.
The reason for transferring the solemnity of Saint Joseph to March 20th is that March 19th this year falls on a Sunday, which has to be focused on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.
In any case, we gladly celebrate Saint Joseph and recount his important role in the Holy Family of Nazareth, composed of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Saint Joseph is often called. “the Silent,” because no words spoken by him are recorded in the Bible. As such, Joseph is a model of attentive listening to God, of actions rather than words, and of humble work for the good of others.
Saint Joseph is the designated Patron of the Universal Church and is considered to be a powerful intercessor in Heaven for various and sundry needs of those who are still on earth.
Saint Joseph the just and silent man, pray for us!
Abbot Christian and the monks
Today’s icon of Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus was written at Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Redwood Valley, California, where some of our monks have studied iconography.