by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 14, 2022 | Catechesis, Children, Devotion to Mary, Parenting, Pope Francis, St. Joseph, The Holy Family
At the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis reflects on the fatherhood of St. Joseph, and prays that all children might enjoy the bond of paternal love, even if through the praiseworthy practice of adoption. By Devin Watkins Pope Francis continued his catechesis series on St. Joseph at the Wednesday General Audience, focusing his remarks on his role as the father of Jesus. The Pope noted that the Gospels of Luke and Matthew present Joseph as the “foster-father of Jesus” and not as his biological one. The evangelist Matthew avoids the term “father of” in his genealogy, while Luke said he was the father of Jesus, “as was supposed”. Venerable practice of adoption Pope Francis recalled that the practice of adoption was much more common in ancient times in the East than it is in our own societies. He gave the example of the requirement in ancient Israel for a man to marry the widowed wife of his deceased brother, if he died without a male heir (Dt 25:5-6). In this case, the legal father of the firstborn son from such a union would be the deceased man, ensuring both an heir for the deceased and the preservation of his estate....
by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 14, 2022 | Accompaniment, Catechesis, Pope Francis, St. Joseph, The Holy Family, Work and Prayer
In his catechesis at the General Audience focusing on Saint Joseph, Pope Francis looks at Joseph’s life as a worker, and says the dignity of labour is essential for our human development and our growth in holiness. By Vatican News staff writer In his catechesis, Pope Francis looked at how the evangelists Matthew and Mark refer to Joseph as a “carpenter”, from the Greek term tekton, which referred to a generic qualification of those working as woodworkers and craftsmen in construction. He pointed out how it was a hard job, requiring strength but not generating great earnings. Looking at Saint Joseph helps remind us of all workers today, especially those who do grueling work in mines and certain factories, the Pope pointed out. He especially recalled those who are exploited and children who are “forced to work and those who rummage among the trash in search of something useful to trade.” This reality also brings to mind those who are out of a job and suffering greatly because of it, especially families struggling to survive, he added. “In these times of pandemic, many people have lost their jobs — and some, crushed by an unbearable burden, reached the point of...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 14, 2022 | Accompaniment, Catechesis, Devotion to Mary, Family MInistry, Marriage and the Family, Pope Francis, St. Joseph, The Holy Family
Pope Francis grants an interview to Vatican Media on being parents during the Covid-19 pandemic and the witness of Saint Joseph, calling him an example of strength and tenderness for today’s fathers. By Andrea Monda and Alessandro Gisotti The Special Year dedicated to Saint Joseph ended 8 December 2021, but Pope Francis’ attention and love for this Saint have not ended and indeed are further strengthened in the Catecheses which he has been devoting to the figure of the Patron of the universal Church, since 17 November. On our part, L’Osservatore Romano [in Italian] has published a monthly feature throughout 2021 which was also covered by the Vatican News website, on Patris corde, focusing on each chapter of the Apostolic Letter on Saint Joseph. This feature which dealt with fathers, but also with children and mothers in an ideal dialogue with the Bridegroom of Mary, prompted in us the desire to discuss with the Pope the theme of paternity and its various aspects, challenges and complexities. The following interview thus resulted in Pope Francis answering our questions, showing all his love for families, his closeness to those experiencing suffering, and the Church’s embrace of the fathers and mothers who today have to...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Dec 17, 2021 | Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Catechesis, Messages of the Holy Father, St. Joseph, The Holy Family
In his catechesis at the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis reflects on St Joseph’s silence in the Gospel. By Christopher Wells “St Joseph with his silence invites us to make room for the Presence of the Word made flesh, for Jesus,” Pope Francis said at the weekly General Audience. Silence full of listening However, the Pope continued, “Joseph’s silence is not muteness,” but is instead “a silence full of listening, an industrious silence, a silence that bring out his great interiority.” Quoting St John of the Cross, the Holy Father explained that God the Father spoke the Word, His Son, in eternal silence “and in silence it must be heard by the soul.” In his earthly life, Jesus, too, had this experience of silence, “with the daily example of Mary and Joseph.” Pope Francis noted that “He Himself sought spaces of silence… and invited His disciples to have such an experience” as well. READ ALSO The contemplative dimension of life The Holy Father emphasized the importance of following St Joseph’s example “in recovering this contemplative dimension of life opened wide by silence,” but noted that it is not easy. Silence, he said, can be frightening, because “it asks us to...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Sep 9, 2021 | Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Consecrated Life, St. Joseph
St. Joseph is, for all followers of Christ, the preeminent model of the interior life—the life of continual mindfulness of Divine Love and God’s abiding presence in every moment of our lives. For those in consecrated life, St. Joseph is a living rule by which we can measure our own fidelity and authenticity to be […] Source: St. Joseph: Model for Consecrated...
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