Why Consecration to St. Joseph?!
I am someone who LOVES the saints. I learn so much from the way they lived out their ordinary, and some extraordinary, lives. The way they struggled with sin and still chose holiness. The way they loved, served, and prayed with their entire hearts, minds and souls. In getting to know them, I am brought so much closer to Jesus.
A couple of months ago I knew nothing about Saint Joseph and had absolutely no relationship with him whatsoever. After finishing my consecration to St. Joseph today, on the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker, I realize how much I was missing out on by not having him in my life. Among the saints who loved and adored our Lord, you would think that knowing and understand the heart of the man who actually RAISED & lived with Jesus for 30 years would be a really good person to get to know. Somehow I didn’t realize this; it never even crossed my mind. All I knew was that St. Joseph was the foster father of Jesus and I left it at that. Getting to know him has already changed my life in just 33 days of reading about him and asking his intercession daily. If you don’t already know him well, I invite you to begin getting to know him with this book, and watch how your spiritual life is transformed.
Saint Joseph was a faithful, loving and trusting companion of Jesus and Mary. Consecration to St. Joseph means we entrust ourselves to him to help us grow in our own ability to be a faithful, loving and trusting companion of Jesus and Mary, just as he was. As his father, St. Joseph taught Jesus how to love, pray, sacrifice and work, and he can teach us to do the same. He helps us grow in virtue and holiness.
What is holiness? Is it even possible? Holiness is living in intimate, loving communion with God and it is absolutely possible for us. On our own we cannot achieve holiness, due to our sinful nature. With the Holy Spirit and sanctifying grace, holiness becomes possible for us. Only through prayer can we access and receive these two gifts that open up a whole new way of life for us.
Who is St. Joseph? What do we even know about him? He is the noble offspring of David, born of the royal family, dignified and courageous, reverent, humble and just. He is the bearer of light, eliminating darkness in the world, our lives and our homes, as he brings the true Light of the world to us in his Son, Jesus. He is the chaste spouse of the Mother of God. Imagine the virtue this man must have had in order to marry an immaculate wife, and be the father to the Son of God. He is the model husband and father that every man should look to as an example. He is patient, faithful and obedient. He is the model of workmen, glory of domestic life, guardian of virgins, pillar of families, comfort of the afflicted, hope of the sick, patron of the dying, terror of demons and protector of the Holy Church.
We have such a rich gift in the man of St. Joseph. He lived so beautifully and we have much to learn from him. Over the past 33 days, I have been reading and meditating on his life, his heart, his faith, and all that I can learn from him. Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father is the book I read and would highly recommend to anyone who desires a deeper relationship with our Lord and with the saints. My faith has increased, my zeal for holiness and virtue has been renewed, and my understanding of the beauty in marriage and family life has grown exponentially. I am now more fully able to become the best version of myself because of this newfound love, devotion and relationship with St. Joseph.