Saint Joseph: Zero or Hero?
Too many images of Saint Joseph portray him as a decrepit old man (hoping to thus explain his marital chastity the subject of so many attacks). Then there is his so-called “hidden life”, which makes people think he lived in forbidding isolation. Finally, he has been reduced to the role of merely breadwinner and caretaker, as though child support payments were sufficient to merit him the title of “father.” Due to the poorly understood “silence” and “humility” and “submission,” of this ''fictional husband'' and ''marginal father'' an entire body of writing has finished him off by letting him dissolve into thin air.
The quasi “zero" figure emerging from such caricatures isn’t the real Saint Joseph! How could a sensitive young woman like Mary have chosen such a man for her beloved life-partner? How could the heavenly Father have chosen such a man to be the guardian and father of his Son on earth? How could the worldwide Catholic Church have chosen such a man as its patron?
Joseph of Nazareth was not a historical cipher. He was a loving, attractive, strong, hardworking, forthright, brave and persevering young man. “He took his wife into his home.” (Matt 1:24) Thus Mary had a husband for life, a companion who shared her extraordinary destiny till his dying breath because he was an extraordinary man.
In September 2005, I had the opportunity to participate in an International Symposium on Saint Joseph in Germany. In attendance were dozens of researchers from around the world. I presented a paper entitled “Joseph: the Saviour's saviour.” Were you to see in tomorrow’s newspaper a headline that reading, “Man risks life to save tiny baby,” you would think, “That man is a hero.” Joseph did exactly that for Jesus as a study of Christ’s childhood in its historical context can demonstrate it.
Joseph was not a “zero” but a “hero.” He is worthy of admiration, recognition and trust in the power of his intercession before the Savior.
Daniel Picot
Director
Center for Research and Documentation
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Bas relief by Guardo
Photo: Saint-Joseph's Oratory of Mount-Royal archives
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